• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.61-73
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• 2016

Water mass distribution and currents were investigated off the east coast of Korea near the Hupo Bank using the CTD and ADCP data from June to August 2010. The typical water masses were: (1) Tsushima Surface Water (TSW) from the East Korean Warm Current (EKWC) in the surface layer, (2) a shallow thermocline at 20-30 m depth, (3) Tsushima Middle Water (TMW) of high salinity (>34.2) below the pycnocline, (4) North Korean Cold Water (NKCW) of low salinity (<34.05) and low temperature (<4°C) in the lower layer. In June, a double eddy was observed in which a cold filament intruded cyclonically from the south around a pre-existing cold-core eddy. A burst of strong southward current was recorded in mid-August due to a warm filament from the meandering EKWC. Current in the N-S direction was predominant due to topographic effects, and the direction of the northward EKWC was frequently reversed in its direction due to the eddy-filament activity, whereas the influence of the wind was not noticeable. The vertical structure of the current was of a two-layer system, with the northward EKWC in the upper layer and weak southward flows corresponding to the North Korean Cold Current (NKCC) in the deeper layer.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.285-289
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• 2004

Oceanographic observation and qualitative analysis for deep ocean water in the East Sea were carried out from January 2003 to January 2004, in order to understand the characteristics of deep sea water in the East Sea. Temporal and spatial variation of water masses were discussed from survey of the study area including the coastal sea of Kwangwon province in where the polar front mixing cold and warm water masses were formed. On the basis of the vertical profiles of temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen, water masses in the study area were divided into 5 major groups; (1) Low Saline Surface Water (LSSW) (2) Tsushima Surface water (TSW) (3) Tsushima Middle Water (TMW) (4) North Korea Cold Water (NKCW) and (5) East Sea Proper Water (ESPW). In winter, surface water in coastal sea of Kwangwaan Kosung region were dominated by North Korean Cold Water (NKCW). As Tsushima warm current were enforced in summer, various water masses were vertically emerged in study area, in order of TSW, TMW, NKCW and ESPW. It is highly possible that the LSSW which occurred at surface water of september is originated from influx of fresh water due to the seasonal rainy spell. Nevertheless water masses existed within surface water were seasonally varied, water quality characteristics of East Sea Proper Water (ESPW) under 300 m did not changed all the seasons of the year.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.76-88
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• 2012

In order to investigate the distribution of water masses and spatio-temporal variation of nutrients in the coastal areas of Gangwon province of the Korean East Sea, a survey of the physico-chemical parameters (temperature and salinity) and nutrients ($NO_2$-N, $NO_3$-N, $NH_4$-N, $PO_4$-P, and $SiO_2$-Si) was carried out at 5 locations (Goseong, Sokcho, Yangyang, Gangneung, and Donghae) in February, May, August, and November 2009. The water masses included in the study area were divided into 4 groups; 1) Tsushima Surface Water (TSW), 2) Tsushima Middle Water (TMW), 3) North Korean Cold Water (NKCW), and 4) East Sea Proper Water (ESPW). The distribution of water masses was affected by the change of season. In February, surface water was derived from the TMW. The TSW was not observed in May, but only observed in August. In November, as the influence of the TSW weakened, that of the NKCW strengthened. Considering the vertical profiles of nutrients, the concentrations in all the seasons were very low within the surface water, but increased rapidly near the thermocline. Most of nutrient concentrations, except for dissolved silicate, remained constant below the depth of 200 m. However, the dissolved silicate concentration increased with depth, suggesting that silicate has a delayed regenerative pattern. The ESPW had the highest nutrient concentration, followed by the NKCW, TMW, and TSW. In February, May, and November, the N/P ratio in most of the water masses was similar to or larger than the Redfield ratio, indicating that nitrogenous nutrients did not act as a limiting factor for phytoplankton growth. However, in August, the N/P ratio in the TSW was less than the Redfield ratio, and the concentration of $NO_2$-N+$NO_3$-N was 0.86 ${\mu}m$, indicating that nitrogenous nutrients did act as a limiting factor for phytoplankton growth in the study area.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.393-407
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• 1997

