• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.153-161
• /
• 2006

To investigate inflow path of the East Sea Intermediate Water (ESIW) into the Ulleung Basin, hydrographic data surveyed in July 2005 were analyzed. The ESIW was characterized by the Salinity Minimum Layer (SML) within a depth range of 100 to 360 meters. Averaged potential temperature and salinity of the SML were $1.835^{\circ}C$ and 34.049 psu, respectively. Mean potential density $({\sigma}_{\theta})$ of the SML was 27.221 with a standard deviation of 0.0393. On isopycnal surfaces of 27.14 and 27.18 $({\sigma}_{\theta})$ which correspond to upper layers of the ESIW, the coastal low salinity water was separated from the offshore low salinity water by the relatively warm and saline water which might be affected by the Tsushima Warm Current Water. Relatively cold and fresh water, however, intruded into the Ulleung Basin from the region of Korean coast on isopycnal surfaces of 27.22 and 27.26 which was lower layer of the ESIW. The salinity distribution in the isopycnal layer of $27.14{\sim}27.26$ with acceleration potential on 27.22 up surface also showed clearly that the low salinity water flowed from the coastal area and intruded into the Ulleung Basin. This implies that the ESIW flows ken the north to the south along the east coasts of Korea and spreads into the Ulleung Basin in summer.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.146-156
• /
• 1998

Hydrographic data retrieved in the southwestern part of the East Sea in 1992-1993 were analyzed to investigate the probability of southward intrusion of the East Sea Intermediate Water (ESIW) into the Ulleung Basin. The ESIW showed the ranges of 1 to 4$^{\circ}$C in potential temperature, 33.80-34.06 psu in salinity, and 26.9-27.3 kg/m$^3$ in potential density (${\sigma}$$_{\theta}$). The mean depth occupied by the ESIW was 170 m, where the characteristic values of the above three were 2.64$^{\circ}$C , 34.02 psu, and 27.13 kg/m$^3$, respectively. One of the most prominent features of the ESIW was that its salinity changed not only seasonally but also interannually. It was low in summer and high in winter. The salinity within the isopycnal layer of 26.9-27.3 kg/m$^3$ was closely related with the potential vorticity (${\rho}$$_{\theta}^{-1}$ f ${\varrho}$${\rho}_{\theta}$/${\varrho}$z), being in direct proportion to the salinity. This implies that the low-salinity water was thicker than the high-salinity water. The flow path of the ESIW was investigated by tracking the low-salinity or the low-potential vorticity water and by referring to acceleration potential. Careful analysis of the flow path proves that the ESIW intrudes from the north between the Korean coast and Ulleung Island into the Ulleung Basin in summer. Existence of the high-potential vorticity water in the Ulleung Basin is associated with the interruption of the inflow of low-salinity water.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.33-42
• /
• 2007

To obtain the overall distribution patterns and characteristics of the East Sea Intermediate Water (ESIW), the historical data obtained by the Japan Maizuru Marine Observatory (MMO) and the Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI) were analyzed. To obtain water characteristics of the ESIW on isopycnal surfaces, temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen were interpolated at every 0.01 interval of potential density. And then the interpolated values were averaged at the same potential density. This potential density average method preserved the salinity minimum layer more clearly compared to the depth average method. The potential density(${\sigma}_{\theta}$) range of the ESIW was $26.9{\sim}27.3$. The representative potential density of the ESIW was found to be 27.2, because the characteristics of the ESIW was clear at this density. From the horizontal distributions of physical properties on the isopycnal surface of $27.2{\sigma}_{\theta}$ it is suggested that the low salinity ESIW circulates anticlockwise over the whole basin with the high salinity intermediate water. The low salinity intermediate water extended from the northwestern part to the east along the sub-polar front and to the Ulleung Basin along the east coast of Korea.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.119-127
• /
• 1997

