• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.581-594
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• 2004

CREAHS II carried out an intensive hydrographic survey covering almost entire East Sea in 1999. Hydrographic data from total 203 stations were released to public on the internee. This paper summarized the results of water mass analysis by OHP (Optimum Multiparameter) method that utilizes temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity, silicate, nitrate, phosphate and location data as an input data-matrix. A total of eight source water types are identified in the East Sea: four in surface waters(North Korea Surface Water, Tatar Surface Cold Water, East Korean Coastal Water, Modified Tsushima Surface Water), two intermediate water types (Tsushima Middle Water, Liman Cold Water), two deep water types (East Sea Intermediate Water, East Sea Proper Water). Of these NKSW, MTSW and TSCW are the newly reported as the source water type. Distribution of each water types reveals several few interesting hydrographic features. A few noteworthy are summarized as follows: The Tsushima Warm Current enter the East Sea as three branches; East Korea Coastal Water propagates north along the coast around $38^{\circ}N$ then turns to northeastward to $42^{\circ}N$ and moves eastward. Cold waters of northern origin move southward along the coast at the subsurface, which existence the existence of a circulation cell at the intermediate depth of the East Sea. The estimated volume of each water types inferred from the OMP results show that the deep waters (ESIW + ESPW) fill up ca. 90% of the East Sea basins. Consequently the formation and circulation of deep waters are the key factors controlling environmental condition of the East Sea.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.185-192
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• 1991

The vertical distribution and chemical characteristics of water masses were measured along two south-north transects in the polar front region of the central Korean East Sea. In February, a thermocline was present at depth between 50m and loom at the southern sites of a landward A-transect, and its depth was gradually deepened northward. At an outside B-transect, a thermocline was observed at significantly deep depth of 300m to 400m at two northern stations(Stn. 10 and 11), though the depth of the southward stations was nearly identical to that at the northward stations on a A-transect. In September, there were vertically more various water masses, i.e. the Tsushima Warm surface water(TWSW) or more than $20^{\circ}C$, the Tsushima Middle water(TMW) with a range of $12{\~}17^{\circ}C$, the North Korea Cold Water(NKCW) with $1{\~}7^{\circ}C$ temperature, the Japan Sea Proper Water(JSPW) of less than $1^{\circ}C$, and the mixed water. The North Korea Cold Water could be distinguishable from the other waters, especially from the mixed water of the Tsushima Middle Water and the Japan Sea Proper Water by the pattern of $T-O_2$ diagram. For instance, the North Korea Cold Water had higher oxygen by $1{\~}2ml/l$ than those in the mixed water, although both the two water masses ranged $1{\~}7^{\circ}C$ in water temperature. AOU value was the highest in the JSPW and the lowest in the TWSW. Also, AOU indicated a nearly linear and negative correlation with water temperature. However, AOU data for two masses, the NKCW and the TMW, in September departed remarkably from a regression line. Moreover, the ratio of $$\Delta P/\Delta AOU)$ in September was about $0.45{\mu}g-at/ml$ and higher than the value observed in the open sea. This high value could be elucidated by two factors; intrusion of the NKCW with high oxygen and molecular diffusion of dissolved oxygen from the surface into the lower layer. AOU would be a useful tracer for water masses in the polar front area of the Korean East Sea.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.329-336
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• 2006

Distribution of zooplankton communities was sampled vertically with a NORPAC net investigated in costal area of Wando from 30, August at 7 stations. A total of 37 taxa were sampled with a total abundance of zooplankton ranged from $147{\sim}1,696indiv.\;m^{-3}$. Evadne tergestina, Acartia pacifica, Paracalanus parvus s. 1, Decapod larvae, Sagitta crassa were dominant species in coastal area of Wando and they contributed 90% of mean abundance of total zooplankton. Multivariate analysis revealed significant differences in community structure among the three regions: the site 1 (A), the middle part of the sampling area (B) and other sites (C). The number and abundance of zooplankton varied significantly among the three regions (p < 0.05). Of these, the distribution of zooplankton communities in the coastal area of Wando was controlled by Tsushima Warn Current and bottom cold water of Yellow Sea.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.90-103
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• 2014

