• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.69-82
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• 2022

The Ross Sea, Antarctica plays an important role in the formation of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) which is the densest water mass in global thermohaline circulation. Of the AABW, 25% is formed in the Ross Sea, and sea ice formation at the polynya (ice-free area) developed in front of ice shelves of the Ross Sea is considered as a pivotal mechanism for AABW production. For this reason, monitoring the Ross Sea variations is very important to understand changes of global thermohaline circulation influenced by climate change. In addition, the Ross Sea is also regarded as a natural laboratory in investigating ice-ocean interactions owing to the development of the polynya. In this article, I introduce characteristics of the Ross Sea described in previous observational studies, and investigate variations that have occurred in the Ross Sea in the past and those taking place in the present. Furthermore, based on these observational results, I outline variations or changes that can be anticipated in the Ross Sea in the future, and make an appeal to researchers regarding the importance and necessity of continuous observations in the Ross Sea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2023

This study used hydroacoustic method to identify the vertical and horizontal distribution of Antarctic silverfish in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. In February and December 2018, Antarctic silverfish was detected up to 250 meters, and was mainly distributed in water depths of 20 to 30 meters. The horizontal distribution of Antarctic silverfish was mostly undetected in February, and December showed a relatively stronger distribution than that of February. Antarctic silverfish is characterized by their distribution near sea ice.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2019

The bacterial diversity of an Antarctic hard coral, Errina fissurata, was examined by isolating bacterial colonies from crushed coral tissue and by sequencing their 16S rRNA gene. From the analyzed results, the bacteria were classified as Actinobacteria (56%), Firmicutes (35%) and Proteobacteria (9%). The thirty-four isolates were cultured in liquid media at different temperatures and their growth was assessed over time. The majority of the isolates displayed their highest growth rate at 25℃ during the first three days of cultivation, even though the coral was from a cold environment. Nevertheless, strains showing their highest growth rate at low temperatures (15℃ and 4℃) were also found. This study reports the composition of an Antarctic hard coral-associated culturable bacterial community and their growth behavior at different temperatures.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.277-288
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• 2005

Spatial distribution and vertical structures of water masses around the Antarctic continental margin are described using synthesized hydrographic data. Antarctic Surface Water (AASW) over the shelf regime is distinguished from underlying other water masses by the cut-off salinity, varying from approximately 34.35 to 34.45 around Antarctica. Shelf water, characterized by salinity greater than the cut-off salinity and potential temperature less than $-17^{\circ}C$, is observed on the Ross Sea, off George V Land, off Wilkes Land, the Amery Basin, and the Weddell Sea, but in some shelves AASW occupies the entire shelf. Lower Circumpolar Deep Water is present everywhere around the Antarctic oceanic regime and in some places it mixes with Shelf Water, producing Antarctic Slope Front Water (ASFW). ASFW, characterized by potential temperature less than about $0^{\circ}C$ and greater than $-17^{\circ}C$, and salinity greater than the cut-off salinity, is found everywhere around Antarctica except in the Bellingshausen-Amundsen sector. The presence of different water masses over the Antarctic shelves and shelf edges produces mainly three types of water mass stratifications: no significant meridional property gradient in the Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas, single property gradient where ASFW presents, and a V-shaped front where Shelf Water exists.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.234-243
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• 2018

The Antarctic Ocean contains numerous microorganisms that produce novel biocatalysts that can have applications in various industries. We screened various psychrophilic bacterial strains isolated from the Ross Sea and found that a Croceibacter atlanticus strain (Stock No. 40-F12) showed high lipolytic activity on a tributyrin plate. We isolated the corresponding lipase gene (lipCA) by shotgun cloning and expressed the LipCA enzyme in Escherichia coli cells. Homology modeling of LipCA was carried out using the Spain Arreo lake metagenome alpha/beta hydrolase as a template. According to the model, LipCA has an ${\alpha}/{\beta}$ hydrolase fold, Gly-X-Ser-X-Glymotif, and lid sequence, indicating that LipCA is a typical lipase enzyme. Active LipCA enzyme was purified fromthe cell-free extract by ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel filtration chromatography. We determined its enzymatic properties including optimum temperature and pH, stability, substrate specificity, and organic solvent stability. LipCA was immobilized by the cross-linked enzyme aggregate (CLEA) method and its enzymatic properties were compared to those of free LipCA. After cross-linking, temperature, pH, and organic solvent stability increased considerably, whereas substrate specificities did not changed. The LipCA CLEA was recovered by centrifugation and showed approximately 40% activity after 4th recovery. This is the first report of the expression, characterization, and immobilization of a C. atlanticus lipase, and this lipase could have potential industrial application.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.265-274
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• 2019

To trace the provenance of fine-grained sediments in response to the growth and retreat of glaciers (i.e., Ross Ice Sheet) that affects the depositional process, various kinds of analyses including magnetic susceptibility, granulometry, and clay mineral composition with AMS ¹⁴C age dating were carried out using a gravity core KI-13-GC2 obtained from the Central Basin of the Ross Sea continental margin. The sediments mostly consist of silty mud to sand with ice-rafted debris, the sediment colors alternate repeatedly between light brown and gray, and the sedimentary structures are almost bioturbated with some faint laminations. Among the fine-grained clay mineral compositions, illite is highest (59.1-76.2%), followed by chlorite (12.4-21.4%), kaolinite (4.1-11.6%), and smectite (1.2-22.6%). Illite and chlorite originated from the Transantarctic mountains (metamorphic rocks and granitic rocks) situated to the south of the Ross Sea. Kaolinite might be supplied from the sedimentary rocks of Antarctic continent underneath the ice sheet. The provenance of smectite was considered as McMurdo volcanic group around the Victoria Land in the western part of the Ross Sea. Chlorite content was higher and smectite content was lower during the glacial periods, although illite and kaolinite contents are almost consistent between the glacial and interglacial periods. The glacial increase of chlorite content may be due to more supply of the reworked continental shelf sediments deposited during the interglacial periods to the Central Basin. On the contrary, the glacial decrease of smectite content may be attributed to less transport from the McMurdo volcanic group to the Central Basin due to the advanced ice sheet. Although the source areas of the clay minerals in the Central Basin have not changed significantly between the interglacial and glacial periods, the transport pathways and delivery mechanism of the clay minerals were different between the glacial and interglacial periods in response to the growth and retreat of Ross Ice Sheet in the Ross Sea.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.579-585
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• 2012

