• 한국해양학회지
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.83-100
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• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.143-156
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• 2015

In order to understand the dynamic characteristics of water column environments in the Western Pacific seamount area (approximately $150.2^{\circ}E$, $20^{\circ}N$), we investigated the water mass and the behavior of water column parameters such as dissolved oxygen, inorganic nutrients (N, P), and chlorophyll-a. Physico-chemical properties of water column were obtained by CTD system at the nine stations which were selected along the east-west and south-north direction around the seamount (OSM14-2) in October 2014. From the temperature-salinity diagram, the main water masses were separated into North Pacific Tropical Water and Thermocline Water in the surface layer, North Pacific Intermediate Water in the intermediate layer, and North Pacific Deep Water in the bottom layer, respectively. Oxygen minimum zone (OMZ, mean $O_2$ $73.26{\mu}M$), known as dysoxic condition ($O_2<90{\mu}M$), was distributed in the depth range of 700~1,200 m throughout the study area. Inorganic nutrients typified by nitrite + nitrate and phosphate showed the lowest concentration in the surface mixed layer and then gradually increased downward with representing the maximum concentration in the OMZ, with lower N:P ratio (13.7), indicating that the nitrogen is regarded as limiting factor for primary production. Vertical distribution of water column parameters along the east-west and south-north station line around the seamount showed the effect of bottom water inflowing at around 500 m deep in the western and southern region, and concentrations of water column parameters in the bottom layer (below 2,500 m deep) of the western and southern region were differently distributed comparing to those of the other side regions (eastern and northern). The value of Excess N calculated from Redfield ratio (N:P=16:1) represented the negative value throughout the study area, which indicated the nitrogen sink dominant environments, and relative higher value of Excess N observed in the bottom layer of western and southern region. These observations suggest that the topographic features of a seamount influence the circulation of bottom current and its effects play a significant role in determining the behavior of water column environmental parameters.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.190-199
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• 2008

To investigate hydrographic structure and characteristics of the tropical ocean in the eastern and the western Pacific, CTD(Conductivity-Temperature-Depth) data along $131^{\circ}W$ and $137^{\circ}-142^{\circ}E$ in July-August 2005 were analyzed. Sea surface temperature along $131.5^{\circ}W$ in summer is highest in the Equatorial Counter Current(ECC) because of the high-temperature water greater than $28^{\circ}C$ moving through the ECC from the western Pacific to the eastern Pacific in spring and summer. Based on the evidence of the presence of low salinity and high dissolved oxygen water in the North Equatorial Current(NEC), we suggested that the low salinity water moved from the Gulf of Panama to the east of Philippine along the North Equatorial Current(NEC). The South Equatorial Current(SEC) had the most saline water from surface to deep layer because the saline water from the Subtropical South Pacific Ocean moved to the north. The salinity minimum layer was observed at 500-1500 m depth along $131.5^{\circ}W$. The water mass with the salinity minimum layer in the north of $5^{\circ}N$ came from the North Pacific Intermediate Water(NPIW) and that in the south of $5^{\circ}N$ came from the Antarctic Intermediate Water(AAIW), which was more saline than the NPIW. Cyclonic cold eddy with a diameter of about 200km was found in $4-6^{\circ}N$. Sea surface temperature along $131.5^{\circ}W$ in the eastern Pacific was lower than along $137^{\circ}-142^{\circ}E$ in the western Pacific; on the other hand, sea surface salinity in the eastern Pacific was higher than in the western Pacific. Subsurface saline water from the Subtropical South Pacific Ocean was less saline in the eastern Pacific than in the western Pacific. Salinity and density(${\sigma}_{\theta}$) of the salinity minimum layer south of $14^{\circ}N$ was higher in the eastern Pacific than in the western Pacific.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.91-115
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• 1995

