• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2009

Export fluxes of particulate organic carbon were estimated for the first time by using $^{234}Th/^{238}U$ disequilibrium in the southwestern East Sea during August 2007. They were calculated by multiplying POC/$^{234}Th_p$ ratios of sinking particles (larger than 0.7 ${\mu}m$) obtained from 150-200 m water depths to $^{234}Th$ fluxes that were estimated by integrating $^{234}Th/^{238}U$ disequilibrium from surface to 100 m water depth. Export fluxes ranged from 14 to 505 mg C $m^{-2}$ $day^{-1}$, with the highest value at station A2 and the lowest value at station D4. Primary production was well correlated with export flux, indicating that it was a major factor controlling export flux. Export flux in the East Sea was generally higher than those estimated in the open ocean and similar to or somewhat higher than those in the continental marginal seas. Export flux/primary production (EF/PP) ratios varied from 0.29 to 0.62, with an average of 0.43 and were somewhat higher in the basin area than in the coastal area. EF/PP ratio in the East Sea was rather similar to those estimated in the North Sea and Chukchi Sea, but much higher than those in the Labrador Sea, Barents Sea, and Gulf of Lions. Therefore, the East Sea is one of the major areas where a large amount of organic carbon produced in the euphotic zone sinks into the deep layer below 200 m water depth.