• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.191-207
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• 2022

Using the results of CTD casts made in Spring from 2017 to 2021, in this study we investigated the water mass distribution and occurrence of temperature inversion in the western seas of Jeju Island in spring. The distribution of water masses was characterized by cold and fresh water in the northwest and warm and saline water in the southeast, forming a strong thermohaline front running in the southwest-to-northeast direction. Strong temperature inversion mainly occurred in the frontal boundary when the cold water intrudes beneath the warm water at depths of 30-50 m. Analysis of the mixing ratio demonstrated that Jeju Warm Water is dominantly distributed in the western seas of Jeju Island, but its ratio can be modified depending on the southward extension of Yellow Sea Cold Water (YSCW). Results of in situ measurement showed that in 2020, the YSCW largely expanded to the western seas of Jeju Island, occupying approximately 40 % of the mixing ratio. Due to the expansion of YSCW, a strong thermohaline front was formed in the study area, thereby causing thick and strong temperature inversion. On the other hand, in 2018 the mixing ratio of YSCW was minimum (~18%) during the study period of 2017-2021, and thus a relatively weak frontal boundary was formed, without the occurrence of temperature inversion. The observational results also suggest that the interannual changes of water mass distribution and the associated temperature inversion in the western seas of Jeju Island are closely related with wind-driven Yellow Sea circulation in spring, which is the summer monsoon transition period.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.677-697
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• 1995

The analysis of long- period sea level variations with tidal record data around Korea, Japan, and Russia shows that about half of the variations are due to atmospheric influences. The sea level variation by water movements is the largest in the coasts along the Tsushima Current, and becomes smaller in the distant areas. It suggests that the sea level varications are related with the Tsushima Current. The effect of sea level variations to ocean circulation has been studied with a numerical model allowing barotropic sea level fluctuations, like the result with GCM (Semtner) model by Pang et al.(1993), the present model also shows that waters basically flow along isobaths over the last China Sea after geostyophic adjustment around Taiwan. However, barotropic sea level fluctuation makes the basic circulation in the Yellow Sea, which waters flow into the central Yellow Sea and out along the west coast of the Korean Peninsula. Besides this, barotropic sea level fluctuation makes long period waves over the shelf area as the Kuroshio varies. By the waves, the basic circulation in the Yellow Sea is disturbed, so that the flow pattern of oppositely flowing into the Yellow Sea along the west roast of the Korean Peninsula appears. In the Yellow Sea circulation, it seems that northwest winds strengthen the basic circulat ion In winter, and southeast winds strengthen the disturbed circulation in summer. Another point appeared by the long period wave is that the Tsushima Current possibly originates in different areas. There have been two opposing argues on the area in which the Tsushima Current originates the southwest sea of Kyushu Island and the adjacent sea of Taiwan. Through this study, we found that both of them seem to be important areas for the origin of the Tsushima Current, and one of them is possibly strengthened by long period waves. The long period waves given by the variation of the Kuroshio Current in the adjacent sea of Taiwan propagate to the Korea Strait as forced waves. The wave continuously propagates to the last Sea through the eastern channel, but reflects in the western channel due to bottom topography. The reflected waves propagate southwestward along the last China Sea as free waves and determine the sea level variations with forced waves.

• ALGAE
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.231-241
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• 2016

We examined the genetic diversity and abundance of picocyanobacteria using barcoded amplicon sequencing approaches and flow cytometry in the East Sea and the East China Sea to determine the distribution patterns of diversity during spring in seas adjacent to the Korean Peninsula. Synechococcus clades I and IV, which have been known as cold-adapted ecotypes, dominated at most stations. However, the relative abundances of the two dominant clades differed in their spatial patterns. Clade I was exclusively dominant in the shelf area of the East China Sea and the north East Sea. However, the dominant genotypes belonging to clade I had different spatial distributions in the two areas and responded oppositely to seawater temperature. The dominance of distinct genotypes under the different ecological conditions suggests the presence of ecologically different ecotypes within the clade. Abundances of clade IV were greater than those of clade I at most stations in the southwest East Sea, showing an apparently different pattern from that of the other areas. A warm-water adapted clade II was observed at significant levels only at stations located in the eastern East China Sea affected by a branch of the warm Kuroshio Current. These results suggest that the physicochemical properties of influencing water masses play an important role in determining the distribution of Synechococcus genotypes.

