Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms that are highly productive in the presence of basic renewable natural sources (light, $CO_2$, water and nutrients). They can synthesize lipids, carbohydrates and proteins in a small number of days. Subsequently, these carbon-captured products can be processed into both biofuels and valuable co-products. Additionally, microalgae would be an ideal feedstock for replacing land-based food crops with cellular products as high energy density transportation fuels. These microscopic organisms could contribute a significant amount of renewable energy on a global scale. In Korea, microalgae biofuel research was common in the early 1990s. The research activities were unfortunately stopped due to limited governmental funds and low petroleum prices. Interest in algal biofuels in Korea has been growing recently due to an increased concern over oil prices, energy security, greenhouse gas emissions, and the potential for other biofuel feedstock to compete for limited agricultural resources. The high productivity of microalgae suggests that much of the Korean transportation fuel requirements can be met by biofuels at a production cost competitive with the increasing cost of petroleum seen in early 2008. At this time, the development of microlalgal biomass production technology remains in its infancy. This study reviewed microalgae culture systems and biomass production, harvesting, oil extraction, conversion, and technoeconomical bottlenecks. Many technical and economic barriers to using microalgal biofuels need to be overcome before mass production of microalgal-derived fuel substitutes is possible. However, serious efforts to overcome these barriers could become a large-scale commercial reality. Overall, this study provides a brief overview of the past few decades of global microalgal research.

In this study, crude extracts of the marine eelgrass Zostera japonica and their solvent-partitioned fractions were evaluated for their inhibitory effect against AGS, HT-1080 and MCF-7 human cancer cells using MTT assay. Each of the crude extracts (acetone/methylene, chloride, and methanol) of Z. japonica showed a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of human cancer cells. The combined crude extracts were partitioned between $CH_2Cl_2$ and water. The organic layer was further partitioned between 85% aq. MeOH and n-hexane, and the aqueous layer was then fractionated into n-BuOH and $H_2O$, successively. Growth inhibition effects of solvent-partitioned fractions from Z. japonica on human cancer cells increased in a dose-dependent manner. Among these tested samples, the 85% aq. MeOH fraction revealed good inhibitory effects on the growth of AGS and HT-1080 human cancer cells, while the n-hexane fraction exhibited good inhibitory effects on the growth of AGS and MCF-7 human cancer cells. In addition, 85% aq. MeOH and n-hexane fractions enhanced mRNA expression of p53 gene. These results suggest that there is further scope for the isolation of active compounds from Z. japonica, which should show much stronger anticancer activity.

Ten-year AVHRR sea surface temperature data obtained in the Yellow Sea are put into EOF analyses. Temperature variation is predominated by the first mode which is associated with the seasonal fluctuation of temperature with annual range decreasing with the bottom depth. Since such a strong annual signal may mask the upwind or downwind flows occurring intermittently during the winter, only the data obtained during this season are put into EOF analyses. Every winter shows similar results. The first mode, explaining more than 90% of total variance, appears to be a part of the seasonal variation of temperature mentioned above. In the second mode, the time coefficient is well correlated with northerly winds to which the responses of the trough and shallow coastal areas are opposite to each other. A simple theoretical consideration suggests the following physical explanation: The northerly wind stress anomaly creates an upwind (downwind) flow over the trough (coastal) areas, which then induces a temperature increase (decrease) by advection of heat, and vice versa for the southerly wind stress anomaly. Hence, this paper provides further evidence of the intermittent upwind or downwind flows occurring in the Yellow Sea every winter.

Among others, a question that has long been unanswered is why the seasonal variation of volume transport is larger in the Soya and Korea/Tsushima Straits than in the Tsugaru Strait. An attempt is made to answer this question in terms of the island rule with friction being taken into account. The problem is idealized as a simple model. The model results indicate that volume transport through a channel is determined not only by the circulation created around the adjacent island but also by those created around the neighboring islands farther away. The latter is due to the presence of bottom friction in the channels. The volume transports through the Korea/Tsushima, Tsugaru and Soya Straits estimated from the model using observed wind data show the general pattern of observed seasonality, although they contain large errors associated with the uncertain frictional parameter employed in the model. The model indicates that the observed seasonality arises essentially from the fact that wind stress curl changes its sign, from negative in the summer to positive in winter, following a large fluctuation of zero-stress curl latitude east of Hokkaido.