Air-sea heat fluxes in the East Sea were estimated from the various ship's data observed from 1961 to 1990 and the JMA buoy #6 data from 1976 to 1985. The oceanic heat transport in the sea was also determined from the fluxes above and the heat storage rate of the upper layer of 200m from the sea surface. In winter, The incoming solar radiation is almost balanced with the outgoing longwave radiation. but the sea loses her heat through the sea surface mainly due to the latent and sensible heat fluxes. The spatial variation of the net surface heat flux is about 100 Wm/SUP -2/, and the maximum loss of heat is occurred near the Tsugaru Strait. There are also lots of heat losses in the southern part of the East Sea, Korea Strait and Ulleung Basin. Particularly, the heat strong loss in the south-western part of the sea might be concerned with the formation of her Intermediate Homogeneous Water. In summer, the sea is heated up to about 120∼140 Wm/SUP -2/ sue to strong incoming solar radiation and weak turbulent heat fluxes and her spatial variation is only about 20 Wm/SUP -2/. The oceanic heat flux is positive in the southeasten part f the sea and the magnitude of the flux is larger than that of the net surface heat flux. This shows the importance of the area. In the southwestern part of the sea, however, the oceanic heat flux is negative. This fact implies cold water inflow, the North Korean Cold Water. The sigh of net surface heat flux is changed from negative to positive in March and from positive to negative in September. The heat content in the upper surface 200 m from the sea surface reaches its minimum in March and maximum in October. The annual variation of the net surface heat flux is 580 Wm/SUP -2/ in southwestern part of the sea. The annual mean values of net surface heat fluxes are negative, which mean the net heat transfer from the sea to the atmosphere. The magnitude of the flux is about 130 Wm/SUP -2/ near the Tsugaru Strait. The net surface fluxes in the Korea Strait and the Ulleung Basin are relatively larger than those of the rest areas. The spatial mean values of surface heat fluxes from 35$^{\circ}C$ to 39$^{\circ}$N are 129, -90, -58, and -32 Wm/SUP -2/ for the incoming solar radiation, latent hear flux, outgoing longwave radiation, and sensible heat flux, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.323-330
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• 1988

The spatial distribution of sea water temperature variation pattern in the South-eastern coastal region of Korea was studied by empirical orthogonal function (E. O. F) analysis in several depths from surface to 300m using the monthly mean water temperature averaged for 23 years, water mass analysis by T. S diagram and sectional diagram of water temperature. Typical type of water temperature variation in this area can be divided into surface (0m-50m), subsurface (100m-150m) and intermediate (200m-300m) layer. The first mode value of water temperature change on the surface layer showed $99\%$ of total variation, and decreased with the increase of the depth. It is deduced to be in the range of $60-70\%$ on the 300m layer. The representative type of water temperature fluctuation by the first mode in each layer is as follows. Water temperature change in the surface layer showed a seasonal variation. In the subsurface layer, it is governed by the interaction of the Tsushima Warm Current water with the cold water and by the heat transfer process from the upper layer. In the intermediate layer, water temperature variation seems to be governed by the advection of the bottom cold water.

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

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.17-32
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• 2022

The buffer capacity of southern Korean waters in summer was quantified using data set of temperature, salinity, dissolved inorganic carbon, total alkalinity obtained from August 2020 cruise. The geographical distribution and variability of six buffer factors, which amended the existing Revelle factor, are discussed their relationship with the hydrological parameters of temperature and salinity. The calculated results of six buffer factors showed the spatial variations according to the distributions of various water masses. The buffer capacity was low in the East Sea Surface Mixed Water (ESMW) and South Sea Surface Mixed Water (SSMW) where upwelling occurred, and showed an intermediate value in the Yellow Sea Surface Water (YSSW). In addition, the buffer capacity increased in the order of high temperature Tsushima Warm Current (TWC) and Changjiang Diluted Water (CDW). This means that the Changjiang discharge water in summer strengthens the buffer capacity of the study area. The highest buffer capacity of CDW is due to its relatively higher temperature and biological productivity, and a summer stratification. Temperature showed a good positive correlation (R²=0.79) with buffer capacity in all water masses, whereas salinity exhibited a poor negative correlation (R²=0.30). High temperature strengthens buffer capacity through thermodynamic processes such as gas exchange and distribution of carbonate system species. In the case of salinity, the relationship with buffer capacity is reversed because salinity of the study area is not controlled by precipitation or evaporation but by a local freshwater input and mixing with upwelled water.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.404-412
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• 1994

