• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.374-380
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• 1985

The annual variations of sea surface temperature (SST), air temperature (AT), and sea-air temperature separation (SST-AT) in the East Sea (Japan Sea) are studied by harmonic analysis of the monthly data in 2 by 2 degree rectangles. In the Tsushima Current region of the Japan Sea, the annual means of SST and AT are high due to warm water advection by the current, and the annual amplitudes of SST and AT are small because the annual variations of heat advection the the current and of the incoming solar radiation are almost out of phase each other. In summer the SST and the AT in the Japan Sea are almost the same, but in winter the SST is $6{\sim}10^{\circ}C$ higher than the AT. The physical processes responsible for the observed SST-AT in the Japan Sea and their consequences in the sea-air thermal interactions are discussed in this paper.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.237-249
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• 1995

To understand the cross-sectional structures of temperature, salinity and current across the Korea Strait, field measurements were carried out for the period of May 2 to 20, 1994. Using the R/V Tam Yang, detailed CTD profiles and ADCP records were obtained and used to examine the mean and variability field on two time scales (15 days and 25 hours). A sharp coastal front in the middle of the Korea Strait exists across which two different water masses, i.e., warm and saline water in the eastern side and cold and less saline water in the western side are neighboring. We observed highly variable field of T and S apparently caused by the westward movement of warm and saline water mass. Short-term fluctuations of T and S in the middle layer are remarkable and their importance was analysed as the first Eigen mode accounting for more than 50% of total variances. The currents in th Korea Strait are strongly influenced by tidal currents with spring and neap variation whose maximum speed ranges 80-90 and 60-70 cm/s respectively near the central portion of the channel. Strong southward tidal current could even mask the Tsushima Current completely. Results of harmonic analysis show that the magnitudes of semidiurnal, diurnal and mean components of currents are comparable to each other at spring and neap tide conditions. The volume transport across the western channel of the Korea Strait were estimated to be 2.1 Sv at neap tide condition and 3.4 Sv at spring tide condition.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.234-265
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• 2013

Oceanic current maps in the secondary school science and earth science textbooks have played an important role in piquing students's inquisitiveness and interests in the ocean. Such maps can provide students with important opportunities to learn about oceanic currents relevant to abrupt climate change and global energy balance issues. Nevertheless, serious and diverse errors in these secondary school oceanic current maps have been discovered upon comparison with up-to-date scientific knowledge concerning oceanic currents. This study presents the fundamental methods and strategies for constructing such maps error-free, through the unification of the diverse current maps currently in the textbooks. In order to do so, we analyzed the maps found in 27 different textbooks and compared them with other up-to-date maps found in scientific journals, and developed a mapping technique for extracting digitalized quantitative information on warm and cold currents in the East Sea. We devised analysis items for the current visualization in relation to the branching features of the Tsushima Warm Current (TWC) in the Korea Strait. These analysis items include: its nearshore and offshore branches, the northern limit and distance from the coast of the East Korea Warm Current, outflow features of the TWC near the Tsugaru and Soya Straits and their returning currents, and flow patterns of the Liman Cold Current and the North Korea Cold Current. The first draft of the current map was constructed based upon the scientific knowledge and input of oceanographers based on oceanic in-situ measurements, and was corrected with the help of a questionnaire survey to the members of an oceanographic society. In addition, diverse comments have been collected from a special session of the 2013 spring meeting of the Korean Oceanographic Society to assist in the construction of an accurate current map of the East Sea which has been corrected repeatedly through in-depth discussions with oceanographers. Finally, we have obtained constructive comments and evaluations of the interim version of the current map from several well-known ocean current experts and incorporated their input to complete the map's final version. To avoid errors in the production of oceanic current maps in future textbooks, we provide the geolocation information (latitude and longitude) of the currents by digitalizing the map. This study is expected to be the first step towards the completion of an oceanographic current map suitable for secondary school textbooks, and to encourage oceanographers to take more interest in oceanic education.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.696-700
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• 2004

