• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.201-211
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• 2022

At the center of the Noryang waterway, the Gwangyang bay area (including the Yeosu Strait) is located at the west, and the Jinju bay area (including Gangjin bay and Sacheon bay) is located at the east. Freshwater from several rivers is flowing into the study area. In particula,r the event of flood, great quantities freshwater flow from Seomjingang (Seomjin river) into the Gwangyang bay area and from Gahwacheon (discharge from Namgang Dam) into the Jinju bay. The Gwangyang and Jinju bay are connected to the Noryang waterway. In addition, freshwater from Seomjingang and Gahwacheon also affect through the Noryang waterway. In this study, we elucidated the characteristics of the tidal exchange rate and residence time for dry season and flood season on 50 frequency, considering freshwater from 51 rivers, including Seomjingang and Gahwacheon, using a particle tracking method. We conducted additional experiments to determine the effect of freshwater from Seomjingang and Gahwacheon during flooding. In both the dry season and flood season, the result showed that the particles released from the Gwangyang bay moved to the Jinju bay through the Noryang waterway. However, comparatively small amount of particles moved from the Jinju bay to the Gwangyang bay. Each experimental case, the sea exchange rate was 44.40~67.21% in the Gwangyang bay and 50.37~73.10% in the Jinju bay, and the average residence time was 7.07~15.36days in the Gwangyang bay and 6.45~12.75days in the Jinju bay. Consequently the sea exchange rate increased and the residence time decreased during flooding. A calculation of cross-section water flux over 30 days for 7 internal and 5 external areas, indicated that the main essential flow direction of the water flux was the river outflow water from Seomjingang flow through the Yeosu strait to the outer sea and from Gahwacheon flow through Sacheon bay, Jinju bay and the Daebang waterway to the outer sea.