• Ocean Science Journal
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.31-39
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• 2007

Distributional characteristics of dinoflagellate cysts in surface sediments were investigated in relation to environmental factors in the eastern part of Geoje Island, Korea. Samples were collected from 10 stations in February of 2004 and water temperature and salinity were measured in February, May, September and November of 2004. Total 30 taxa of dinoflagellate cysts were identified representing 19 genera, 28 species and 2 unidentified species. Among these dinoflagellate cysts, Brigantedinium spp. of which relative proportion in th e total dinoflagellate cysts was 23.5%, was the most abundant at all stations except St. 1, and was followed by Spiniferites bulloideus (8.6%), Lingulodinium machaerophorum (8.2%) and Diplopsalis lenticula (6.7%). In addition, ellipsoidal cysts of the genus Alexandrium (Alexandrium catenella - tamarense type) and Gymnodinium catenatum, known to be causative organisms for PSP, occurred with high concentrations. Scrippsiella trochoidea was also found; however, its cyst concentration was low. Generally, species composition in the study area was similar to these reported from Jinhae Bay and Busan Harbor and several dinoflagellate cysts reflected the eutrophic condition. Cyst distribution in th e eastern part of Geoje Island seems to be influenced by the Tsushima Warm Current flowing from the southwest. The mean water temperature was $12.0^{\circ}C$ in February, $14.7^{\circ}C$ in May, $20.9^{\circ}C$ in September and $17.2^{\circ}C$ in November, which was most favorable for Alexandrium spp. growth. The abundances of dinoflagellate cysts rang e d from 528 to 2,834 cysts/g dry sediment. Higher concentrations were recognized in sediments of west area of the Jisimdo than at other stations. The cyst composition of this area was closely related to these of Jinhae Bay and Busan Harbor from which currents flow into this area. Higher cyst concentration in the west area of Jisimdo might be due to formation of the gyre.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 1993

The monthly mean sea levels at 48 stations located at the East and Yellow Seas coasts of Korea, Russia and Japan are processed to investigate seasonal sea level variations. The strong seasonal variations are found to be at the west coast of Korea (42.1 cm in Kunsan), in the region of the Korea strait and near the southern part of Primorye (30-33 cm); the weak ones near the southwestern coast of the Sakhalin Island (10-12 cm). Practically for the whole study area except the southwest Sakhalin, the general picture of the seasonal sea level changes is alike: the mean sea level rises in summer-autumn and falls in winter-spring. The spectral analysis of the records also shows that the seasonal oscillations strongly dominate in the sea level variations, more than 80% or total energy in the southern part of the investigated region and 50-70% in the northern part relate to these oscillations. The annal peak significantly prevails in spectra of the monthly sea levels for the majority of stations, the semiannual peak is also well manifested, but the seasonal peaks of higher order (corresponding to the periods of four and three months) reveal only at some records. The maximal amplitudes of annual component by a least square method are found at the Yellow Sea coast of Korea (20-21 cm) and also near the Japanese coast of the korea Strait (19-19 cm). The semiannual component has the maximal amplitudes (3-4 cm) near the south and southwestern coasts of the Sakhalin Island. The annual range of the sea levels is much weaker here than in the other regions, the relative investment of the seasonal oscillations in total energetic budget is only 35-40%, annual ($A_1$) and semiannual ($A_2$) components have nearly the same amplitude (seasonal factor $F=A_1/A_2=0.9-1.2$). On the basis of the present examination on sea level changes together with the results of Tomizawa et. al.(1984) the whole investigated area may be divided into 10 subregions, 2 of them are related to the Yellow Sea and Western part of the Korea Strait (Y1, Y2), the other ones (E1-E8) to the East Sea.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 1998

Hourly meteorological data from a marine buoy ($34^{\circ}49'00"N$, $125^{\circ}46'00"E$) operated by the Korean Meteorological Agency were obtained from July, 1996 to February, 1997. From the data air-sea heat fluxes and marine meteorological characteristics around the area are estimated. The maximum outflux of sensible heat from the sea surface occurred in January (monthly mean value, 12.6 $Wm^{-2}$ and the maximum influx to the sea occurred in July (monthly mean value, 5.5 $Wm^{-2}$). This means that the sea is heated in summer while it loses its heat in winter, and that there is inequality between the absolute values of the two seasons. The outflux of the maximum latent heat occurred in November (monthly mean value, 86.5 $Wm^{-2}$) and reach a value of 300 $Wm^{-2}$, and the maximum influx occurred in July (monthly mean value, 4.6 $Wm^{-2}$). Big difference is shown in their absolute values when the wind becomes strong. The outgoing latent heat flux reaches its maximum in autumn, and it maintains the high value through the whole winter. According to the wave data analysis, the significant wave heights are larger in winter than in summer. The periods of the significant waves are 4~6 sec. In winter, waves propagated from north and northeast are dominant because of the winter monsoon, while in summer waves from south, southwest, and west are relatively frequent.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.157-170
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• 2002