In the Korean seas, Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and Thermal Fronts (TF) were analyzed temporally and spatially during 8 years from 1993 to 2000 using NOAA/AVHRR MCSST. As the result of harmonic analysis, distributions of the mean SST were $10~25^{\circ}C,$ and generally SST decreased as latitude increased. SST increased in the order as following; the South Sea $(20\~23^{\circ}C),$ the East Sea $(17\~19^{\circ}C)$, and the West $Sea(13\~16^{\circ}C).$ Annual amplitudes and phases were $4\~11^{\circ}C,\;210\~240^{\circ}$ and high values were shown as following; the West Sea $(A1,\;9\~11^{\circ}C),$ the Northern East Sea $(A5,\;8\~9^{\circ}C),$ the Southern East Sea $(A4,\;6\~8^{\circ}C),$ the South Sea $(A3,\;6\~7^{\circ}C),$ the East China Sea $(A2,\;4\~7^{\circ}C)$ and phases; $A3\;(238\~242^{\circ}),\;A4\;(235\~240^{\circ}),\;A5\;(225\~235^{\circ}),\;Al\;(220\~230^{\circ}),\;A2\;(210\~235^{\circ}),$ respectively, Both of them were related inversely except the area A2, therefore the rest areas were affected by seasonal variations. TF were detected by Soble Edge Detection Method using gradient of SST. Consequently, TF were divided into 4 fronts; the Subpolar Front (SPF) based on the Cold Water Mass (low SST and salinity Subartic Water), resulting from the North Korea Cold Current (NKCC) and the East Sea Proper Cold Water in the middle and low layer, and the Warm Water Mass (high SST and salinity Subtropical Water), resulting from the Tsushima Warm Current (TWC) in area A4 and 5, the Kuroshio Front (KF) based on the Kuroshio Current (KC) and shelf waters in the East China Sea (ESC) in A2, and the South Sea Coastal Front (SSCF) based on the South Sea Coastal Water (SSCW) and TWC in A3. Also, the Tidal Front was weakly appeared in AI. TF located in steep slope of submarine topography. Annual amplitudes and phases were bounded in the same place, and these results should be considered to influence of seasonal variations.

• 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.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.68-77
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• 2002

We investigated the outbreak, maintenance, and decline of the red tide dominated by C. polykrikoides in the coastal waters off Southern Korea from August to October, 2000, by combining field data and NOAA satellite images. In general, the C. polykrikoides blooms, which have occured annually in Korean coastal waters from 1995 to 1999, initiate between late August and early September around Narodo Island and expand to the whole area of the southern coast. However, initiation and short-term change of the bloom of 2000 were quite different from the pattern observed previously. In mid-August, thermal fronts in sea surface temperature(SST) were formed: 1) between the Tsushima Warm Current Water (TWCW) and the Southern Korean Coastal Waters (SKCW), 2) between the jindo cold water mass and the southwestern coastal waters, and 3) between the upwelled cold waters in the southeast coast and the offshore warm waters. Free-living cells of C. polykrikoides were concentrated in these frontal regions. In late August, the thermal front TWCW-SKCW approached the mouth of Yeosuhae Bay where Seomjin River water and anthropogenic pollutants from the Industrial Complex of Gwangyang Bay are discharged. In the blooms of 2000 initiated in Yeosuhae Bay in late August, the dominant species, C. polykrikoides, co-occured with Alexandrum tamarense, Gymnodinium mikimotoi, Skeletonema coastatum, and Chaetoceros spp. Two typhoons, 'Prapiroon' and 'Saomai' during and the C. polykrikoides bloom probably affected the abundance of this species. After the former typhoon passed the Korean Peninsula, cell growth of C. polykrikoides was maximal, but after the latter typhoon, the C. polykrikoides bloom disappeared (20 September). On 5 October, the blooms dominated by C. polykrikoides broke out within the coastal waters of Jinhae Bay and Hansan-Keoje Bay. NOAA satellite images showed that the isothermal line of 22$^{\circ}C$ extended into Jinhae Bay. In this bloom, C. polykrikoides also occurred simultaneously with Akashiwo sanguinea(=Gym-nodinium sangunium), a common red tide-forming dinoflagellate species in fall and winter in these coastal bays.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.83-99
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• 2005

