• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.421-438
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• 1994

Vertical distribution of tidal currents in the Korea Strait is computed by a tree-dimensional tidal model. The results are presented in the from of tidal charts (coamplitude and cophase chart) and (tidal ellipses charts for eight tidal constituents (M$_2$, S$_2$, $N_2$, $K_2$, $K_1$, $O_1$, P$_1$, Q$_1$) and of harmonic constants for predictions of tides and tidal currents during specified duration in the region. The computed tides were in general agreement with coastal observations and observation-based tidal charts of Odamaki (1989). Comparison between model computation and current observation by RIAM were also presented.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.464-474
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• 2006

The paleoceanography since 14 ka was reconstructed based on the planktic foraminiferal assemblages of core sediments from the outer shelf of the Korea Strait. Planktic foraminifera in the core sediments can be divided into four assemblages: A, B, C, and D. Assemblage A consists mainly of Globigerinoides ruber group and Globigerinoides conglobatus with low abundance (less than 10%), indicating the tropical-subtropical water mass. Assemblage B is composed of Pulleniatina obliquiloculata and Neogloboquadrina dutertrei, the indicator of Kuroshio Current, and shows the aspect of the inflow of the Tsushima Current into the Korea Strait. Assemblage C yields polar-subpolar species, mainly Neogloboquadrina incompta and N. pachyderma. It decreases upward of the core. Assemblage D contains coastal water species such as Globigerina bulloides and G. quinqueloba. It is abundant in the lower to middle region of the core. From the analysis of distributions of each assemblage and the result of age datings in the core, it is suggested that the Korea Strait played a role of channelling the East China Sea and the East Sea after the LGM (ca. 14 ka). During this time, the coastal water, affected by fresh waters originated from the river systems of China and/ or the Korean Peninsula, flourished around the Korea Strait and theses coastal water might entered to the East Sea. Around 8.5 ka, the effect of the Tsushima Current started to strengthen in this region, and the present current system seems to be formed at about $7{\sim}6ka$.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.261-275
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• 2008

The profile of a fixed site at station M ($34.77^{\circ}N,\;129.13^{\circ}E$) in the Korea Strait was studied from March 2006 to February 2007. The aim was to understand the relationship between the annual thermal stratification pattern and seasonal variation in phytoplankton community structure. Physicochemical factors including temperature, salinity and nutrient concentrations, which strongly influence the proliferation and diversity of phytoplankton, were measured. The study period was divided into three due to the characteristic of thermohaline structures; mixed I (March-May 2006), stratified (June-November 2006) and mixed II(December 2006-Feburuary 2007). Diatoms dominated during the mixed I (89%) and II (48%) periods, while nanoplankton group occupied over 83% of total population during the stratified period. The dominant species during the mixed I and II was Chaetoceros socialis (47% and 29%, respectively), while during the stratified period Gyrodinium sp.(4%) was the most dominant. Averaged total chl a concentrations during the mixed I and II periods were 0.61 mg $m^{-3}$ and 0.72 mg $m^{-3}$, respectively, which were at least two-fold higher than that during the stratified period (0.30 mg $m^{-3}$). The vertical mixing and convection process of the water column induced nutrient supply from the bottom layer to the euphotic zone. It also led to the dominance of diatoms during the mixed periods, whereas small phytoplankton prevailed over large phytoplankton as stratification blocked the upward movement of nutrients to subsurface during the stratified period. During the mixed I and II periods, microplanktonic chl a dominated concentrations (50% and 48%, respectively), while picoplanktonic chl a occupied over 37% of total chl a during the stratified period.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2002

Cable voltage was measured simultaneously at Hamada, Japan and Pusan, Korea, using an inservice telephone cable from March to December 1990. The spectral and harmonic analyses of these data sets show that tidal signals are dominant, and that tidal constituents $M_2$ and $O_1$, which are not affected by solar geomagnetic variations, have almost the same amplitude and are of opposite phase to each other. comparing the voltage difference in 1990 with that measured using the now abandoned cable in 1998, there are dominant tidal signals at the same periods in both data sets. They have approximately the same amplitude and phase for $M_2andO_1$. The relationship between the observed voltage and the volume transport through the Korea Strait can be considered robust and stable over time. The conversion factor from voltage to transport is estimated to be $11.9{\times}10^6m^3S^{-1}volt^{-1}$ by comparing the amplitude of model-derived $M_2$ tidal transport with that of the voltage difference in 1998. This value changes to $8.6{\times}10^6m^3S^{-1}volt^{-1}$ when taking into consideration the horizontal electric current effect. This effect depends on the downstream length scale of the flow. To obtain a more reliable and stable conversion factor from voltage to transport, the voltage should be compared with observed sub-tidal transports, which may have long downstream length scales.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.127-150
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• 1991

