• Ocean and Polar Research
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.313-324
• /
• 2008

In order to understand the variation of ENSO-related oceanic environments in the tropical and North Pacific Ocean, spatio-temporal variations of sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) and sea surface height anomaly (SSHA) are analyzed from distributions of complex empirical orthogonal functions (CEOF). Correlations among warm pool variation, southern oscillation index, and ocean surface currents were also examined with respect to interannual variability of the warm pool in western tropical Pacific. Spatio-temporal distributions of the first CEOF modes for SSTA and SSHA indicate that their variabilities are associated with ENSO events, which have a variance over 30% in the North Pacific. The primary reasons for their variabilities are different; SST is predominantly influenced by the change of barrier layer thickness, while SSH fluctuates with the same phase as propagation of an ENSO episode in the zonal direction. Horizontal boundary of warm pool area, which normally centered around $149^{\circ}E$ in the tropics, seemed to be expanded to the middle and eastern tropical regions by strong zonal currents through the mature phase of an ENSO episode.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.10-15
• /
• 2000

Goals, research direction, and operational structure of the Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics (GLOBEC), which is co-sponsored by the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) and the Intergovemmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), are described. Following the Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) activities on the lower trophic level in ecosystem during 1980s-90s, scientists have considered the responses of the mid and higher trophic levels to the environmental or climate change. The scientific steering committee of the GLOBEC published the implementation plan in 1999, and the IGBP will support the GLOBEC as one of its core projects for 10 years. The GLOBEC programme has four major components: the research foci, framework activities, regional programmes, and integrating activity. The core of GLOBEC research is the four research foci: retrospective analyses, process studies, predictive and modelling capabilities, and feedbacks. Currently, four regional programmes have been undergoing in the world ocean: Southern Ocean GLOBEC (SO-GLOBEC), Small Pelagic Fishes and Climate Changes (SPACC), Cod and Climate Change (CCC), and Climate Change and Carrying Capacity (CCCC). Also, national GLOBEC programmes were already established in 9 nations.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.321-349
• /
• 2016

According to the recent observation by NOAA(US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), 2015 is the warmest year based on global average temperature since 1880. The air temperatures in the Arctic have been rising at almost twice the global average and the extent and thickness of sea ice in the Arctic have declined. And the warming process in the Arctic is accelerating rapidly. These impacts of drastic change in sea ice caused by climate change in the Arctic threaten the eco-system service and biodiversity in the Arctic. This study intends to estimate the economic value on changes in eco-system services and biodiversity of the Arctic caused by climate change. The result of the valuation indicates that the total benefit from improvement of ecosystem in the Arctic ranges from 318.6 billion won to 715.9 billion won per annum. Replication scenarios can be explored into two broad categories in future studies: scenarios in consideration of conflicts of different stakeholders and scenarios based on wider or narrower definition of biodiversity in the Arctic.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
• /
• v.24 no.7
• /
• pp.898-906
• /
• 2018

To investigate the effect of yellow dust on phytoplankton, a field survey and physiological experiments were carried out in the waters near Taean Peninsula from April 22 to 26, 2006, when yellow dust occurred. Phytoplankton populations during the yellow dust period were in the range of $26{\sim}290{\times}10^3cells{\cdot}L^{-1}$, a somewhat low standing crop. An increase in diatoms (a main taxonomic group), especially benthic diatoms such as Paralia sulcate, a typical species for active mixed sea water areas, was also remarkable. In addition, the Chl-a concentration after yellow dust exceeded the Chl-a concentration change range according to the tide before yellow dust. As the concentration of yellow sand increased in a yellow sand treatment experiment, primary productivity decreased, and the maximum assimilation number showed the same tendency. In the 48h culture experiment, primary productivity of the test group was lower than that of the control group at the early stage (T0) of yellow sand treatment, but after 48 hours (T48), the test group showed higher primary productivity than the control group. In particular, the primary productivity of the test group significantly increased to 321 % after 48 hours. Therefore, strong physical environment accompanied by yellow dust may temporarily inhibit the growth of phytoplankton in the waters adjacent to China in the early stage of yellow dust, but the formation of stable water mass has also been identified as a potential factor promoting the growth of phytoplankton.