Radium isotopes were measured together with oceanographical parameters in the southern coastal region of the Korean East Sea during the period of September $2{\sim}8$, 1991. In September, there were various water masses vertically distributed in this region due to formation of strongly seasonal thermoclines. These water masses were characterized by activity of radium isotopes as well as water temperature and dissolved oxygen. Among the water masses, Japan Sea Proper Water(JSPW) below $1^{\circ}C$ had the highest Ra-226 activities but the lowest Ra-228 concentrations. However, Tsushima Surface Water (TSW) above $20^{\circ}C$ in water temperature had the highest Ra-228 which decreased sharply with depth. In TSW, Ra-228 activities were in the range of $194{\sim}270$ dpm/kl, which were approximately 10 times higher than JSPW. Activity ratios(A.R's) of Ra-228/Ra-226 were $1.9{\sim}2.6$ for TSW, $0.7{\sim}1.1$ for Tsushima Middle Water(TMW) of $12{\sim}17^{\circ}C\;to\;0.4{\sim}0.7$ for North Korea Cold Water(NKCW) with $1{\sim}7^{\circ}C$ and below 0.2 for JSPW. The Ra-228/Ra-226 ranged from 0.6 to 0.9 in the cold waters of $2{\sim}6^{\circ}C$, which were observed at depth of $65{\sim}120\;m$ in this study area. Radium isotopes provided a useful means of identifying origins of the cold water which occurred annually at intermediate or bottom layers in the southern coastal zone of the Korean East Sea. By plotting radium isotopes against water temperature, it could be observed clearly that the cold waters between $2{\sim}6^{\circ}C$ did not originate from the mixed water of JSPW and TMW but from NKCW.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.37-52
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• 1998

The NSCAT(NASA Scatterometer) carried by the japanese Advanced Earth Observing Satellite(ADEOS) was the first high resolution(25 km) device for the direct wind measurement over the ocean. Even it was ceased to operate in lune of 1977 because of the power failure, it gave the first opportunity to the marine meteorologists to study the direct measured ocean wind during its 9 months of operation, especially around Korea. This study is to show monthly mean ocean wind and wind stress curl fields around Korea from January, 1997 to June, 1997. Mean ocean winds in January are predominantly northwesterly and the strongest wind(12 m/s) is found near Vladivostok. The winds in the western East Sea are strongly inf1uenced by the mountain range in Korea and these topographically influenced winds make about five times larger wind stress curl fields than previous estimates based on the weather maps. The calculation of Sverdrup transport in the East Sea shows the possibility of the directional change of the East Korean Cold Current from southward to northward direction caused by the winter wind. The downwelling area near North Korea has maximum estimated speed of 45 m in january and this wind induced downwelling makes good condition for the formation of Intermediate East Sea Water together with vigorous mixing by the strong wind.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.100-110
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• 2005

We carried oui a study on the marine environment and distribution of phytoplankton community, such as chlorophyll a, species composition, dominant species and standing crops in the Northern East China Sea during early summer of 2004. According to the analysis of a T-S diagram, three characteristics of water masses were identified. We classified them into the coastal water mass, the cold water mass and the oceanic water mass. The first was characterized by the low temperature and the low salinity originated from China territory, the secondary was characterized by the low temperature, the low salinity and the high density originated from bottom cold water of Yellow Sea, and the third was done by the high temperature and salinity originated from Tsushima warm current. The internal discontinuous layer among them was farmed at the intermediate depth (about $5{\sim}30m$ layer). And the thermal front by upwelling region between the cold water mass and Tsushima warm current appeared in the central parts of the South Sea of Korea. The Phytoplankton community in the surface and stratified layers was a total of 44 species belonging to 26 genera. Dominant species were Prorocentrum triestinum, Scrippsiella trochoidea, Skeletonema costatum & Leptocylindrus mediterraneus. Standing crops of phytoplankton in the surface layer fluctuated between $0.3{\times}10^3$ cells/L and $10.8{\times}10^3$ cells/L. Diatoms appeared mainly in the Tsushima warm current regions, and flagellates occurred in the frontal zone and the low salinity regions where was the transfer areas of Chinese continental coastal waters. Chlorophyll a concentration by controlled phytoflagellate ratio in the South Sea of Korea was high values in the frontal zone and sub-surface layer. It was high concentration in the upwelling and coastal waters regions, but low concentration in the Tsushima warm current regions. The Chl-a maximum layers appeared in the thermochline depth or sub-surface layer lower than thermocline. The phytoplankton production in the South Sea of Korea was controlled by the expanded coastal waters of Chinese Continent which include a high concentrations of nutrients.