Distribution and Transport of Suspended Particulate Matter, Dissolved Oxygen and Major Inorganic Nutrients in the Cheju Strait

Distribution of suspended particulate matter, dissolved oxygen and major inorganic nutrients along a meridional section ($126^{\circ}$ 33' E) in the Cheju Strait is described along with the hydrographic and current data obtained during April 25-27, 1995. The current measurements was conducted using a vessel-mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). Repeated coverage along an ADCP transect during 25 hours allows to calculate the daily mean along- and cross-strait currents. Measured material concentrations and the mean current speed were used to estimate the flux density (cencentration times current speed) of materials. Two types of depth distibution of flux densities were observed. for nitrate and suspended particulate matter, the depth distribution pattern of materials determines those of flux densities. However, flow patterns determine those of flux densities for dissolved oxygen, phosphate and silicic acid. The total along-strait water volume transport is about 0.3 Sv (1Sv $10^{6}$ $m^{3}/s^{-1}$). The total along-strait material transports are estimated to be 3.1 $${\times} $10^{5}$ $g/s^{-1},$ 2.4 ${\times}$ $10^{6}\;g/s^{-1},$ 7.I ${\times}$ $10^{2}\;mol/s^{-1},$ 3.I ${\times}$ $10\;mol/s^{-1},$ 1.7 ${\times}$ $10^{3}\;mol/s^{-1}$ for suspended particulate matter, dissolved oxygen, nitrate ion, silicic acid and phosphate ion, respectively.