• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.207-218
• /
• 2017

Seawater with salinity of 32.5 psu or less is observed in the southern Japan/East Sea (JES) every autumn. It is confined to a surface layer 30-45 m in depth that expands to cover the entire JES in October. Two sources of "autumn low-salinity water" have been identified from historical hydrographic data in the western JES: East China Sea (ECS) water mixed with fresh water discharge from the Yangtze River (Changjiang) and seawater diluted with melted sea ice in the northern JES. Low-salinity water inflow from the ECS begins in June and reaches its peak in September. Low-salinity water from the northern JES expands southward along the coast, and its horizontal distribution varies among years. A rare observational study of the entire JES in October 1969 indicated that water with salinity less than 33.0 psu covered the southwestern JES; the lowest salinity water was found near the Ulleung Basin. In October 1995, the vertical distribution of salinity observed in a meridional section revealed that water with salinity of 33.6 psu or less was present in the area north of the subpolar front.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.46 no.6
• /
• pp.907-916
• /
• 2013

The aim of this study was to compare community structure of larval fish species in the northern East China Sea during normal meteorological conditions in autumn 2009, during the El Ni$\tilde{n}$o period in 2009-2010, and during the La Nina period in 2010. Fifty taxa were recorded during the study period; the most dominant species were Benthosema pterotum and Gobiidae spp. In October 2008 during the normal period, warm water from the Tsushima Warm Current (TWC) intruded more into the surface and middle layers, and cold water affected by the Yellow Sea Cold Water (YSCW) intruded into the bottom layer. In October 2009 during the El Ni$\tilde{n}$o period, intrusion of the China Coastal Water (CCW), which has low salinity (<32.2 psu), was more apparent than intrusion of the TWC or YSCW. In October 2010 during the La Nina period, intrusion of the TWC and CCW was relatively weak, resulting in the lowest temperature and highest salinity observed during the study period in the eastern part of the study area. Hierarchical cluster, one-way ANOSIM (analysis of similarities), and SIMPER (similarity-percentages procedure) analyses provided two main results. First, the abundance of the most dominant larval fish species in autumn of the normal period was greater than that in autumn of the El Ni$\tilde{n}$o/La Nina periods, resulting in a significant difference in ichthyoplankton community structure between the periods. The abundance of Benthosema pterotum increased in the normal period, possibly influenced by the intrusion of cold water from the YSCW; the abundance of species residing in Korean waters (e.g., Gobiidae spp.) probably decreased during the El Ni$\tilde{n}$o/La Nina periods. The second finding was that the abundance of subtropical larval fish in autumn of the normal period was generally larger than that during autumn of the El Ni$\tilde{n}$o/La Nina periods. This could have been induced by the stronger intrusion of warm water from the TWC during the normal period. Although differences in oceanographic conditions between El Ni$\tilde{n}$o and La Nina periods were observed, the differences in ichthyoplankton community structure between the two periods were not significant.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.499-508
• /
• 2016

We investigated regional differences in the growth and maturation rate of Pacific cod in the East and Yellow Seas. Significant regional differences were detected in the von Bertalanffy growth equation and mean length at maturity (L₅₀). Cod in the East Sea grew at a faster rate than those in the Yellow Sea, with females growing faster than males in both populations. Cod of both sexes matured earlier in the Yellow Sea (age of maturity: 2.3 years for males, 2.6 years for females) than in the East Sea (age of maturity: 3.9 years for males, 4 years for females). These regional differences suggest that Pacific cod in the Yellow Sea, which is at the southwestern extremity of global cod distribution and thus likely to be an inhospitable habitat for this species, have adapted to their environment by developing earlier maturation and slower growth than cod in the East Sea or the Korea Strait. These regional differences must be taken into account when setting biological reference points for management of the Pacific cod fishery in Korean waters.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.153-162
• /
• 2004