• Atmosphere
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.365-379
• /
• 2007

Global warming may shift the properties and dynamics of ENSO. We study the changes in ENSO characteristics in a coupled general circulation model, ECHO-G/S. First, we analyse the mean state changes by comparing present day simulation and various high $CO_2$ climates. The model shows a little El Nino-like changes in the sea surface temperature and wind stress in the eastern tropical Pacific. As the mean temperature rises, the ENSO amplitude and the frequency of strong El Ninos and La Nina decrease. The analysis shows that the weakening of the oceanic sensitivities is related to the weakening of ENSO. In addition to the surface changes, the remote subsurface sea temperature response in the western Pacific to the wind stress in the eastern Pacific influences the subsequent ENSO amplitude. However, ENSO amplitude does not show linear response to the greenhouse gas concentrations.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.15-25
• /
• 2012

Time series of ocean climate indices and catch records were used to identify the alternation patterns of pelagic fish populations in relation to climate regime shifts. During 1910-2008, an orderly alternation of dominant pelagic fish groups was observed in the Tsushima Warm Current (TWC; Yellow Sea-East China Sea-East Sea/Japan Sea) and Kuroshio-Oyashio Current (KOC; Northwestern Pacific) regions. After the collapse of herring fishery in the late 1920s, the sardine (A group) dominated in the 1930s, 3 other species (C group; Pacific saury, jack mackerel, and anchovy) dominated in the 1950s-1960s, chub mackerel (B group) dominated in the 1970s, and then sardine (A group) dominated again during cool regime in the 1980s. As sardine biomass decreased in association with the climate regime shift that occurred in the late 1980s, catches of C group immediately increased after the regime shift and remained at high levels during warm regime in the 1990s. Alternations of dominant fish groups occurred 6 times between 1910 and 2008. The dominant period of the 7 species lasted for 10-20 years. The catch of Pacific sardine in the TWC and KOC regions showed a negative correlation with the catch of the other 5 species (Pacific herring, anchovy, jack mackerel, Pacific saury, and common squid), suggesting that the abundance of the 5 species is strongly affected by the abundance of Pacific sardine in relation to the climate regime shifts. The total catch level of the 7 species in the KOC region was generally higher than that in the TWC region before 1991 but was lower after 1992, suggesting that the fish populations in the Pacific side are shifted to the TWC region by zonal oscillation of the oceanic conditions in relation to the climate regime shift in the late 1980s.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
• /
• v.20 no.1 s.26
• /
• pp.9-27
• /
• 2006

The East Asian (China, Korea and Japan) summer monsoon precipitation and its variability are examined from the outputs of the 22 coupled climate models performing coordinated experiments leading to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report (IPCC AR4) following the multi-model ensemble (MME) technique. Results are based on averages of all the available models. The shape of the annual cycle with maximum during the summer monsoon period is simulated by the coupled climate models. However, models fail to simulate the minimum peak in July which is associated with northward shifts of the Meiyu-Changma-Baiu precipitation band. The MME precipitation pattern is able to capture the spatial distribution of rainfall associated with the location of the north Pacific subtropical high and the Meiyu-Changma-Baiu frontal zone. However precipitation over the east coast of China, Korea-Japan peninsular and the adjoining oceanic regions is underestimated. Future projections to the radiative forcing of doubled $CO_2$ scenario are examined. The MME reveals an increase in precipitation varying from 5 to 10 %, with an average of 7.8 % over the East Asian region at the time of $CO_2$ doubling. However the increases are statistically significant only over the Korea-Japan peninsula and the adjoining north China region. The increase in precipitation may be attributed to the projected intensification of the subtropical high, and thus the associated influx of moist air from the Pacific to inland. The projected changes in the amount of precipitation are directly proportional to the changes in the strength of the subtropical high. Further a possible increase in the length of the summer monsoon precipitation period from late spring through early autumn is suggested.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.39 no.6_1
• /
• pp.1255-1272
• /
• 2023