Distribution characteristics of water masses, dissolved inorganic and organic nutrients were investigated in the southern part of the East Sea of Korea in September, 2011. On the basis of the vertical profiles of temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen, water masses in the study area were divided into 4 major groups, such as WM (water mass)-I, WM-II, WM-III, WM-IV. Their characteristics were similar to Tsushima Surface Water (TSW), Tsushima Middle Water (TMW), North Korea Cold Water (NKCW) and East Sea Proper Water (ESPW), respectively. In the vertical profiles of dissolved nutrients, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) concentrations were highest in the WM-IV, followed by WM-III, WM-II, WM-I. On the contrary, distribution of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) were highest in the WM-I, followed by WM-II, WM-III, WM-IV. Although the DIN : DIP ratio in all of the water masses was similar to Redfield ratio(16), the DIN : DIP ratio in mixed layer was about 5.3, indicating that inorganic nitrogen is the limiting factor for the growth of phytoplankton. However, the DON proportion in dissolved total nitrogen (DTN) was about 70% in the mixed layer where inorganic nitrogen is limiting factor. Thus, enriched DON may play an important source of the nutrient for the growth of phytoplankon in the East Sea.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.203-215
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• 1995

Two hydrographic surveys along with direct current measurements using drogues and moored current meters were conducted in Cheju Strait during April and May, 1983. The data clearly demonstrate that a branch of the Kuroshio characterized by high temperature and high salinity enters the Cheju Strait after turning around the western coast of Cheju-Do. The width of the current turning west of Cheju-Do is about 60 km and reduces to 20∼30 km in the strait, resulting in a high speed(＞10 cm/s) at the western entrance and in the middle of the strait, compared with a low speed (＞5 cm/s) west of Cheju-Do. The Tsushima Current water also originating from the Kuroshio shows its influence in the eastern part of the Cheju Strait. Thermohaline fronts formed between the warm current waters and the coastal waters suggest the southward extension of the Yellow Sea Coastal Water west of the Cheju Strait. A warming of the warm current waters occurs in May, while a cooling takes place in other areas. The major freshening and cooling of water take place in the middle of the Cheju Strait in May due to the intrusion of cold and low salinity water from the west of the Cheju Strait.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.41-51
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• 1970

Periodic characters of water temperature in the regions of the Mishima and the Okinoshima were derived through the analysis of the five days interval data during 1914 to 1970 mainly. In terms of ten days mean temperatures, annual variation function of the Mishima region, Korea Strait, is F($\theta_d$)=17.45-5.34 cos $\theta_d$-3.77 sin $\theta_d$+0.62 sin $2\theta_d$ -0.52 sin $3\theta_d$, where $\theta_d$=$\frac{\pi}{18}$(d-2), d is the order of ten days period 1 to 36. And in the region of Okinoshima, Tsushima Strait, we find F($\theta_d$)=18.88-5.39 cos $\theta_d$-3.60 sin $\theta_d$+0.52 sin $2\theta_d$. The annual mean temperature is 17.4$^{\circ}C$ in the Mishima region, 18.9$^{\circ}C$ in the Okinoshima region, and the amplitudes of annual variation functions are 7$^{\circ}C$ in both regions with minimum temperature in the middle ten days of February, maximum in the middle ten days of August. The long term variations of surface water temperature with 12 5 years period were observed in the annual mean temperature, monthly mean temperatures and the fixed day temperatures of every year. In addition to these, relatively short term variations were also found significant periods of 3 years, 4 years and 2 years, respectively.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 1998

Fish larvae and environmental variables were collected in the sea around Cheju Island of Korea in November, 1986. Fish larvae were found at the 43 of 44 stations. Abundance of fish larvae rangεd from 3 to 259 indiv./$10^3\;m^3$ (average 50 indiv./$10^3\;m^3$) Dominant species were Engraulis japonicus, Champsodon snyderi, Gobiidae, Sebastiscus marmoratus, and Synagrops philippinensis, which comprised 56.6% of total fish larvae abundance. 43 stations were c1assified into two groups by c1uster analysis based on the abundance of fish taxa. Most stations of Group I were located in the middle reach of Tsushima Current and had higher number of species and abundance than the sites of Group II which cover the marginal areas of Tsushima Current, Korean Coastal Waters, and coastal water of China. The dominant taxa in the sites of the Group I were E. japonicus, Gobiidae, S. philippinensis, Aulops japonicus, Bregmaceros spp., Benthosema pterotum, Lampanctus spp., etc., all of which are typical warm-water species. Therefore, Tsushima Current seems to be the most critical factor regulating the structure of fish larvae community in the study area. The discriminant analysis using the environmenta1 variables (temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen) produced result with a difference only of 11.6% from that of c1uster analysis using the taxa composition and abundance data. Consequently, the structural type of fish larvae community can be used for predicting the changes of environmental conditions in the study area.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.87-98
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• 2016