In the summer of 1998-2001, a huge flood occurred in the Yangtze River in the eastern China. Low salinity water less than 28 psu from the river was detected around the southwestern part of the Jeju Island, which is located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. We studied how to detect low salinity water from the Yangtze River, that cause a terrible damage to the Korean fisheries. We established a relationships between low salinity at surface, turbid water from the Yangtze River and digital ocean color remotely sensed data of SeaWiFS sensor in the northern East China Sea, in the summer of 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001. The salinity charts of the northern East China Sea were created by regeneration of the satellite ocean color data using the empirical formula from the relationships between in situ low salinity, in situ measured turbid water with transparency and SeaWiFS ocean color data (normalized water leaving radiance of 490 nm/555 nm).

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.64-69
• /
• 2004

The results of analyzing the hydrographic observations in the southwestern sea of Jeju Island in the last 10 days of August 1999 to investigate the characteristics of oceanic front area appeared in the East China Sea in August from is summarized as follows: In Line A, a front appears at Station A5 of 124°E and 31°30'N, showing relatively uniform density of 21.4 to 22.1 in the surface layer of 50m depth, which is distinguished from 22.0 shown in the sides of China and open ocean. In Line B, a front also appears at Station B6 of 124°E and 33°N, of which density is distinguished from 20.0 shown in the sides of China and open ocean as In Line A. As a result, the front area caused by fresh water runoffs from the Yangtze River in the East China Sea is formed at 124°E and 124°30'in the direction of east and northeast from Yangtze River, respectively. Nutrient concentrations in the study area are characterized by higher density in the side of China and by clear density difference between the upper and the lower layers in the side of open ocean, while by uniformly lower density concentration between the upper and the lower layers in the front area. Chlorophyll-α concentrations is high in the sides of China and open ocean, while low in the front area. Judging from the above results, the productivity in the front area is lower according to the inactivity of phytoplankton due to increased flow from vertical mixing between the upper layer and the lower layer. Also, the front area in the East China Sea in summer may be moved towards the adjacent sea of Jeju Island by increasing fresh water runoffs from the Yangtze River in summer.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.38 no.5
• /
• pp.331-341
• /
• 2005

Distribution of anchovy (Engraulis japonica) eggs and larvae was studied in the southwestern sea of Korea in July and November, 2001. Anchovy eggs were found mainly in the oceanic fronts of the northern sea area which were formed in the offshore area of Chuja Is. Bogil Is. and Chungsan Is. from west to east. Anchovy eggs were also found in the surrounding sea of Cheju Is. in the southern sea front area. The waters were highly heterogeneous and the water masses were bordered based on temperature $(10.8-26.4^{\circ}C)$ and salinity (28.9-33.7 psu). The anchovy eggs were mostly found outside of the China Coastal Water, where salinity was below 31 psu. The anchovy eggs were not found in November. Abundance of the anchovy larvae were higher in July than November. Temperature ranged from $10.8^{\circ}C\;to\;25.9^{\circ}C\;and\;15.9^{\circ}C\;to\;20.5^{\circ}C$, and salinity ranged from 28.9psu to 34.1psu and 33.2psu to 34.1psu in July and November, respectively. Non-swimmable larvae were found throughout the whole area of the southwestern sea of Korea. The area beyond the oceanic front had anchovy eggs dispersed from the spawning grounds to offshore. Dispersion pattern showed that the eggs were transported from the spawning grounds with a process of advection and diffusion based on the flow pattern which were caused by winds. Distribution pattern of the anchovy eggs and larvae may be used for the prediction of oceanic currents in each area.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.296-303
• /
• 2015