To examine the structure and distribution of the Keum River plume produced by continuous river discharge we carried out three-dimensional numerical model experiments with or without Coriolis force and tide. When Coriolis force is included but tide is not the model plume forms the clockwise circulation north of southern channel in the developing stage. As the plume expansion progresses the center of circulation moves to the southwest, with fuming the discharging axis of low-salinity water to the southwest from the mouth of southern channel. These results are explained mainly in terms of barotropic geostrophy by surface slope maintained with accumulated low-salinity(buoyant) water in front of the estuary mouth due to of offshore strong salinity front. When the M$_2$ tide is included the model plume extends farther to the northwest, forming large tongue-like salinity distribution. The tidally averaged surface flows of the offshore plume are mainly in geostrophic balance. These changes in plume distribution are explained in terms of low-salinity water advection by tidal excursion and active tidal mixing; the former supplies low salinity water to the north off the estuary mouth and the later increases mean sea level along the plume and surface salinity in northern shallow coastal area. The main features of observed Keum River plume(Lee et al., 1999; Choi et al., 1999), which showed the northwestward deflection of the plume axis and northward deepening of the plume thickness from the estuary mouth region, are well reproduced by the model in which tide is included.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.727-738
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• 1999

Total 76 aerosol samples were collected at Sungsan in Cheju Inland by high volume air sample for 1 year, from May 1995 to April 1996, and were analyzed for major elements(Na, Mg, Ca, Al, Fe) and trace elements(Mn, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd, Pb, U) by ICP/AES and ICP/MS. This study aims to determine the concentrations of trace metals and their seasonal variations in the atmosphere of Cheju Island, where is the remote area from pollution sources and also is the midway of transport of Asian continental materials into the western North Pacific. The concentrations of Na and Mg contributed by sea-salt aerosols were similar to those in the western part of Cheju island(Kosan) and in the western coast of Korea(Mallipo). They showed the highest value in summer and the lowest in spring and winter. Crustal metals(Al, Fe, Ca, Mn, Co, U) were 2~3 times lower than those of Mallipo. These metals showed the lowest values in summer and the highest in spring. Pollution-derived metals (Zn, Cd and Pb) were 2~4 times lower than those in Malipo. Some elemental ratios in aerosols grouped by three wind directions(north-northwest, east, and south-southwest) such as Fe/Al and Pb/Zn are presented as useful tracers indicating source areas, and their differentiation may be explained by geology and fuel types of source areas.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.172-183
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• 2005

To assess the macrobenthic community of oligohaline Youngam Lake, which is located at the Youngsan Watershed on the southwest part of Korea, macrobenthic fauna were collected at 45 stations during May, 2002. A total of 16 species of macrofauna were recorded with a mean density of 240 individuals per $m^2$ and a mean biomass of 7.07 g wet weight per $m^2$. Major dominant faunal groups were crustacean arthropods in terms of the number of species and abundance, and polychaete annelids in terms of biomass. The mean grain size was $5.7\;{\phi}$ which was dominated by silt fraction. The hydrological environment of the lake was characterised as an oligohaline environment with a mean surface water temperature of $17.8^{\circ}C$ and a mean salinity of 2.08 psu. The major dominant species were amphipods, Corophium sp. ($31\%$) and Jesogammarus sp. ($25\%$). Lowe. values of species diversity (H') with a mean of 0.81 (less than 1.0 from most stations) reflected the overall poor faunal diversity in this area. Multivariate analysis suggested that this benthic faunal community could be divided into four sub-regions such as the area from lake proper to water channel to the south, the stations located at the entrance and northern water channel, the stations near the dike, and the lake proper area. Freshwater and brackish water species which occurred in each station group were corresponded to the oligohaline salinity regime. Bottom hypoxia appeared in the entrance part of the lake between dyke and lake proper on May, which was resulted from stratification from spring season. These facts imply that marine macrobenthos were severely impacted by low salinity and a consequent hypoxia after embankment of the lake due to the restriction of water circulation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Navigation and Port Research Conference
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• 2010.04a
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• pp.163-164
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• 2010

In this paper, the plan to invigorate regional marine tourism is discussed. The southwest area of Jeonnam province is famous for its beautiful islands and seashore line which has richness and variety of marine life. A solution of tourists increment by leisure sports utilizing islands and coastline will be proposed MTB tournament held at islands that has historic backgrounds and scenic beauty and its effect on influx of tourist were tracked first. Next application of mud flats boot around seaside and connection with experience program of seaside village were also examined. These activities will contribute to development of marine tourism and increase of income for regional people.