During the period between July 3 and 27 of 2009, water samples were collected from the Russian coast at a depth of 30m from 26 stations (including Ulleung and Japan basins) onboard the Russian survey vessel R/V Lavrentyev following 4 lines (D, R, E, and A). The samples were analyzed for nutrients and chlorophyll a contents. All parameters exhibited higher values in warm waters than in cold waters ($NH_4:1.8-fold$, $PO_4:1.8-fold$, $SiO_2:1.2-fold$, and chlorophyll-${\alpha}$:1.9-fold), except nitrates, which was 1.4-fold higher in cold waters than in warm waters. The horizontal distribution of ammonia, phosphate, and chlorophyll-${\alpha}$ was very similar to each other and showed the highest values in the waters near Russia, where a upwelling influence of cold current and bottom water prevails, while relatively low distribution was observed at the Ulleung Basin. On the other hand, nitrates showed the highest concentration at the Ulleung Basin, which is under the direct influence of the Tsushima warm water, and showed a gradual decrease northward. The N/P ratio showed the highest value in the Tsushima middle water, rather than in the North Korean Cold Water, the Tsushima Warm Water was the primary source of nitrate flow into the East Sea. However, the average concentration of phosphate in the warm waters was < $0.2{\mu}M$, thereby limiting phytoplankton growth, while a high concentration of phosphate in cold waters showed a direct correlation with chlorophyll-${\alpha}$. The results of principal component analysis for the identification of primary factors that influence the marine environment showed that principal component I was water temperature and principal component II was influenced chlorophyll-${\alpha}$ and nutrients. Therefore, Study area has greatest influenced by water temperature, and clearly distinct cold and warm water regions were observed in the East Sea.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.22-32
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• 1973

Based on the plankton samples collected in the Korea Strait in 1972, a study was conducted on the vertical distribution of chaetognaths in relation to water masses in th Strait. The settling volume of total plankton collected in the Strait ranged from 0.3 to 5 cc/10㎥ and showed a distinctive variation in the vertical distribution between day and night. The large amount of volume was found in the upper layer at night and deeper layer during the day time collections. A total of 19 species and one forma of chaetognaths were identified from the present samples. In general, the number of species and individuals of chaetognaths were abundant in the upper layer. But in August they were distributed almost evenly from the surface to the bottom layer. Particularly several species of warm water chaetognaths, i. e., Sagitta enflata and S. regularis appeared abundantly in the deeper layer in summer. This indicates a sinking phenomenon of warm water from the surface to the bottom layer. As for the vertical distribution of S.elegans, a cold water species, in the Korean Strait, it is restricted only to the bottom layer except in the region of upwelling where they appear in the middle layer. This species is usually distributed in the depth of below 150m in the southern part of Japan Sea(Park, 1970), and it is usually distributed as far south as the Strait between Busan and Tsushima. In addtion, cold water species of copepods such as Pseudocalanus minutus and Metridialucens appear in the western side of Thushima. As indicated by the vertical and horizontal distribution of S. elegans in the Strait, the cold water flows as an undercurrent along the bottom from the southern part of the Japan Sea to the Korea Strait between Busan and Thushima in summer and fall, with a trend of uprising along the coast of Korea. S. decipiens has been found only in the depth of below 50m except in the coastal area where they appear in the upper layer. Therefore the vertical distribution of this species can be used for tracing the occurrence of upwelling and the movement of water from the middle layer.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.123-136
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• 1992

As a result of faunal analysis on 50 bottom samples bearing a total of 183 species of the Recent benthonic foraminifers from the West and South Sea of korea, five bioassociations (groups of species) and five biotopes (groups of samples) were discriminated. From the areal distribution of biotopes in combination with bioassociations and the available ecological data of foraminiferal species, five biofacies are recognized: (1) Southern Inner Shelf Biofacies; (2) Southern Coast Biofacies; (3) Northern Middle Shelf Biofacies; (4) Central Middle Shelf Biofacies; and (5) Southern Outer Shelf and Upper Slope Biofacies. The biofacies are defined by a group of sampling stations containing a diagnostic species association and can be related to the major current pasterns and water masses in the West and South Sea of Korea: Southern Inner Shelf Biofacies is related to the Coastal Waters and drainage from China; Southern Coast Biofacies is related to the Coastal Waters and drainage from Korea; Northern Middle Shelf Biofacies is related to the Coastal Waters and Yellow Sea Cold Water, Central Middle Shelf Biofacies is related to the Yellow Sea Warm Current; and Southern Outer Shelf and Upper Slope Biofacies is related to the Tsushima Warm Current.