Hydrographic structure and variability in the Kuroshio-Oyashio Transition Area

The hydrographic structure and variability in the Kuroshio-Oyashio Transition Area of the northwestern Pacific are briefly reviewed, focusing on the circulation, frontal structure and water-mass formation from surface to intermediate depths. This area is a key to understanding climate and ecosystem variations because signals can be detected earlier than major climate regime shifts and also because species replacement among small pelagic fishes could be related to environmental changes in this area. We need further studies of the effect of North Pacific Intermediate Water on surface currents and frontal structures and also studies on the formation and variability of water-masses in surface mixed layer.