• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2004

In order to understand the water masses and their distribution in the eastern Yellow Sea from winter to spring, a cluster analysis was applied to the temperature and salinity data of Korea Oceanographic Data Center from 1970 to 1990. From December to April, Yellow Sea Cold Water (YSCW) dominates the eastern Yellow Sea, whereas Eastern Yellow Sea Mixed Water (MW) and Yellow Sea Warm Water (YSWW) are found in the southern part of the eastern Yellow Sea. MW appears at the frontal region around $34^{\circ}N$ between YSCW in the north and YSWW in the south. On the other hand, Tshushima Warm Water (TWW) is found around Jeju Island and the South Sea of Korea. These water masses are relatively well-mixed throughout the water column due to the winter monsoon. However, the water column begins to be stratified in spring due to increased solar heating, the diminishing winds and fresh water discharge, and the water masses in June may be separated into surface, intermediate and bottom layers of the water column. YSWW advances northwestward from December to February and retreats southeastward from February to April. This suggests a periodic movement of water masses in the southern part of the eastern Yellow Sea from winter to spring. YSWW may continue to move eastward with the prevailing eastward current to the South Sea from April to June. Also, the front relaxes in June, but the mixed water advances to the north, increasing salinity. The salinity is also higher in the nearshore region than offshore. This indicates an influx of oceanic water to the north in the nearshore region of the eastern Yellow Sea in spring in the form of mixed water.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.1141-1149
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• 2011

The three-dimensional hydrodynamic model was simulated to understand coastal sea front of formation and seasonal variation in the Southern Sea of Korea. In this study, we used to concept of stratification factor, to realize seasonal distribution of stratification coefficient which of seasonal residual flow, considered with, tide, wind and density effect. Tidal current tends to flow westward during the flood and eastward during ebb. The current by the wind stress showed to be much stronger the coastal than the offshore area in the surface layer. And the current by the horizontal gradient of water density showed to be relatively weak in the coastal area, with little seasonal differences. On the other hand, the flow in the offshore area showed results similar to that of the Tsushima Warm Current. The stratification factor (SHv) was calculated by taking into account the total flow of tide, wind and density effect. In summer, the calculated SHv distribution ranged from 2.0 to 2.5, similar to that of the coastal sea front. The horizontal temperature gradient showed to be strong during the winter, when the vertical stratification is weak. On the other hand, the horizontal gradient became weak in summer, during which vertical stratification is strong. Therefore, it is presume that the strength of vertical stratification and the horizontal temperature gradient affect the position of the coastal sea front.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.258-268
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• 1994

Nitrogenous new production and regenerated production were measured in the southern part of the Yellow Sea (Hwanghae) using a stable isotope /SUP 15/N nitrate and ammonia between April 25∼30, 1993. Nitrogen production varied between 155 and 688 mg N m/SUP -2/ d/SUP -1/, which belongs to meso to eutrophic area values. This is equivalent to 881∼3909 mg C m/SUP -2/ d/SUP -1/, assuming the Redfield ratio for C:N of 5.7:1 (by weight). the f0ratio which is the fraction of new production from primary production, varied between 0.12 and 0.26, indicating that 74 to 88% of primary production was supported by the regeneration of nutrients within the euphoric zone. This low f0ratio is the characteristics of the oligo- to mesotrophic area. Contrary to the expected, the ambient nutrient concentration was not an important factor for controlling productivity in this area during the study period. The difference in productivity among stations was mainly due to the variations in phytoplankton biomass in different water masses.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.109-123
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• 2000

Depositional processes of fine-grained sediments were investigated on the basis of sediment transport vector analysis and identification of benthic foraminiferal assemblages in Yoja Bay, southern coast of Korea. The bay is a semi-enclosed embayment where extensive mud flats occur with a width up to about 4 km. Most surface sediments are poorly sorted (sorting values: 1.9-3.0 ${\phi}$) mud and silt (mean grain size: 6.0-8.7 ${\phi}$), except for the tidal inlets with basement rocks locally exposed. Grain-size distribution shows a fining tendency toward the basin center near the Yoja Island, implying a possible existence of turbidity maximum and relatively rapid settling of fine-grained sediments. The agglutinated foraminiferal taxa are dominant in the inner bay and decrease in abundance toward the mouth of the bay. Species diversities are higher in the outer bay, due to mixing of the offshore faunas with those of the bay. Four groups of benthic foraminiferal assemblages, identified by cluster analysis, represent the bay. Biofacies I and ll with relatively lower diversities are dominated by Ammobaculites exiguus and Ammonia beccarii, suggestive of influx of fresh water. In contrast, biofacies III and IV with relatively higher diversities include increased amounts of calcareous genus Elphidium and Quinquelocuzina, accounting for strong influence of sea water from the offshore. The fluvial discharge in summer floods appears to develop a bay-wide, clockwise lateral circulation in Yoja Bay, a typical of well-mixed estuaries. Accordingly, the foraminiferal assemblages of the surface sediments well show a sign of this circulation. The dominant inflow of the offshore water into the western part of the bay has resulted in more extensive muddy tidal flats compared to the eastern narrower counterpart.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.541-550
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• 2005