We surveyed moths on Gageodo island in the southwestern sea of the Korean Peninsula over three years (2009, 2012, 2013) and found a total of 253 species in 18 families. Geometridae had the greatest species richness, with 63 species, followed by Noctuidae, Erebidae, Crambidae and Sphingidae. The annual changes in species richness and abundance were not different and seasonal occurrence of species showed a unimodal pattern in which the numbers of species and individuals increased from April and May, peaked in June and decreased to September and October. Seven moth species (Pyralidae: Herculia drabicilialis Yamanaka, Didia striatella (Inoue); Crambidae: Clupeosoma pryeri (Butler), Demobotys pervulgalis (Hampson), Yezobotys dissimilis (Yamanaka), Syllepte cissalis Yamanaka; Erebidae: Hypena sinuosa (Wileman)) are reported for the first time in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.286-295
• /
• 2016

With the results of observations in 2013 and 2014 including ocean buoys, in-situ investigations and wind data, we examined the spatio-temporal variation of cold water masses along the eastern coast of Korea. Usually, a cold water mass first appears along the northern part of the eastern coast from May to July, and then along the southern part of the eastern coast from late June to mid-August. Cold water masses appear 3~5 times a year and remain for 5~20 days in the southwestern part of the East Sea. A distinctive cold water mass appeared usually in mid-July in this area, the surface temperature of which was below $10^{\circ}C$ in some cases. During the appearance of a cold water mass in the southwestern part of the East Sea, the horizontal temperature gradient was large at the surface and a significant low water temperature below $8^{\circ}C$ appeared at the bottom level. This appearance of cold water masses clearly corresponded to southwesterly winds, which generated coastal upwelling.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.163-177
• /
• 2013

An instrumented ferry made two transects per day across two current systems which are the North Korean Cold Current and the East Korean Warm Current over the years 2012-2013 from Gangneung to Ulleungdo in the southwestern East Sea. Seawater properties of these transects were measured with high spatial and temporal resolution for an extended period of time. Here the salinity records from the transects with the oceanographic observation data from East Sea Fisheries Institute of NFRDI, AVISO daily current chart and GOCI Chlorophyll-a image in 2012 and 2013 are used to study the time-series variation of salinity at the surface. The high salinity section with the range of 33.15~34.12 occurred on the transect mainly in the middle of eddy, and western boundary of strong northward current from June to October. We can found low salinity waters in both sides of the high salinity section. It is estimated that the western low salinity waters with the range of 30.58~33.20 accompanied by southward current were derived from the NKCC and the eastern waters with the range of 31.30~33.24 accompanied by northward current were derived from the Tsushima Surface Water. The lowest salinity of NKCC is confirmed in this study as 30.36. It is found that the western waters below 33.00 extended extremely toward the east about 110 km area from Gangneung and toward the south around Jukbyon coastal area as a 5~10 m layer. We can find its volume of low saline waters transport is not neglectable compared with that of Tsushima Current region in the western part of the East Sea. In this study we named it as the North Korean Low Saline Surface Water in summer.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.389-401
• /
• 2003

The changes in structure and abundance of taxon or species groups in the East Sea ecosystem were compared between pre- and post-Climatic Regime Shift (CRS) occurred in the mid 1970s using an ECOPATH model. Although the East Sea ecosystem consisted of primary producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers and terminal consumers most species groups were classified as secondary consumers. The mean trophic level between pre- and post-CRS increased from 3.09 during the pre-CRS period to 3.28 during the post-CRS period. Total biomass of the species groups in the East Sea ecosystem increased by $9\%$ due to the CRS, and total catch increased by $48\%.$ The most significant differences between pre- and post-CRS models occurred at the mid/high trophic levels occupied by fishes and cephalopods. Relative contribution of the different species groups to the total energy flow was calculated for the trophic level III. As a result, the status by the dominant species in the East Sea ecosystem shifted from cephalopods to walleye pollock due to the CRS. Relative contribution of 5 species, which were commercially important, such as Pacific saury, Pacific sardine, filefish, walleye pollock and sandfish in trophic level III, were also changed due to the CRS. Finally, the CRS turned out to cause large variations in biomass and catch of fisheries resources as well as the status and role of the major species.