In-situ and remote observation of Cochlodinium.p blooms and consequences of physical features off the Korean coast

Spatial and temporal aspects of toxic dinoflagellate Cochlodinium.p blooms and consequences of physical features in complex coastal ecosystems, off the southern Korean coast, have been investigated using data obtained from SeaWiFS and AVHRR as well as in-situ observations. Hydrographic parameters measured using CTD sensors were used to elucidate physical factors affecting the spatial distribution and abundance of Cochlodinium.p blooms. The results show spatial and temporal variations of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and sea surface temperature (SST) and reveal significant information about Cochlodinium.p blooms and process underlying their evolution. Satellitederived Chl-a estimates appear to be potential in explicating the evolution, movement and distribution of Cochlodinium.p blooms in the enclosed bays of the South Sea. The existence of thromohaline waters offshore provide favorable conditions for the rapid growth and subsequent southward initiation of Cochlodinium.p blooms that are influenced to flow on the offshore branch (OB) during September. It was observed that there was a significant variation in the sun-induced chlorophyll-a fluorescence signal in the remote sensing fluorescence spectra and its high-intensity was recognized during the period of exponential growth and physical transport. Satellite-derived Chl-a concentration during September 1999 ranged between $3­60mg/m^3$ inside the Jin-hae and adjacent Bays and $1-6mg/m^3$ in offshore waters, with varying Cochlodinium.p abundances 1500 to 26000 cells $ml^{-1}.$ The closely spaced CTD surveys and satellite-derived SST give a complete overview on the initiation of Cochlodinium.p blooms in hydrodynamically active regions of the offshore southern East Sea by the influence of Tsushima Warm Current (TWC).