• 한국해양학회지
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.83-100
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• 1991

A layer of salinity-minimum which characterizes the East Sea intermediate Water (ESIW) is found at an approximate depth of 200 m in three CTD section taken in the Ulleung Basin on May 17-21, 1988. Properties at this layer vary in ranges of $1.1^{\circ}C except at stations near the east coast of Korea where temperature is as high as $4.39^{\circ}C$ and salinity is as low as $33.992{\textperthousand}$. To be distinguished from the ESIW the East Sea Proper Water (ESPW) may be characterized by temperature less than $1^{\circ}C$, Salinity at the saliently-minimum layer and 500db increases southward in general, implying that the cold waters, both ESIW and ESPW, formed in the northern basin of the East Sea are spreading southward below the permanent thermocline in the basin. Hydrography in the Ulleung Basin is very similar to that in the Alboran Sea, suggesting a possibility of an anticyclonic circulation in the Ulleung Basin which is controlled strongly by the shoaling bottom.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.15-28
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• 1992

Temporal variations of the path of the East Korea Warm Current(EKWC) which flows northward along the east coast of Korea were analysed to investigate whether the EKWC directly influences the existence of the so-called Warm Core in the Ulreung basin. From the 13 years(1975-1987) data of the Fisheries Research and Development Agency(FRDA), the $10^{\circ}C$ isotherm at the 100m depth and the depth of $2^{\circ}C$ isotherm and the temperature field at the 200m depth were used for identification of the path and the central position of the Warm Core. Sea surface winds computed from the surface pressure charts gave the monthly-averaged wind stress curl over the East Sea which was used for determination of the Sverdrup transport. And the mass transport stream functions were computed by use of the Sverdrup balance. The variations of the path show that the EKWC does not always have a fixed path and fluctuates with time. And the existence of the Warm Core is independent upon the presence of the EKWC even when the EKWC doesn't flow northward along the east coast of Korea. In view of the mass transport stream functions, the influences of the sea surface winds on the branching of the Tsushima Warm Currents and the presence of the EKWC were investigated. The presence of the EKWC may be hindered by the southward flow driven by the sea surface winds when the Tsushima currents are rather weak. A very weak correlation exists between the north-south component of the Sverdrup transport and the position of the Warm Core. However, a small but significant part of the southward transport across the latitudinal line of $38^{\circ}N$ indicates that cold water from the northern part of the East Sea may be driven and be forced to flow beneath the permanent thermocline in such a way that the thermal structure of the Warm Core and its position might be changed.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.679-686
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• 1997

In order to investigate the distribution characteristics of polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) at the southern of Korean East Sea, vertical measurements of temperature, salinity, DO and PCBs were performed by each depth of 5 stations during August - October 1996. Thermocline and salinocline were generally existed at depth of 30 m and water mass current of midwater in the southern of Korean East Sea was distributed below 30 m depth. The distribution of surface water mass in this area was extended to Tsusima area from the southern offshore of the Korean last Sea. In August 1996, concentration range of PCBs had $0.22\~0.36\;ng/\ell$ at surface layer and their concentrations at near Tsusima offshore were relatively decreased. Total mean concentration of PCBs was $0.29\;ng/\ell$ in the sea surface and $0.31\;ng/\ell$ in the middle layer. PCBs seemed to correlate well with suspended particles. And vortical and horizontal distribution of their concentrations showed comparatively uniform pattern. Relatively high compositional ratio of Di- and Tri-PCBs could be found at the sea surface, while compositional ratio of Penta-PCBs dominates over other congener at deep layer.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.379-399
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• 2008