The stony corals known from Korean waters are 24 species , 15 genera, 7 families in 5 suborders, of which 7 species are newly recorded to the Korean scleractinian fauna ; Montipora trabeculata, Oulangia stokesiana miltoni, Goniocorella dumosa, Dendrophyllia arbuscula, D.boschmai cyathohelioides, D. micranthus, and Rhizopsammia minuta mutsuensis. They were collected from 35 localities of southern Korea from 1969 to 1986. For the geographical analysis, the coastal waters of Koarea are divided into four regions ; the Yellow Sea, the Korea Strait, the Cheju Island area and the East Sea (Sea of Japan) . These are based on the species diversity , the geographical distribution form, and the community coefficient, Korean scleractinians consists of 8 temperate zone forms(33.3%, Te) and 16 tropical forms(66.7%, Tr) . Concerning the distribution in each region, 3 spp. (2 Te, 1 Tr) occur in the Yellow Sea, 9 Spp. (5 Te, 4 Tr) in the Korea Strait, 16 spp.(4 Te, 12 Tr) in the Cheju Island area and 5 spp. (2 Te, 3 Tr) in the East Sea. The communicty coefficient between the Korea strait and the East Sea is the highest (0.596), and that between the Yellow Sea and the Cheju Island area is the lowest(0).

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.216-223
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• 2000

In order to study origin and mixing ratio of surface water masses in the East China Sea (ECS), the South Sea of Korea and the Korea Strait, we use three end-member mixing equation. We use $^{228}$Ra/$^{226}$Ra activity ratio and salinity as two conservative tracer and the Changjiang Water (CW), the Yellow Sea Water (YSW), and the Kuroshio Water (KW) as three end members, Results show that ECS surface water includes all the three end member water, in the order of KW (50-90%), YSW (20-40%) and CW (0-20%) in August 1997. Also, the amount of CW can be approximately estimated by salinity alone. Surface water of the South Sea and the Korea Strait includes very small or almost no CW (below 2% except station 9) in May 1998. Thus in the Korea Strait mixing ratio could be estimated by $^{228}$Ra/$^{226}$Ra activity ratio tracer alone between two end-members, KW and YSW. However, in order to Set more accurate results or in case of rainy season, a mixing equation based on two tracers and three end-members is required.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 1985

With the serial observation data of the Fisheries Research and Development Agency in Korea and Japan Meteorological Agency from 1969 to 1974, the geostrophic current and volume transport were calculated in the Korea Strait and in the middle of the East Sea (Japan Sea), in order to compare the total volume transport in summer and winter seasons. The results are as follows. The annual mean of the net volume transport of the Korea Strait is 0.19${\times}$10$\^$6/m$\^$3/sec in winter season and 1.33${\times}$10$\^$6/m$\^$3/sec in summer season. The transport through the western and eastern channel of the Korea Srait is almost same in winter season, but the transport of the western channel is much larger than that of the eastern channel in summer season. The annual mean of the net volume transport of the middle section of the East Sea (Japan Sea) is 2.61${\times}$10$\^$6/m$\^$3/sec in winter season and 2.41${\times}$10$\^$6/m$\^$3/sec in summer season. Therefore the transorts are almost same in both seasons. Comparing the transports of the two sections, the transport through the middle section of the East Sea is 13.7 times as large as that of the Korea Strait in winter season and 1.8 times in summer season.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.208-215
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• 2000

The estimated total material transports through the Cheju Strait using all data which investigated in 1997 and 1999 are as follows; A large amount of suspended sediments and dissovted inorganic nutrients are carried tothe South Sea through the Cheju Strait by a persistent eastward flow (Cheju Current) from the Y311ow Sea andthe East China Sea. The annual material Oanspous by the Cheju Current are as follows; 22.9${\times}$10$^6$ ton yr$^{-1}$(SS), 0.52${\times}$10$^{10}$ mol yr$^{-1}$ (NH$_4\;^+$), 6.05${\times}$10$^{10}$ mol yr$^{-1}$ (NO$_3\;^-$), 0.36${\times}$10$^{10}$ mol yr$^{-1}$ (PO$_4\;^{3-}$), 10.27${\times}$10$^{10}$ mol yr$^{-1}$ (Si(OH)$_4$). The annual suspended sediment flux per water transport in the Cheju Strait (44.48${\times}$10$^6$ ton yr$^{-1}$ Sv$^{-1}$) is about 1.7 larger than that in the Korean Strait (26.08${\times}$10$^6$ ton yr$^{-1}$ Sv$^{-1}$). The annual nitrate flux per water transport (11.60${\times}$10$^{10}$ mol yr$^{-1}$ Sv$^{-1}$) is about 1.2 larger than that in the Korean Strait (9.72${\times}$10$^{10}$ mol yr$^{-1}$ Sv$^{-1}$) and 2/3 of that by Kuroshio in the East China Sea (18.55${\times}$10$^{10}$ ton yr$^{-1}$ Sv$^{-1}$). It suggests that chemical rich Cheju Current will play a significant role in the biogeochemical processes in the South Sea where the huge land-based waste are introduced.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.95-112
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• 1999

