Deep Learning–Based Prediction of Kuroshio Path South of Japan

Variation of the Kuroshio path south of Japan has an important impact on weather, climate, and ecosystems due to its distinct features. Motivated by the ever-popular deep learning methods using neural network architectures in areas where more accurate reference data for oceanographic observations and reanalysis are available, we build four deep learning models based on the long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network, combined with the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) and complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN), namely, the LSTM, EOF–LSTM, CEEMDAN–LSTM, and EOF–CEEMDAN–LSTM. Using these models, we conduct long-range predictions (120 days) of the Kuroshio path south of Japan based on 50-yr ocean reanalysis and nearly 15 years of satellite altimeter data. We show that the EOF–CEEMDAN–LSTM performs the best among the four models, by attaining approximately 0.739 anomaly correlation coefficient and 0.399° root-mean-square error for the 120-day prediction of the Kuroshio path south of Japan. The hindcasts of the EOF–CEEMDAN–LSTM are successful in reproducing the observed formation and decay of the Kuroshio large meander during 2004/05, and the formation of the latest large meander in 2017. Finally, we present predictions of the Kuroshio path south of Japan at 120-day lead time, which suggest that the Kuroshio will remain in the state of the large meander until November 2022.