The Chlorophyll Concentration in the Southwestern East Sea Observed by Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS)

Monthly mean chlorophyll concentration in the East Sea was estimated from the ocean color observed by the Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) on Nimbus-7 satellite which had performed various remote sensing missions from 1979 to 1986. The areas of high chlorophyll concentration were found in the sea between Siberia coast and Sakhalin Island, in the Donghan Bay and in the Ulleung Basin. In the southwestern East Sea, especially in the area near Ulleung Island, the yearly maximum chlorophyll concentration occurred in December. The chlorophyll concentration in Ulleung Basin in December was about two times higher than during spring bloom in April. The early winter bloom occurred in the warm side of the front that was formed between warm water from the East China Sea and nutrition rich cold water from the northern East Sea.