• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.383-389
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• 2009

The main objective of the research is a feasibility study on the intertidal zone using a X-band radar satellite, TerraSAR-X. The TerraSAR-X data have been acquired in the west coast of Korea where large tidal flats, Ganghwa and Yeongjong tidal flats, are developed. Investigations include: 1) waterline and backscattering characteristics of the high resolution X-band images in tidal flats; 2) polarimetric signature of halophytes (or salt marsh plants), specifically Suaeda japonica; and 3) phase and coherence of interferometric pairs. Waterlines from TerraSAR-X data satisfy the requirement of horizontal accuracy of 60 m that corresponds to 20 cm in average height difference while current other spaceborne SAR systems could not meet the requirement. HH-polarization was the best for extraction of waterline, and its geometric position is reliable due to the short wavelength and accurate orbit control of the TerraSAR-X. A halophyte or salt marsh plant, Suaeda japonica, is an indicator of local sea level change. From X-band ground radar measurements, a dual polarization of VV/VH-pol. is anticipated to be the best for detection of the plant with about 9 dB difference at 35 degree incidence angle. However, TerraSAR-X HH/TV dual polarization was turned to be more effective for salt marsh monitoring. The HH-HV value was the maximum of about 7.9 dB at 31.6 degree incidence angle, which is fairly consistent with the results of X-band ground radar measurement. The boundary of salt marsh is effectively traceable specifically by TerraSAR-X cross-polarization data. While interferometric phase is not coherent within normal tidal flat, areas of salt marsh where the landization is preceded show coherent interferometric phases regardless of seasons or tide conditions. Although TerraSAR-X interferometry may not be effective to directly measure height or changes in tidal flat surface, TanDEM-X or other future X-band SAR tandem missions within one-day interval would be useful for mapping tidal flat topography.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.259-266
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• 1998

A study on the biological and chemical characteristics in the middle last Sea of Korea was carried out at 31 stations in October $11\~18$, 1995 on board the R/V Tam-Yang. The chlorophyll a concentration, new and regenerated production, and the vertical diffusion of nitrate from the thermocline structure were investigated. From the vertical distribution of chlorophyll a, subsurface maxima were observed near the thermorline at most stations including the frontal zone, except at the southern stations where the maximum chloropyll a concentration occurred at the surface, The nanophytoplankton was the most dominant fraction comprising $83.5\%$ of total phytoplankton cell numbers, but netphytoplankton were common at the southern stations where the dominant species were Rhizosolenia sp. Nitrogenous new production and regenerated productions were measured using the stable isotope $^{15}N$ nitrate and ammonia uptake method. The vertically integrated nitrogen production varied between 8.470 and $72.945\;mg\;N\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$. The f-ratio, which is the traction of new production from primary production, waried between 0.03 and 0.72, indicating that $3\%$ to $72\%$ of primary production was supported by the input of nutrients from below the euphotic zone and the rest are supported by ammonia recycled within the euphotic layer. This range of f-ratio encompasses from extremely oligotrophic to eutrophic area characteristics. The differences in productivity and f-ratio among stations were related to frontal structure and the bottom topography. The values were high near the frontal zone and low outside of it, and the station near Ulleng Island showed the highest f-ratio. Vertical diffusion coefficients were calculated from both the water column stability (Kz-1) of King and Devol's equation (1979) and new nitrogen requirement (Kz-2). The values of Kz-2 ($0.11\~0.55\;cm^2/s$) were relatively low compared to the values reported previously.