To investigate a phytoplankton community structure and its biomass distribution in the Korea Strait, phytoplankton pigments were quantitatively measured by HPLC method, with hydro-graphic conditions in August and October, 1996. The measured chi. a concentrations were in the range of 7.1-1,280.7 ng/1. Horizontal distribution pattern of chi. a in summer (August) was very different from that of autumn (October). High concentration of chi. a occurred near the coast with relatively low salinity (< 33%). Vertically, the highest concentrations of pigments at most of the stations were found near the surface and above the thermocline. The maximum concentration of chi. a in October was four times higher than in August. It was notable to measure relatively high concentration of chi. b up to 190.8 ng/1 in the study area, since chi. bcontaining green algae and prochlophytes have been ignored because of their minute size and sensitivity to common preservatives. Major carotenoids detected were fucoxanthin, zeaxanthin, 19'-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin, and prasinoxanthin. Diatoms were the dominant group with secondary important groups as pryrnnesiophytes and cyanobacteria for the biomass of phytoplankton for both cruises. The dominant species of diatoms in summer were Thalassiosira sp. and Chaetoceros peruvianus. As minor groups, prasinophytes, crysophytes, and cryptophytes were confirmed by their marker pigments and dinoflgellates by microscopical observation. Degradation products of chi. a was minor. Interestingly, at 200 m depth of St A4, the deepest station in the western channel of the Korea Strait, substantial amounts of chi. a including fucoxanthin, 19'-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin, chi. b, and degradation products of chi. a was measured from both cruises. Higher concentration (2-3 times) of those pigments were detected from samples in summer than in autumn. Small decrease in concentration of phosphate at this depth of St. A4 was also observed. It suggested that this bottom cold water was transported from the subsurface water with biomass of active phytoplankton, which was sunk and flowed southward.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.714-724
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• 2005

The East Sea, a semi-enclosed marginal sea with shallow straits in the northwest Pacific, is marked by the nearly geographic isolation and the low sea surface salinity during the last glacial maximum (LGM). The East Sea might have the only connection to the open ocean through the Korea Strait with a sill depth of 130 m, allowing the paleo-Tsushima Water to enter the sea during the LGM. The low paleosalinity associated with abnormally light $\delta^{18}O$ values of planktonic foraminifera is interpreted to have resulted from river discharge and precipitation. Nevertheless, two LGM features in the East Sea are disputable. This study attempts to estimate volume transport of the paleo-Tsushima Water via the Korea Strait and further examines its effect on the low sea surface salinity (SSS) during the lowest sea level of the LGM. The East Sea was not completely isolated, but partially linked to the northern East China Sea through the Korea Strait during the LGM. The volume transport of the paleo-Tsushima Water during the LGM is calculated approximately$(0.5\~2.1)\times10^{12}m^3/yr$ on the basis of the selected seismic reflection profiles along with bathymetry and current data. The annual influx of the paleo-Tsushima Water is low, compared to the 100 m-thick surface water volume $(about\;79.75\times10^{12}m^3)$ in the East Sea. The paleo-Tsushima Water influx might have changed the surface water properties within a geologically short time, potentially decreasing sea surface salinity. However, the effect of volume transport on the low sea surface salinity essentially depends on freshwater amounts within the paleo-Tsushima Water and excessive evaporation during the glacial lowstands of sea level. Even though the paleo-Tsushima Water is assumed to have been entirely freshwater at that time period, it would annually reduce only about 1‰ of salinity in the surface water of the East Sea. Thus, the paleo-Tsushima Water influx itself might not be large enough to significantly reduce the paleosalinity of about 100 m-thick surface layer during the LGM. This further suggests contribution of additional river discharges from nearby fluvial systems (e.g. the Amur River) to freshen the surface water.