하계 울릉분지에서 관측된 SCM층은 울릉분지에만 국한되어 나타나는 것이 아니라 동해 전역에서 관측되었다. 각기 다른 시기에 관측된 여러 문헌 자료와 하계 동해 전역에서 관측된 자료에 의하면 SCM층이 나타나는 시기는 5월부터 10월 하순까지 나타나는 것으로 추정된다. SCM층 바로 상층부에 표층보다 높은 용존산소가 관측되었고, SCM층이 영양염의 농도가 급격하게 증가하는 수심에 나타나는 것으로 보아 침강이나 낮은 광량에 대한 식물플랑크톤의 생리적인 적응보다는 식물플랑크톤이 활발하게 성장하고 있음 시사한다. SCM층에서 식물플랑크톤이 오랜기간 동안 지속적으로 성장하기 위한 영양염 공급과정으로 수직 확산, 소형 및 중형동물플랑크톤의 재생산등이 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 이들 과정은 SCM층에서 식물플랑크톤 질소 요구량의 약 50% 정도만 설명할 수 있어 SCM층의 질소 요구량에 대한 추가적인 공급기작으로는 난수성 소용돌이가 제시되었다. 그러나 난수성 소용돌이가 발달하지 않은 해역과 시기에 관측된 SCM층에 영양염은 고온 저염의 특성을 가지면서 영양염이 고갈된 표층수 아래에서 대한해협을 통해서 유입되는 영양염이 비교적 풍부한 해수가 울릉분지내로 유입되어 북상하면서 유광층까지 직접으로 상승하거나 수평이동 응력의 차이로 발생하는 난류혼합등에 의해서 추가적으로 공급되는 것으로 사료된다(Fig. 17). 그리고 동해 전역에서 5월에서 10월까지 존재하는 SCM층은 표층에서 심층으로의 유기물 수송에 상당히 기여할 것으로 사료된다.

We simulated and compared present and future ocean circulation in the East China Sea using an East Asia Regional Ocean model. Mean climate states for 1990~1999 and 2030~2039 were used as surface conditions for simulations of present and future ocean circulation, which were derived from the simulations of three different global climate models, ECHAM5-MPI, GFDL-CM2.0 and MIROC3.2_hires, for the 20th century and those of 21st century as projected by the IPCC SRES A1B. East Asia Regional Ocean model simulated the detailed patterns of temperature, salinity and current fields under present and future climate conditions and their changes instead of the simple structures of global climate models. To some extent, there are consistent ocean circulation changes derived from the three pairs corresponding to the global climate model in so much as the temperature increases not only in winter but summer at both the surface and bottom and that temperature and salinity changes are prominent near the Chinese coast and in the Changjiang bank. However, the simulated circulations are different among each other depending on the prescribed atmospheric conditions not only under present climate but also with regard to future climate conditions. There is not a coincident tendency in ocean circulation changes between present and future simulations derived from the three pairs. This suggests that more simulations with different pairs are needed.

The EtOH extracts of red seaweeds (Symphyocladia latiuscula, Chondrus ocellatus and Carpopeltis affinis) and solvent partitioned fractions were investigated for their 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effects and the total phenolic contents were correlated with ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities. The EtOH extracts and their solvent partitioned fractions exhibited strong ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities. Among the solvent partitioned fractions obtained from n-Hexane (HX), methylenchloride (MC), ethylacetate (EA), and buthanol (BuOH), the HX fraction from C. affinis showed higher radical scavenging activities than other fractions. Total phenolic contents showed significant correlation ($r^2$ = 0.709) with ABTS radical scavenging activity. The results of this study suggest that the strong radical scavenging activity of HX fraction from C. affinis is a promising natural antioxidant for healthcare products.

Ocean surface current data in Korea was collected using sets of High-Frequency Ocean Surface Radars (HFOSRs) with 25 radial sites in the frequency range of 5~43 MHz. Site selection and the correct installation of HFOSR are very important considerations in order to secure continuous and reliable results. The installation procedures of HFOSR are summarized as follows: 1. Survey area selection; 2. Investigation of ambient radio waves and installation environment; 3. Domestic license of radio station; 4. Installation of antenna and housing of electrical and communication devices. The current work describes the entire processes of HFOSR installation within Korea.