A survey of biological and chemical characteristics in the middle-northern East Sea of Korea was carried out at 28 stations in October, 1995 on board R/V Tam-Yang. On the basis of the vertical profiles of temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen, water masses in the study area were divided into 5 major groups; (1) Low Saline Surface Water (LSSW), (2) Tsushima Surface Water (TSW), (3) Tsushima Middle Water (TMW), (4) North Korean Cold Water (NKCW), (5) last Sea Porper Water (ESPW). Other 4 mixed water masses were also observed. It is highly possible that the LSSW which occured at depths of $0\~30m$ in the most southern part of the study area is originated from the Yangtze River (Kiang) of China due to very low salinity $(<32.0\%_{\circ})$ relatively high concentration of dissolved silicate and no sources of freshwater input into that area. Oxygen maximum layer in the vertical profile was located near surface at northern cold waters and became deeper at the warm southern area. Oxygen minimum layer af depths $50\~100m$, which is TMW, were found in only southern area. In the vortical profiles of nutrients, the concentrations were very low in the surface layer and increased drammatically near the thermocline. The highest concentration occurred in the ESPW. The relatively low value of Si/P ratio in the ESPW (13.63) compared to other reports in the East Sea was due to continuous increase of P with depth as well as Si. The N : P ratio was about 6.92, showing that nitrogenous nutrient is the limiting factor for phytoplankton growth. The exponential relationship between Si and P, compared to the linear relationship between N and P, indicates that nitrate and phosphate have approximately the same regenerative pattern, but silicate has delayed regenerative pattern.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.404-412
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• 1994

Radium isotopes were measured together with oceanographical parameters in the southern coastal region of the Korean East Sea during the period of September $2{\sim}8$, 1991. In September, there were various water masses vertically distributed in this region due to formation of strongly seasonal thermoclines. These water masses were characterized by activity of radium isotopes as well as water temperature and dissolved oxygen. Among the water masses, Japan Sea Proper Water(JSPW) below $1^{\circ}C$ had the highest Ra-226 activities but the lowest Ra-228 concentrations. However, Tsushima Surface Water (TSW) above $20^{\circ}C$ in water temperature had the highest Ra-228 which decreased sharply with depth. In TSW, Ra-228 activities were in the range of $194{\sim}270$ dpm/kl, which were approximately 10 times higher than JSPW. Activity ratios(A.R's) of Ra-228/Ra-226 were $1.9{\sim}2.6$ for TSW, $0.7{\sim}1.1$ for Tsushima Middle Water(TMW) of $12{\sim}17^{\circ}C\;to\;0.4{\sim}0.7$ for North Korea Cold Water(NKCW) with $1{\sim}7^{\circ}C$ and below 0.2 for JSPW. The Ra-228/Ra-226 ranged from 0.6 to 0.9 in the cold waters of $2{\sim}6^{\circ}C$, which were observed at depth of $65{\sim}120\;m$ in this study area. Radium isotopes provided a useful means of identifying origins of the cold water which occurred annually at intermediate or bottom layers in the southern coastal zone of the Korean East Sea. By plotting radium isotopes against water temperature, it could be observed clearly that the cold waters between $2{\sim}6^{\circ}C$ did not originate from the mixed water of JSPW and TMW but from NKCW.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.503-526
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• 1996

A synoptic survery of chemical characteristics in the last Sea of Korea was carried out at the 11 stations near Ullungdo in November, 1994 on board R/V Tam-Yang. On the basis of the vortical distribution patterns of temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen, water masses in the study area are divided into five groups; 1) Tsushima Surface Water (TSW), 2) Tsushima Middle Water (TMW), 3) East Sea Intermediate Water (ESIW), 4) last Sea Proper Water (ESPW), 5) Mixed Water (MW). In the vertical profiles of nutrients, the concentrations were very low in the surface layer and increased rapidly near the thermocline. There was a slight decrease in the ESIW and the concentrations were constant with the depth below 300m except dissolved silicate which still increased with depth. Relatively high value of Si/P ratio (25.2) in ESPW, whick is the oldest water mass, suggests that Si is regenerating more slowly compared to other nutrients. The relatively high value of N/P ratio (18.6) in the surface layer might be related to high vertical eddy diffusivity $(K_z)$ of $1.19\;cm^{2}/sec$ and high nitrate upward flux of $103.7\;{\mu}g-at/m^{2}/hr$, compared to the values reported in other areas. Apparent Oxygen Utilization (AOU) was very low in the surface layer and increased in the TMW, but there was a slight decrease in the ESIW. The highest value of AOU occurred in the ESPW. The slpoe of P/AOU was 0.50. The study on the relationship between water masses and nutrient distribution patterns is important in understanding the regeneration processes of nutrients in the polar region of the last Sea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.334-344
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• 2013

