• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.219-228
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• 2002

Based on the five-year (October 1992 through September 1997) Topex/Poseidon altimeter measurements, we describe the statistical characteristics of the eddy variability in the East Sea in terms of sea surface height anomaly, slope variability, and eddy kinetic energy (EKE). The sea surface height anomalies in the East Sea are produced with standard corrections from Topex/Poseidon measurements. In order to eliminate the high frequency noise in the sea surface height anomaly data, the alongtrack height anomaly data was filtered by about 40 km low-pass Lanczos filter based on Strub et al. (1997) and Kelly et a1. (1998). We find that there exists a distinct spatial contrast of high eddy variability in the south and low eddy energy in the north, bordering the Polar Front. In the northwestern area $(north\;of\;39^{\circ}N\;and\;west\;of\;133^{\circ}E)$ from the Polar Front where the eddies frequently appear, the EKE is also considerabel. The high kinetic energy in the southern East Sea reveals a close connection with the paths of the Tsushima Warm Current, suggesting that the high variability in the south is mainly generated by the baroclinic instability process of the Tsushima Warm Current. This finding is supported by other studies (Fu and Zlontnicki, 1989; Stammer, 1997) wh.ch have shown the strong eddy energy coupled in the major current system. The monthly variation of the EKE in both areas of high and low eddy variability shows a strong seasonality of a high eddy kinetic energy from October to February and a relatively low one from March to September. The sequential pattern of wind stress curl shows resemblance with those of monthly and seasonal EKE and the two sequences have a correlation of 0.82 and 0.67, respectively, providing an evidence that wind stress curl can be the possible forcing for the monthly and seasonal variation of the EKE in the East Sea. The seasonality of the EKE also seems to correlate with the seasonality of the Tsushima Warm Current. There also exists the large spatial and interannual variabilities in the EKE.

• Ocean Science Journal
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.25-44
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• 2005

Long-term, continuous, and real-time ocean monitoring has been undertaken in order to evaluate various oceanographic phenomena and processes in the East/Japan Sea. Recent technical advances combined with our concerted efforts have allowed us to establish a real-time monitoring system and to accumulate considerable knowledge on what has been taking place in water properties, current systems, and circulation in the East Sea. We have obtained information on volume transport across the Korea Strait through cable voltage measurements and continuous temperature and salinity profile data from ARGO floats placed throughout entire East Sea since 1997. These ARGO float data have been utilized to estimate deep current, inertial kinetic energy, and changes in water mass, especially in the northern East Sea. We have also developed the East Sea Real-time Ocean Buoy (ESROB) in coastal regions and made continual improvements till it has evolved into the most up-to-date and effective monitoring system as a result of remarkable technical progress in data communication systems. Atmospheric and oceanic measurements by ESROB have contributed to the recognition of coastal wind variability, current fluctuations, and internal waves near and off the eastern coast of Korea. Long-tenn current meter moorings have been in operation since 1996 between Ulleungdo and Dokdo to monitor the interbasin deep water exchanges between the Japanese and Ulleung Basins. In addition, remotely sensed satellite data could facilitate the investigation of atmospheric and oceanic surface conditions such as sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface height, near-surface winds, oceanic color, surface roughness, and so on. These satellite data revealed surface frontal structures with a fairly good spatial resolution, seasonal cycle of SST, atmospheric wind forcing, geostrophic current anomalies, and biogeochemical processes associated with physical forcing and processes. Since the East Sea has been recognized as a natural laboratory for global oceanic changes and a clue to abrupt climate change, we aim at constructing a 4-D continuous real-time monitoring system, over a decade at least, using the most advanced techniques to understand a variety of oceanic processes in the East Sea.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.499-508
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• 2016

We investigated regional differences in the growth and maturation rate of Pacific cod in the East and Yellow Seas. Significant regional differences were detected in the von Bertalanffy growth equation and mean length at maturity (L₅₀). Cod in the East Sea grew at a faster rate than those in the Yellow Sea, with females growing faster than males in both populations. Cod of both sexes matured earlier in the Yellow Sea (age of maturity: 2.3 years for males, 2.6 years for females) than in the East Sea (age of maturity: 3.9 years for males, 4 years for females). These regional differences suggest that Pacific cod in the Yellow Sea, which is at the southwestern extremity of global cod distribution and thus likely to be an inhospitable habitat for this species, have adapted to their environment by developing earlier maturation and slower growth than cod in the East Sea or the Korea Strait. These regional differences must be taken into account when setting biological reference points for management of the Pacific cod fishery in Korean waters.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.171-179
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• 2013

The long-term variability of sea surface temperature in the East China Sea was reviewed based mainly on published literatures. Though the quantitative results are not the same, it is generally shown that sea surface temperature is increasing especially in recent years with the rate of increase about $0.03^{\circ}C$/year. Other meaningful results presented in the literatures is that the difference of water properties between layers upper and lower than the thermocline in summer shows an increasing trend both in temperature and salinity, suggesting that the stratification has been intensified. As a mechanism by which to evaluate the wintertime warming trend in the region, the weakening of wind strength, which is related to the variation of sea level pressure and atmospheric circulation in the western North Pacific and northern Asian continent, is suggested in the most of related studies.

• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.132-136
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• 2014

Five sea cucumbers were collected from Gisamun and Gonghyeonjin of Gangwon-do, in the East Sea, Korea from 27 December 2009 to 14 November 2012. These specimens were classified as Synallactes nozawai Mitsukuri, 1912 belonging to the family Synallactidae of order Aspidochirotida based on morphological characteristics. The family, genus and species are recorded for the first time from Korea. The distinct morphological characteristics of this species are as follows: body flexible, with thin gelatinous body wall; presence of numerous tubercles along dorsal ambulacra table of body wall consisted of three- or four-armed disk and a spire-form pillar. This species usually inhabits the deep sea and is distributed in the Northwest Pacific from northern Japan to Bering Sea.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.193-204
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• 2007

In order to find out the annual variations in the marine ecosystem of the East China Sea, temperature, salinity, nutrients, chlorophyll-a, suspended solids, and suspended particulate organic carbon were extensively investigated in the northern East China Sea during the Summer of 2003 and 2006. During the Summer of 2003, the northern East China Sea was not significantly affected by the input of fresh waters from the Changjiang River. During the Summer of 2006, however, fresh waters of the Changjiang River intruded into the western part of the study area where temperature, nitrate, and phosphate in the surface waters were higher than in the other areas, and salinity, silicate, and suspended solids in the surface waters were lower. As a result of the increase in nitrate and phosphate concentrations, concentrations of chlorophyll-a and suspended particulate organic carbon increased in the western part compared with the other areas. However, the depth-integrated chlorophyll-a concentrations measured during the Summer of 2003 were rather similar to those during the Summer of 2006, and not considerably different from those measured in the East China sea during the Summer of 1994 and 1998. Therefore, the depth-integrated chlorophyll-a concentrations have not significantly changed in the East China Sea over the last 12 years. The lower concentrations of silicate and suspended solids in the western part may be related to construction of the Three-Gorges Dam since the concentrations of silicate and suspended solids in fresh waters of the Changjiang River have significantly decreased after construction of the Three-Gorges Dam in June 2003.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.173-179
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• 2012

The common squid $Todarodes$ $pacificus$ is a dominant species in Korean waters, where it is captured preponderantly by the angling fishery. The spawning and nursery grounds of $T.$ $pacificus$ extend from the southern East Sea to the northern East China Sea. Consequently, the environmental conditions in this area during the spawning and nursery seasons might affect the abundance of $T.$ $pacificus$. This study, analyzed the relationship between the distribution of zooplankton and the abundance of $T.$ $pacificus$ and variation in the squid angling fishing grounds in Korean waters. There was a positive relationship between the fluctuations in zooplankton and the catch per unit effort (CPUE; $kg{\cdot}day^{-1}{\cdot}person^{-1}$) of the angling fishery in the East Sea of Korea. The main fishing season is from July to December and the CPUE was closely related to the zooplankton biomass in April in the East Sea. Recently, the center of the squid jigging ground has moved drastically from the area around Ulleung Island to the northern East Sea. We postulate that the fishing grounds of the squid angling fishery will move farther north with climate change.

• Proceedings of KOSOMES biannual meeting
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.167-174
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• 2003

Oceanic conditions of the Tsushirm Wann Current (1WC) region in the southern area if the East Sea (the Japan Sea) are examined using data obtained from a CREAMS (Circulation Research if the East Asian Marginal Seas) cruise in June 1996. In 1990s, a lower temperature appears in $19\%$ and in this period, two branch of the TWC exist and the first branch of the TWC flows inshore if the Japanese coastal region compared to tfr1t in the other years, especially in the sfr1llower water layer at less th:1n about 2mm. The TWC cored with the higher salinity (>34.6 psu) is clearly observed over the continental shelf zone in the Japanese coastal region and offshore and identified by geostrophic calculation Intrusion if the TWC into the East Sea through the Korea Strait (the Tsushima Strait) makes the density structure in the water column change and the water mass in the TWC region is unstable based on Brunt- Vaisala frequency.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.120-135
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• 1996

The characteristics and fluctuations of structures and spatial distributions of thermal fronts and warm eddy in the Southeastern part of the East sea are discussed based on the data collected by the Naval Academy, Korea during Feb. 6-9, May 9-19 and Oct. 12-18, 1995. The thermal fronts existed very often at the sea off the Pohang-Ulsan, The generation of the thermal front is related with the development of the North Korea Cold Current. The warm eddy is located in the central part of the Ulleung basin where the local depth exceeds 1500m. This warm eddy is a major contributor to mass transport in the northern part of the East Sea. It is evident that knowledge of warm eddy is important in understanding the circulation in the western part of the East Sea.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.145-150
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• 2003

16 APEX floats, autonomous profiling floats deployed as part of the Array for Real-time Geostrophic Oceanography (ARGO) program, are used to understand the currents at 800 m underwater in the southwestern East Sea. The flow penetrates into the Ulleung basin (UB) through two paths： an extension of the southward flowing the North Korean Cold Water along the east coast of Korea and between Ulleung Island and Dok island. Flows at 800 m are observed range 0.2 to 4.29 cm/sec and the variability in the north in the DB is stronger than that in the south. The eddy kinetic energy is found a few $cm^{2}$ $S^{-2}$. In the UB, cyclonic flows from 0.3 - 1.6 cm/see are observed with the bottom topography.