Abstract
To clarify the effects of Kuroshio-related offshore ocean current fluctuations on the coastal current system, we performed field measurements of the velocity and water qualities in the Kashima coastal region extending to the shelf edge. The results show that the deflection of Kuroshio current towards the Kashima coast induces a strong south ward current in the wide extent of the coastal region and there by the Oyashio influenced water intrudes with a sharp temperature and salinity front to the coastal area from the northern offshore area. The frontal eddies of Kuroshio current may have an another appreciable influence to the coastal current field, i. e., the warm water from a frontal eddy intrudes to the surface layer of the shelf sea with about 20m thickness.