In order to understand the characteristics of oceanic environment in the coastal aquaculture waters of the East Sea, the observation of the CTD (temperature and salinity), dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a and N/P (DIN ($NO_2$-N, $NO_3$-N, $NH_4$-N) : DIP($PO_4$-P)) ratio was carried out at Sokcho, Jukbyon and Gampo in February, April, June, August, October, December 2013. Based on T(temperature)-S(salinity) diagram analysis, the water masses in the study area were divided into 3 groups; Tsushima Surface Water (TSW: $20-28.3^{\circ}C$ temperatures and 31.04-33.75 salinities), Tsushima Middle Water (TMW: $8.1-16.3^{\circ}C$ and 33.00-34.49), and North Korean Cold Water (NKCW: $1.8-9.4^{\circ}C$ and 33.78-34.42). In winter, DO concentrations in the northern part were higher than those in southern part. In spring and fall, they were low in the surface layer, and increased in summer. Chl-a concentrations < $0.4{\mu}g/L$ dominated in February, April, October and December. Chl-a concentrations were higher in June and August. In particular, the highest Chl-a concentration > $2{\mu}g/L$ was observed in the middle layer of Gampo in August. In February, April, June and December, the N/P ratio in the most of the water masses was less than the Redfield ratio (16), indicating that nitrate did act as a limiting factor in phytoplankton growth. On the contrary, in August and October, the N/P ratio in surface and sub-surface layer was greater than the Redfield ratio, suggesting that phosphate was a limiting factor.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.269-289
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• 2010

In Summer 2008, a multidisciplinary survey was conducted onboard R/V Haeyang 2000 to understand plankton response to the three distinct physico-chemical settings that developed in the Ulleung Basin of the East Sea. Baseline settings of hydrographic conditions included the presence of the thin (<20 m) Tsushima Surface Water (TSW) on top of the Tsushima Middle Water (TMW). It extends from the Korea Strait to $37^{\circ}N$ along the $130^{\circ}E$ and then turns offshore and encompasses the relatively saline (T>$26^{\circ}C$, S>33.7) Ulleung Warm Eddy surface water centered at $36.5^{\circ}N$ and $131^{\circ}E$. A relatively colder and saline water mass appeared off the southeastern coast of Korea. It was accompanied by higher nutrient and chlorophyll-a concentrations, suggesting a coastal upwelling. Most of the offshore surface waters support low phytoplankton biomass (0.3 mg chl-a $m^{-3}$). A much denser phytoplankton biomass (1-2.3 mg $m^{-3}$) accumulated at the subsurface layer between 20-50 m depth. The subsurface chlorophyll-a maximum (SCM) layer was closely related to the nutricline, suggesting an active growth of phytoplankton at depth. The SCM developed at shallow depth (20-30 m) near the coast and deepened offshore (50-60 m). A fucoxanthin/zeaxanthin ratio was high in coastal waters while it was low in offshore waters, which indicated that diatoms dominate coastal waters while cyanobacteria dominate offshore waters. The community structure and biomass of phytoplanktonare closely related to nitrogen availability. Zooplankton biomass was higher in the coastal region than in the offshore region while species richness showed an opposite trend. Zooplankton community structure retained a coastal/offshore contrast. These suggest that summer hydrography is a stable structure, lasting long enough to allow a hydrography-specific plankton community to evolve.