To evaluate environmental charateristics of the South Sea and East China Sea on summer, water and sediment quality were measured in June 2001-2003. Surface layer was affceted by Warm water originated from the high temperature and salinity-Tsushima Warm Current, on the other hand, Yellow Sea Cold Water was spread to the bottom layer in the south-western part of the Jeju island, and salinity at stations near the Yangtze River was decreased below 29psu because of a enormous freshwater discharges. Thermocline-depth was formed at about 10m, and chlorophyll maximum layer was existed in and below the thermocline. COD(Chemical Oxygen Demand), TN(Total Nitrogen), and TP(Total Phosphorus) concentrations showed seawater quality grade II in surface layer of the most area, but concentrations of such as COD, Chl. a, TSS(Total Suspended Solid), and nutrients were greatly increased in the effect area of Yangtze River discharges. Correlations between dissolved inorganic nitrogen, Chl. a and salinity were negative patterns strongly, in contrast, those of inorganic phosphorus, COD and Chl. a were positive, which indicates that phytoplankton biomass and phosphorus are considered as important factors of organic matter distribution and algal growth, respectively. in the study area. The distribution of ignition loss, COD, and $H_2S$ of surface sediment were in the ranges of 2.61-8.81%, $0.64-11.86mgO_2/g-dry$, and ND-0.25 mgS/g-dry, respectively, with relatively high concentration in the eastern part of the study area. Therefore, to effective and sustainable use and management of this area, continuous monitoring and countermeasures about major input sources to the water and sediment, and prediction according to the environmental variation, are necessary.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.424-430
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• 2014

Two major temperature fronts, the Subpolar (Gosung, Gang-won-do; $38^{\circ}-41^{\circ}N$) and Thermal (Jukbyun, Gyeong-sang-buk-do; $36^{\circ}-37^{\circ}N$) fronts, are found in the East Sea along the east coast of Korea. These are located roughly where the Tsushima Warm Current and North Korea Cold Current intersect. To clarify the effect of the Thermal Front, we investigated seasonal variation in fish species composition using set nets in two areas located north (Jangho, Gang-won-do) and south (Hupo, Gyeong-sang-buk-do) of Jukbyun, Gyeong-sang-buk-do, and compared the sea water temperature and salinity. We collected a total of 38 fish species in Hupo and 25 in Jangho. Trachurus japonicus was the most common species at both sites, but the subdominant species differed. At Hupo, the subdominant species were Konosirus punctatus and Diodon holocanthus, whereas Clupea pallasii and Scomber japonicus were subdominant at Jangho. Based on Froese and Pauly (2014), subtropical fishes accounted for 55% of fish in Hupo but only for 33% in Jangho. The difference in fish species composition was most obvious in May and August. According to the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Administration, sea surface temperature and salinity were slightly higher at Hupo than at Jangho. Our findings suggest that the oceanographic boundary resulting from the Thermal Front near Jukbyun, Gyeong-sang-bukdo may have a major effect on the distribution of migratory fish species.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.527-534
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• 2015

The twenty six specimens of leptocephali (15.8-32.6 mm TL) of the family Congridae, collected from southeastern waters offshore of Jeju Island during August 2014, and were identified by means of morphology and genetics. Those specimens were identified as belonging to the family Congridae based on various combinations of morphological characters. An analysis of the partial 12S rRNA sequences (886 base pairs) of mitochondrial DNA showed that our specimens must be Gnathophis nystromi, because their sequences were concordant with those of G. nystromi adult (genetic distance= 0.001), furthermore their total myomeres being consistent with those of G. nystromi adult. Catch rates of G. nystromi leptocephali were higher in the offshore regions than coastal regions of Jeju Island. The smallest leptocephali (< 20 mm TL) were collected offshore from Jeju Island. We hypothesize that one of the spawning grounds of G. nystromi is located offshore in the Jeju Island. In conclusion, the hatched preleptocephali of G. nystromi might have been transported from offshore near Jeju Island to the Korea Strait by the Kuroshio Current and Tsushima Warm Current.

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