Warming Trend of Coastal Waters of Korea during Recent 60 Years (1936-1995)

Recent changes in the coastal sea surface temperatures (SST) in Korea are studied by time series analysis of daily SST data during the last 60 years (1936-1995) at 18 coastal observation stations of the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute. The climate of coastal SST in Korea are rapidly changing in recent years. General trends of coast SST changes in Korea are as follows. The annual averages of SST are increasing. The annual ranges of SST variation are decreasing. The winter SST are increasing while the summer SST have a decreasing tendency. Climatic changes in coastal SST in recent 30 years (1965-1995) are more pronounced than those in the last 60 years (1936-1995). The observed trend of coast SST implies that the climate in Korea shows a tendency to shift from temperate zone to subtropical zone.