In order to investigate the distribution of the last Sea Intermediate Water (ESIW), CTD measurement was peformed in the last Sea of Korea during $8\~11$ November, 1994. ESIW was $2.0\~2.3^{\circ}C$ in potential temperature, $34.04\~34.06\%_{\circ}$ in salinity and $5.6\~6.1\;ml/l$ in of gen content on the isopycnic surface of 27.2 in potential density. The isopycnic surface of 27.2 which represented the layer of ESIW became shallower from about 200 m depth in the open sea to about 140 m depth near the coast. off the coast of Jukbyun, the 27.2 isopycnic surface was located at the depth of about 120 m and had a little higher potential temperature and salinity, lower oxygen content than those in the open sea. The ESIW on the continental shelf was higher about 0.8 ml/l in AOU, 0.02 in salinity than those of the ESIW in the open sea. These suggest that the ESIW on the continental shelf did not come from the North Korean Cold Water but originated from the open sea.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.21-30
• /
• 2006

This study investigated the temperature-salinity spatio-temporal variability around the Ulleung-do Island (UI) by using CTD profiles obtained by the ARGO floats far the period of Oct.,2003 to Aug.,2005. The waterbody in the upper 700 m around the UI could be classified into five water masses, which is consistent to traditional water characteristics in the East Sea. In the upper surface layer, the temperature and salinity in fall season became even lower than those properties in the summer time. The East Sea Intermediate Water (ESIW) characterized by the salinity minimum layer shows the range of potential temperature between 1 to $5^{\circ}C$ and salinity lower than 34.06 psu. The ESIW lies approximately at 265 m depth with average thickness of 175 m. This thickness of the ESIW continues to be relatively uniform regardless of spatio-temporal space. However, the depth of the ESIW shows vertical variation influenced by the Ulleung warm eddy (UWE). Since the UWE lies in the upper layer, the Upper Portion of the Japan Sea Proper. Water (UPJSPW) is also affected to show the vertical variation. The influence extorted by the UWE reached down to 700 m depth in terms of temperature. The CTD profiles obtained with the high sampling rate by ARCO floats over two-year period provided with very useful and detailed informations in investigating the spatio-temporal variability In the study area.

• 한국해양학회지
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.278-290
• /
• 1991

A synoptic survey of chemical properties was carried out at 21 stations in the Ulleung Basin in May 1988 on board T/V HANBADA. Vertical structures of typical profiles are: surface mixedlayer waters in the upper 30∼40 m with depleted nutrients concentrations, thermocline waters with rapid variations in all physical and chemical properties. and deep Waters below 200 m which are nearly homogeneous. Along the northern section at 37$^{\circ}$12'N. The salinity minimum layer was observed at about 190m. which characterize the East Sea Intermediate Water (ESIW). The dissolved oxygen concentration in this layer was about 230∼ 275uM, lower than 290uM (6.5ml/l) which is the previously known characteristics of the ESIW. However, apparent oxygen utilization (AOU), nitrate, phosphate and silicate show systematically low concentration in the salinity-minimum layer. The low values of AOU and all the nutrients associated with the salinity-minimum, may be useful to identify the ESIW and serve as a new tracer in the East Sea.

• 한국해양학회지
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.83-100
• /
• 1991

A layer of salinity-minimum which characterizes the East Sea intermediate Water (ESIW) is found at an approximate depth of 200 m in three CTD section taken in the Ulleung Basin on May 17-21, 1988. Properties at this layer vary in ranges of $1.1^{\circ}C except at stations near the east coast of Korea where temperature is as high as $4.39^{\circ}C$ and salinity is as low as $33.992{\textperthousand}$. To be distinguished from the ESIW the East Sea Proper Water (ESPW) may be characterized by temperature less than $1^{\circ}C$, Salinity at the saliently-minimum layer and 500db increases southward in general, implying that the cold waters, both ESIW and ESPW, formed in the northern basin of the East Sea are spreading southward below the permanent thermocline in the basin. Hydrography in the Ulleung Basin is very similar to that in the Alboran Sea, suggesting a possibility of an anticyclonic circulation in the Ulleung Basin which is controlled strongly by the shoaling bottom.

• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.581-594
• /
• 2004

CREAHS II carried out an intensive hydrographic survey covering almost entire East Sea in 1999. Hydrographic data from total 203 stations were released to public on the internee. This paper summarized the results of water mass analysis by OHP (Optimum Multiparameter) method that utilizes temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity, silicate, nitrate, phosphate and location data as an input data-matrix. A total of eight source water types are identified in the East Sea: four in surface waters(North Korea Surface Water, Tatar Surface Cold Water, East Korean Coastal Water, Modified Tsushima Surface Water), two intermediate water types (Tsushima Middle Water, Liman Cold Water), two deep water types (East Sea Intermediate Water, East Sea Proper Water). Of these NKSW, MTSW and TSCW are the newly reported as the source water type. Distribution of each water types reveals several few interesting hydrographic features. A few noteworthy are summarized as follows: The Tsushima Warm Current enter the East Sea as three branches; East Korea Coastal Water propagates north along the coast around $38^{\circ}N$ then turns to northeastward to $42^{\circ}N$ and moves eastward. Cold waters of northern origin move southward along the coast at the subsurface, which existence the existence of a circulation cell at the intermediate depth of the East Sea. The estimated volume of each water types inferred from the OMP results show that the deep waters (ESIW + ESPW) fill up ca. 90% of the East Sea basins. Consequently the formation and circulation of deep waters are the key factors controlling environmental condition of the East Sea.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.503-526
• /
• 1996

A synoptic survery of chemical characteristics in the last Sea of Korea was carried out at the 11 stations near Ullungdo in November, 1994 on board R/V Tam-Yang. On the basis of the vortical distribution patterns of temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen, water masses in the study area are divided into five groups; 1) Tsushima Surface Water (TSW), 2) Tsushima Middle Water (TMW), 3) East Sea Intermediate Water (ESIW), 4) last Sea Proper Water (ESPW), 5) Mixed Water (MW). In the vertical profiles of nutrients, the concentrations were very low in the surface layer and increased rapidly near the thermocline. There was a slight decrease in the ESIW and the concentrations were constant with the depth below 300m except dissolved silicate which still increased with depth. Relatively high value of Si/P ratio (25.2) in ESPW, whick is the oldest water mass, suggests that Si is regenerating more slowly compared to other nutrients. The relatively high value of N/P ratio (18.6) in the surface layer might be related to high vertical eddy diffusivity $(K_z)$ of $1.19\;cm^{2}/sec$ and high nitrate upward flux of $103.7\;{\mu}g-at/m^{2}/hr$, compared to the values reported in other areas. Apparent Oxygen Utilization (AOU) was very low in the surface layer and increased in the TMW, but there was a slight decrease in the ESIW. The highest value of AOU occurred in the ESPW. The slpoe of P/AOU was 0.50. The study on the relationship between water masses and nutrient distribution patterns is important in understanding the regeneration processes of nutrients in the polar region of the last Sea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.205-211
• /
• 2016

Based on the Expendable Bathythermograph (XBT) observation and serial oceanographic observation of National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS) during July 2013 to July 2015, we examined the temperature variation in the Ulleung Warm Eddy (UWE) in the East Sea. The UWE was always shown during the observation periods even though it was not the whole shape. The coefficient of variation (CV) was largest in the depth of 250 m at the side of the east coast of Korean Peninsula with $3{\sim}4^{\circ}C$ in temperature. CV of the horizontal distribution at 250 m depth was also largest in the region biased along the east coast of Korea. The warm eddy moved not only to the east-west direction but also to the north-south direction in the viewpoint of horizontal distributions of temperature. This region between the Korean Peninsula and Ulleung island also is the passage of the East Korean Warm Current. This means that interaction between the East Korean Warm Current and periphery of warm eddy makes large in the variation of movement along the east coast of Korean Peninsula. The largest variation of temperature at 250 m depth seemed to be significantly correlated with the East Sea Intermediate Water (ESIW) underlying Ulleung Warm Eddy. It is suggested that the interaction between the ESIW and UWE is active in the mid-depth along the periphery of UWE.