Satellite-based chlorophyll-a concentration, produced as a long-term time series, is crucial for global climate change research. The production of data without gaps through the merging of time-synthesized or multi-satellite data is essential. However, studies related to satellite-based chlorophyll-a concentration in the waters around the Korean Peninsula have mainly focused on evaluating seasonal characteristics or proposing algorithms suitable for research areas using a single ocean color sensor. In this study, a merging dataset of remote sensing reflectance from the geostationary sensor GOCI-II and polar-orbiting sensors (MODIS, VIIRS, OLCI) was utilized to achieve high spatial coverage of chlorophyll-a concentration in the waters around the Korean Peninsula. The spatial coverage in the results of this study increased by approximately 30% compared to polar-orbiting sensor data, effectively compensating for gaps caused by clouds. Additionally, we aimed to quantitatively assess accuracy through comparison with global chlorophyll-a composite data provided by Ocean Colour Climate Change Initiative (OC-CCI) and GlobColour, along with in-situ observation data. However, due to the limited number of in-situ observation data, we could not provide statistically significant results. Nevertheless, we observed a tendency for underestimation compared to global data. Furthermore, for the evaluation of practical applications in response to marine disasters such as red tides, we qualitatively compared our results with a case of a red tide in the East Sea in 2013. The results showed similarities to OC-CCI rather than standalone geostationary sensor results. Through this study, we plan to use the generated data for future research in artificial intelligence models for prediction and anomaly utilization. It is anticipated that the results will be beneficial for monitoring chlorophyll-a events in the coastal waters around Korea.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.248-260
• /
• 2020

Oceanic current maps introduced in science and earth science textbooks can offer a valuable opportunity for students to learn about rapid climate change and the role of currents associated with the global energy balance problem. Previously developed oceanic current maps in middle and high school textbooks under the 2007 and 2009-revised national curriculum contained various errors in terms of scientific accuracy. To resolve these problems, marine experts have constructed a unified oceanographic map of the oceans surrounding the Korean Peninsula. Since 2010, this process has involved a continuous, long-term consultation procedure. By extensively gathering opinions and through verification process, a representative and scientific oceanic current map was eventually constructed. Based on this, the educational oceanic current maps, targeting the comprehension of middle and high school students, were developed. These maps were incorporated into middle and high school textbooks in accordance with the revised 2015 curriculum. In this study, we analyzed the oceanic current maps of five middle school science textbooks and six earth science textbooks that were published in high school in 2019. Although all the oceanic current maps in the textbooks were unified based on the proposed scientific oceanic current maps, there were problems such as the omission of certain oceanic currents or the use of a combination of dotted and solid lines. Moreover, several textbooks were found to be using incorrect names for oceanic currents. This study suggests that oceanic current maps, produced by integrating scientific knowledge, should be visually accurate and utilized appropriately to avoid students' misconception.

• Ocean Science Journal
• /
• v.40 no.1
• /
• pp.25-44
• /
• 2005

Long-term, continuous, and real-time ocean monitoring has been undertaken in order to evaluate various oceanographic phenomena and processes in the East/Japan Sea. Recent technical advances combined with our concerted efforts have allowed us to establish a real-time monitoring system and to accumulate considerable knowledge on what has been taking place in water properties, current systems, and circulation in the East Sea. We have obtained information on volume transport across the Korea Strait through cable voltage measurements and continuous temperature and salinity profile data from ARGO floats placed throughout entire East Sea since 1997. These ARGO float data have been utilized to estimate deep current, inertial kinetic energy, and changes in water mass, especially in the northern East Sea. We have also developed the East Sea Real-time Ocean Buoy (ESROB) in coastal regions and made continual improvements till it has evolved into the most up-to-date and effective monitoring system as a result of remarkable technical progress in data communication systems. Atmospheric and oceanic measurements by ESROB have contributed to the recognition of coastal wind variability, current fluctuations, and internal waves near and off the eastern coast of Korea. Long-tenn current meter moorings have been in operation since 1996 between Ulleungdo and Dokdo to monitor the interbasin deep water exchanges between the Japanese and Ulleung Basins. In addition, remotely sensed satellite data could facilitate the investigation of atmospheric and oceanic surface conditions such as sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface height, near-surface winds, oceanic color, surface roughness, and so on. These satellite data revealed surface frontal structures with a fairly good spatial resolution, seasonal cycle of SST, atmospheric wind forcing, geostrophic current anomalies, and biogeochemical processes associated with physical forcing and processes. Since the East Sea has been recognized as a natural laboratory for global oceanic changes and a clue to abrupt climate change, we aim at constructing a 4-D continuous real-time monitoring system, over a decade at least, using the most advanced techniques to understand a variety of oceanic processes in the East Sea.