Molluscan shells were sampled from the continental shelf of South Sea: 19 stations in the southeast continental shelf and 5 in the southwest sea, in order to understand characteristics of sea level changes and time-averaging since the last glacial age. Radiocarbon dates were made on 42 dominant and specific species which were sampled from 24 stations. Time-averaging was observed and showed to be 11,939 years in age difference. The sea-level ranged from 150 to 160 m below sea level during the LGM (about 15,000 yrs B.P). The sea-level significantly rose to 60 m at around 9,000 yrs B.P. and became stable at 50 to 60 m between periods between 4,000 and 5,000 yrs B.P. Between 3,000 and 4,000 yrs B.P, the sea-level rapidly rose to a depth of $10\~20m$ below today’s present sea level.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.37-51
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• 2012

We investigated the distribution and species composition of zooplankton in relation to hydrographical characteristics in the Korea Strait during the winter (February) and summer (July) of 2009. Satellite images of sea surface temperatures and in situ CTD data showed that the southeastern water zone (St3-5) off Jeju Island was strongly influenced by the Tsushima Current during both the winter and summer, whereas the Changjiang Diluted Water, characterized as water with relatively low salinity, was evident in the coastal waters of Jeju Island during the summer. During winter, zooplankton abundance was significantly higher than in the summer, with dominance by copepods, ostracods, siphonophorans, appendicularians, and nauplii. In both seasons, copepods represented >70% of the total zooplankton population. Calanus sinicus, a large calanoid copepod, was dominant in near the coast, and that may be associated with the intrusion of low salinity water (i.e., the Changjiang Diluted Water) along the coast. The abundance of P. parvus s.l. and A. omorii, known as neritic copepods, was mainly associated with the Korea Southern Coastal Water. Foraminiferans, Ostracods, O. plumifera, and P. aculeatus were concentrated in the southeastern water off Jeju Island during both seasons; showing their association with the Tsushima Current, which is characterized warm, high salinity water. Our results suggest that the distribution, abundance, and species composition of zooplankton are highly influenced by different water masses in the Korea Strait.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2003

Spatio-temporal distribution of dinoflagellate cysts was monthly investigated at 6 stations in Gamak Bay, the southern Korea from April 2000 to April 2001. A total of 37 species of dinoflagellate cysts belonging to 22 genera were identified. The temporal changes of species number fluctuated with an annual mean of 8 species, 1 species at Stn. 6 in July in the middle Gamak Bay and 17 species at Stn. 2 in June southern Gamak Bay, but 11 to 20 species occurred in the northwestern Gamak Bay all the year round. The major species were Brigantedinium cariacoense, Brigantedinium simpler, Brigantedinium spp., Protoperidinium americanum, Quinquecusphix concretum, Selenopemphix quanta, Scrippsiella trochoidea, Spiniferites bulloideus, Spiniferites spp., Stelladinium reidii, Votadinium carvum, and Polykrikos sp. of kofoidii. The dominant species of dinoflagellate cysts was not evident in the over-all study areas, but in the northwestern Gamak Bay Brigantedinium spp. and Protoperidinium americanum were dominant $(50.4-76.0\%)$ during the study periods. Abundance of dinoflagellate cysts on the surface sediment in the Gamak Bay ranged from 21 cysts/g dry at Stn. 6 in July to 4,322 cysts/g dry at Stn. 4 in August with an annual mean of 688 cysts/g dry. Especially, the highest value occurred in the northwestern Gamak Bay. Heterotrophic species was more abundant than autotrophic species on the surface sediment. In particular, the former occurred in $75-94\%$ in the northwestern Gamak Bay throughout the year. The northwestern area was very different from other area in species number, dominant species and abundance of dinoflagellate cysts. It is mainly due to water stagnation and eutrophication in the area. And the seasonal abundance of dinoflagellate cysts in Gamak Bay was inversly related to water temperature.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.266-272
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• 1996