Spatial-temporal variations in physiochemical water qualities (temperature, salinity, DO, SPM, POC and nutrients) of surface and bottom waters were investigated along the mid-western coastal area (Taean Peninsula to Gomso Bay) of Korea. Spatial distribution patterns of temperature and salinity were mostly controlled by the physical mixing process of freshwater from Geum River and/or Gyunggi Bay with nearby coastal water. A strong tidal front is formed off Taean Peninsula during spring and summer. Seasonal variations in nutrient concentrations, lower in spring and summer and higher in fall and winter, are primarily regulated by magnitude of phytoplankton occurrence rather than freshwater loadings into the bay. Based on seasonal and spatial variability of physicochemical parameters, water quality of the study area can be divided into four water masses; Gyunggi Bay-influenced Water Mass (GBWM), Geum River-influenced Water Mass (GRWM), Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water Mass (YSBCWM) and Cheonsu Bay Water Mass (CBWM). Water quality of the GBWM (Taean Peninsula coastal area), which has relatively low salinity and high concentrations of nutrients, is strongly controlled by the Gyunggi Bay coastal water, which is under influence of the Han River freshwater. In this water mass, the mixed layer is always developed by strong tidal mixing. As a result, a tidal front is formed along the offshore boundary of the mixed layer. Such tidal fronts probably play an important role in the distribution of phytoplankton communities, SPM and nutrients. The GRWM, with low salinity and high nutrients, especially during the flood summer season, is closely related to physiochemical properties of the Geum River. During the flood season, nutrient-enriched Geum River water mass extends up to 60 km away from the river mouth, potentially causing serious environmental problems such as eutrophication and unusual and/or noxious algal blooms. Offshore (<$30{\sim}40m$ in water depth) of the study area, YSBCWM coupled with a strong thermocline can be identified in spring-summer periods, exhibiting abundant nutrients in association with low temperature and limited biological activity. During spring and summer, a tidal front is formed in a transition zone between the coastal water mass and bottom cold water mass in the Yellow Sea, resulting in intensified upwelling and thereby supplying abundant nutrients to the GBWM and GRWM. Such cold bottom water mass and tidal front formation seems to play an important role in controlling water quality and further regulating physical ecosystem processes along mid-western Korean coastal area.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.64-70
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• 1995

Vertical distribution of eggs and larvae of Maurolicus muelleri were studied in the south-eastern waters of Korea during 1985 and 1986. Samples were collected vertically at three different layers, 0~30 m, 30~50m and 50~100m. The densities of egg and larva were high in August. Eggs and zooplankton were abundant around the thermocline in the temperature range of $10{\sim}15^{\circ}C$ at the layers of 50 m depth in 1985, and 30~100m depth in 1986. Eggs in the cleavage stage were abundant at the layer of 50~100m depth, while those of processing embryonic body formation were tended to concentrate at the layer of 30~50m depth. The vertical distribution of each developmental stage differed according to sampling time. They were distributed uniformly at water column from 30 m to 100m depth in the midnight, but concentrated at the layer from 30 m to 50 m from dawn to sunset. Before and after midnight, eggs in the cleavage stage were most abundant. It was assumed that M. muelleri spawned at the layer of 50~100m depth around the midnight, and the eggs ascended to the layer of 30~50m depth with development.

• Ocean Science Journal
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.11-29
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• 2006

We investigated species composition and spatial distribution of the euphausiid community in the Yellow Sea and identified the relationship with environmental factors (temperature, salinity, chlorophyll $\alpha$, nitrate, phosphate, and silicate) using bimonthly data from June, 1997 to April, 1998. The environment varied during the sampling period. In warm seasons, thermocline was well developed rendering lower temperature and higher salinity and nutrient concentrations in the bottom layer. During cold seasons the water column was well mixed and no such vertical stratification was noted. Horizontal distribution of temperature, however, differed slightly between near-coast and offshore areas because of the shallow depth of the Yellow Sea, and between southern and northern areas because of the intrusion of water masses such as Yellow Sea Warm Current and Changjiang River Diluted Water. Four euphausiid species were identified: Euphausia pacifica, E. sanzoi, Pseudeuphausia sp. and Stylocheron affine. E. sanzoi and S. affine were collected, just one juvenile each, from the southern area in June and December, respectively. Pseudeuphausia sp. were collected in the eastern area all the year round except June. E. pacifica occurred at the whole study area and were the predominant species, representing at least 97.6% of the euphausiid abundance. Further, the distribution pattern of the species was varied in regards to developmental stages (adult, furcilia, calyptopis, egg). From spring to fall, E. pacifica adults were abundant in the central area where the Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water prevailed. Furcilia and calyptopis extended their distribution into nearly all the study area during the same period. From late fall to winter, adults were found at the near-coastal are a with similar pattern for furcilia and calyptopis. The distribution pattern of E. pacifica was consistent regarding temperature, salinity, and three nutrients during the sampling period, whereas chlorophyll $\alpha$ showed a different pattern according to the developmental stages. The nutrients should indirectly affect via chlorophyll $\alpha$ and phytoplankton concentration. With respect to these results, we presented a scenario about how the environmental factors along with the water current affect the distribution of E. pacifica in the Yellow Sea.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 1998