The proximate compositions and fatty acid profiles of Antarctic toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni that was caught in the southern Ross Sea (J, L) of the Antarctic Ocean were studied. The lipid contents of samples from J and L were 18.2 and 21.1%, respectively. The protein and ash contents were similar for samples J and L. The prominent fatty acids in the total lipids of the fish muscle were 18:1n-9, 16:1n-7, 16:0, 14:0, 18:1n-7, 20:5n-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA), and 22:6n-3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA). In addition, the total fatty acids of bycatch products in the toothfish stomachs (Pleuragramma antarcticum, Gerlachea australis, Pasiphaea sp., Trematomus eulepidotus, Chionodraco hamatus, Chionodraco myersi, and Neopagetopsis ionah) were determined. The prominent fatty acids in those species were 18:1n-9, 16:0, 14:0, DHA, EPA, and 18:1n-7.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.34 no.6_2
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• pp.1179-1192
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• 2018

In order to detect the Antarctic Polar Front (PF) among the main fronts in the Southern Ocean, this study is based on the combinations of satellite-based sea surface temperature (SST) and height (SSH) observations. For accurate PF detection, we classified the signals as front or non-front grids based on the Bayesian decision theory from daily SST and SSH datasets, and then spatio-temporal synthesis has been performed to remove primary noises and to supplement geographical connectivity of the front grids. In addition, sea ice and coastal masking were employed in order to remove the noise that still remains even after performing the processes and morphology operations. Finally, we selected only the southernmost grids, which can be considered as fronts and determined as the monthly PF by a linear smoothing spline optimization method. The mean positions of PF in this study are very similar to those of the PFs reported by the previous studies, and it is likely to be well represents PF formation along the bottom topography known as one of the major influences of the PF maintenance. The seasonal variation in the positions of PF is high in the Ross Sea sector (${\sim}180^{\circ}W$), and Australia sector ($120^{\circ}E-140^{\circ}E$), and these variations are quite similar to the previous studies. Therefore, it is expected that the detection approach for the PF position applied in this study and the final composite have a value that can be used in related research to be carried out on the long term time-scale.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2023

This study applied a metagenomic analysis of the penguins' gut microbiome from fecal samples of Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) and Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) living along the Ross Sea, Antarctica. As a result of taxonomic analysis, 7 phyla and 18 families were mainly present in the gut microbiome of Adélie and Emperor penguins. To assess microbial diversity, we performed alpha diversity and OTU abundance analyses. It was confirmed that the Adélie Penguin's gut microbial species had a higher diversity than Emperor Penguin's. Based on the Beta diversity analysis using PCoA, differences were observed in the clustering between Adélie and Emperor penguins, respectively. Through the KEGG pathway analysis using PICRUSt, the nucleoside and nucleotide biosynthesis pathway was the most prevalent in Adélie and Emperor penguins. This study enabled a comparison and analysis of the composition and diversity of the gut microbiome in Adélie and Emperor Penguins. It could be utilized for future research related to penguin feeding habits and could serve as a foundation for analyzing the gut microbiomes of various other Antarctic organisms.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.35 no.6_1
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• pp.933-944
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• 2019

This study analyzes the tide deformation of land boundary regions on the east (Region A) and west (Region B) sides of the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica using Double-Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DDInSAR). A total of seven Sentinel-1A SAR images acquired in 2015-2016 were used to estimate the accuracy of tide prediction model and Young's modulus of ice shelf. First, we compared the Ross Sea Height-based Tidal Inverse (Ross_Inv) model, which is a representative tide prediction model for the Antarctic Ross Sea, with the tide deformation of the ice shelf extracted from the DDInSAR image. The accuracy was analyzed as 3.86 cm in the east region of Ross Ice Shelf and it was confirmed that the inverse barometric pressure effect must be corrected in the tide model. However, in the east, it is confirmed that the tide model may be inaccurate because a large error occurs even after correction of the atmospheric effect. In addition, the Young's modulus of the ice was calculated on the basis of the one-dimensional elastic beam model showing the correlation between the width of the hinge zone where the tide strain occurs and the ice thickness. For this purpose, the grounding line is defined as the line where the displacement caused by the tide appears in the DDInSAR image, and the hinge line is defined as the line to have the local maximum/minimum deformation, and the hinge zone as the area between the two lines. According to the one-dimensional elastic beam model assuming a semi-infinite plane, the width of the hinge region is directly proportional to the 0.75 power of the ice thickness. The width of the hinge zone was measured in the area where the ground line and the hinge line were close to the straight line shown in DDInSAR. The linear regression analysis with the 0.75 power of BEDMAP2 ice thickness estimated the Young's modulus of 1.77±0.73 GPa in the east and west of the Ross Ice Shelf. In this way, more accurate Young's modulus can be estimated by accumulating Sentinel-1 images in the future.