The distribution and abundance of fish in the Cheju southeastern area was studied by the combined hydroacoustic and bottom trawl surveys in April 1994 and in July 1995, respectively. The main purpose of these investigations was to provide the basic data for this management and the biomass estimation of commercially important demersal fish stocks in this area. The hydroacoustic surveys were performed by using a 50 kHz scientific echo sounder system with a microcomputer-based echo integrator. Acoustical measurements of fish abundance and distribution were conducted along the cruise tracks of research vessel and during all trawl hauls by continuous echo sounding. The average weight-normalized target strength for demersal fish aggregations was derived from the relationship between the mean volume backscattering strength for the depth strata of trawl hauls and the weight per cubic meter of trawl catches. The geographical distribution of fish stocks in the 1994 survey area was investigated in relation to oceanographic conditions. The results obtained can be summarized as follows: 1. From the 1994 and 1995 survey data, the relationship between the mean volume backscattering strength (, dB) for the depth strata of trawl hauls and the weight (W, kg/$m^3$) per cubic meter of trawl catches was expressed by the following equation = - 32.8+ lOlog(W) The average weighted-target strength value at 50 kHz derived from this equation was .. 32.8 dB/kg. 2. In 1994 and 1995, both surveys showed a trend of decreasing fish abundance toward the southern area of the Cheju Island with high densities offish along the west coast ofth.e Tsushima Island. The highest demersal concentrations in the southern area of the CheJu Island appeared in bottom waters colder than $12^{\circ}C.$. . 3. From the results of combined bottom trawl and hydroacoustic surveys, the estunated fish densities in the southeastern area of the Cheju Island were 1.5488 x $10^-4$kg/$m^3$ in the 1994 surveyand 1.9498 x $10^-4$kg/$m^3$ in the 1995 survey, respectively.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.21-31
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• 2020

Shorebirds migrating along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) have been drastically decreasing due to continuous area loss and quality degradation of intertidal mudflats in the Yellow Sea. Evaluating the current habitat quality by means of habitat carrying capacity estimation could be effective in predicting the magnitude of impacts caused by habitat loss and provide better understanding to improve management strategies. In this study, we estimated the total biomass of Macrophthalmus japonicus, a main prey item of curlews in the Korea peninsular as habitat carrying capacity of the southern intertidal mudflat of Ganghwa Island, one of the key stopover sites for curlews in the EAAF. The result of the estimation took into account spatial differences of prey biomass and the available foraging time by tide patterns. Accordingly, it was found that curlew populations account for 30.26% of the habitat carrying capacity. When we calculated the mean biomass of the area and extrapolated it to the whole area to calculate the total biomass, it was found that the curlews have consumed 10.92% of the total biomass. The results show that the habitat carrying capacity of the southern intertidal mudflat of Ganghwa Island has decreased by 7.8% compared to a study conducted twenty years ago employing the same method. This study shows that there can be considerable differences in the results of habitat carrying capacity estimation between different methods, indicating that various environmental factors that affect the estimation results of habitat carrying capacity must be considered to achieve a more precise analysis and assessment.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.171-180
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• 1997

Daily mean sea level variability and its response to atmospheric pressure along the coasts of the northwestern Pacific Ocean are investigated. Daily values of sea level and atmospheric pressure covering the period 1976-1986 from 72 stations are analyzed. The sea level and the air pressure in all the data set have a definite seasonal signal, and higher frequency oscillations at time scales of several days to several weeks are also observed. Among the short-period oscillations of sea level with periods shorter than six months, the period of around 3 or 4 months is dominant in most study stations. According to the statistical analysis of sea level and air pressure, the length scale of sea level variability is smaller than that of air pressure for the present study area. The overall variability of sea level is found to be the smallest around Hokkaido, Japan and the largest in the China coasts. Large short-period (< 6 months) sea level variability is found in the southern coasts of China and Hokkaido, and large long-period (> 6 months) variability in the southern coasts of Japan and Korea along Tsushima Current and Kuroshio. The patterns of air pressure are very similar to those of sea level. The air pressure field is found to account for 31% of the overall sea level variability in the study area. Conside.ins the fact that the results (40%) of Pang and Oh (1995) were obtained through monthly sea level, the present result implies that the short-period sea level variability is less affected by air pressure. Generally the sea level response to air pressure are found to be isostatic, but significantly nonisostatic for the periods around 4 months and for those of 2 to 4 days. In particular, nonisostatic response for higher frequencies seem to be due to the restrictions to water transport necessary for barometric responsein the Korea Strait.