Temporal and spatial variations of nutrient elements (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate and silicate) in surface seawater off the west coast of Korea were investigated during three periods of field survey aboard R/V Eardo of KORDI (May 1995 and June 1996) and a patrol vessel of the National Maritime Police (November 1995). In general, the concentrations of nutrient elements were lowest in June and highest in November except for ammonia that showed the lowest concentration in May and the highest in November. The results tell us that the development of thermocline and tidal front restricts riverine and benthic supply of nutrient elements to surface waters in June in the offshore regions of the study area which become nutrient-depleted due to phytoplankton bloom in spring. In late fall (November) the level of nutrient concentrations of the surface waters of the study area become high due to vigorous vertical mixing within the water column, which supplies nutrient-enriched bottom water to the surface waters.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.199-205
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• 2015

Nitrogen and phosphorus are the limiting elements for growth of phytoplankton, which is a major primary producer of marine ecosystem. Incidentally the stoichiometry of N/P of ocean waters, measured by the (nitrate + nitrite)/phosphate ratio converges to a constant of 16. This characteristic ratio has been used widely for the understanding the ecosystem dynamics and biogeochemical cycles in the ocean. In the East Sea, several key papers were issued in recent years regarding the climate change and its impact on ecosystem dynamic and biogeochemical cycles using N/P ratio because the East Sea is a "miniature ocean" having her own meridional overturning circulation with the appropriate responding time and excellent accessibility. However, cited N/P values are different by authors that we tried to propose a single representative value by reanalyzing the historical nutrient data. We present N/P of the East Sea as $12.7{\pm}0.1$ for the year 2000. The ratio reveals a remarkable consistency for waters exceeding 300m depth (below the seasonal thermocline). We recommend to use this value in the future studies and hope to minimize confusion for understanding ecosystem response and biogeochemical cycles in relation to future climate change until new N/P value is established from future studies.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.3 s.95
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• pp.141-152
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• 2001

Abundance of autotrophic picoplankton (APP) and their contribution to phytoplankton biomass were assessed in seven brackish lagoons and five freshwater reservoirs in the summer season. Phycocyanin-rich picocyanobacteria dominated APP in lagoons, while phycoerythrin-rich picocyanobacteria dominated APP in freshwater reservoirs. The cell density of APP ranged from $3.6{\times}10^3$ to $5.0{\times}10^6\;cells/ml$ (median $2.5{\times}10^5$) in brackish lagoons and from $3.8{\times}10^4$ to $3.6{\times}10^5\;cells/ml$ (mdian $1.3{\times}10^5$) in reservoirs. Carbon biomass ranged from 1.0 to $1,385.0\;{\mu}gC/L$ in lagoons and from 15.3 to $128.2\;{\mu}gC/L$ in reservoirs. APP cell density in Lake Kyungpo was over $10^6\;cells/ml$in all three surveys, which is one of the highest values recorded in all over the world. During the thermal stratification in Lake Soyang, the maximum abundance of APP and their maximum contribution to phytoplankton biomass were observed near the thermocline. This study showed that APP sometimes can contribute significantly to phytoplankton biomass both in lagoons and reservoirs with the range from 0.1 to 85.0%. APP which have been overlooked in the past studies appears to be important primary producers in Korean lake ecosystem.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.337-346
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• 1992

Hydroacoustic surveys were conducted in the East China Sea, in the summers of 1990-1991 to investigate the distribution and migration behavior of fish, such as the diel changes in the distributions of fish, the thermoselection behavior of fish, and the fish reactions to a surveying vessel. The hydroacoustic observations were taken with a scientific echo sounder operating at 50kHz and a microcomputer-based echo processor. Fish samples were collected by bottom trawling and temperature was measured with a DBT system. The patterns of fish distributions were compared with the vertical profiles of water temperature. The results obtained can be summarized as follows: 1. The time series of hydroacoustic observations on the downward migration at dawn in the central region of East China Sea showed that the migration rate was 0.24 m/min. In this region, most of the fish collected by bottom trawling during the surveys were squid (Photologio edulis f. budo) and horse mackeral (Trachurus japonicus). 2. The hydroacoustic observations, which together associated with temperature data, indicated that squid and horse mackeral concentrated nocturally in a narrow vertical band of thermocline, particularly in summer when the survey region was strongly stratified. This result suggest that the nocturnal vertical distribution of these species evidently is controlled by temperature. 3. When the survey vessel, that is running at a speed of 11 knots, has suddenly stopped, the fish which concentrated beneath the transducer showed a strong avoidance reaction in the form of rapid downward migration. After a few minutes, the descending reaction disappeared and the fish slowly began the upward migration toward their original swimming positions. Trawl data suggest that the fish, which showed the avoidance reaction, was Liparis tessellatus.