A simple but effective method has been developed for estimating diurnal and semi-diurnal tidal currents from trajectories of satellite-tracked drifters. The estimation method consists of separation of tidal current signals contained in the drifter trajectories, computation of undulations by diurnal and semi-diurnal currents, and correction of dominant diurnal and semi-diurnal tidal constituents. M$_2$ tidal currents estimated from drifter trajectories in the Yellow Sea are well consistent with those observed by moored current meters and this supports the validity of this method. We have constructed M$_2$ tidal current chart in the Yellow Sea by applying this method to available drifter trajectories collected during 1994-1998. According to this chart, M$_2$ current in the Yellow Sea rotates in the clockwise direction south of 35$^{\circ}$ 30'N but in the counterclockwise one to the north. Also it is found that the M$_2$ current is strong in the bank area northeast of the Changjiang River mouth and in the Korean coastal area, while it is weak in the deep central trough.

A weakly viscous wave and an approximate variational principle in viscous fluids are introduced, with which we can interpret the fundamentals such as how viscosity dissipation occurs with time elapse, and how the free surface boundary layer exists at the wavy surface in weakly viscous fluids. As an application, responses of a spherical buoy on the weakly viscous capillary gravity wave are investigated to show the viscosity effects. At the end, surfactant problems are briefly reviewed with the view of short viscous waves as expected future applications.

The pyritization of heavy metals in Lake Shihwa sediments was investigated to determine sedimentary Pyrite-heavy metal associations influenced by various metal fractions, organic carbon, and total reduced sulfur. Parameters indicating the degree of heavy metal pyritization (DTMP) and degree of pyritization (DOP) were used to study the incorporation of heavy metals into the pyrite phase. The DOP levels ranged from 3.28-39.45%, showing wide differences among sampling stations. The levels were greater near the water gate and the center of the lake than near the industrial complex. The spatial pattern of the DOP levels was similar to the S/C ratio and also to the salinity. Based on the measured relationships between DOP and DTMP, heavy metals can be divided into three groups. In the first group was As, which showed a high affinity for pyrite. In the second group were Ni, Co and Cu, which showed a gradual increase in DTMP with increasing DOP. In the final group were Pb, Zn, Mn and Cr, which all showed a low DTMP with constant values with respect to DOP.

A geochemical study on a hemipelagic core sediment taken from the northwest Pacific Ocean (eastern edge of the Shikoku Basin) was conducted to use of excess barium (Ba(ex)) for evaluate the paleoceano-graphic changes. Also, the excursion of sedimentary Ba(ex) was compared with those of biogenic opal, carbonate and organic carbon content in the sediment during the last glacial and interglacial periods. The calculated Ba(ex) derived from the major and minor element shows a distinctive glacial-interglacial variations, and the mass accumulation rate (MAR) of Ba(ex) shows coincident variations with the MARs of biogenic fractions. Especially, strong positive correlation (r$^2$=0.85) between the MAR of Ba(ex) and the MAR of biogenic carbonate is recognized. Based on the strong positive correlation(r$^2$=0.85) between the MAR of Ba(ex) and the MAR of carbonate content, we estimated the degree of carbonate dissolution rate during the glacial and interglacial periods. Assuming the proportional variation and the refractory nature of barium exist between two factors, the variation of index Ca/Ba ratio in sediment indicates the degree of carbonate dissolution. Sedimentary Ca/Ba ratios index clearly show a striking fluctuation between the glacial and interglacial periods with higher positive correlation during glacial and lower correlation during interglacial. This fact indicates enhanced carbonate dissolution during interglacial period. Thus, the sedimentary Ca/Ba ratio in sedimentary records can be used as one of the useful tools for estimation of the relative degree of carbonate dissolution. The excursion of Ba(ex) and the sedimentary Ca/Ba ratio follows the typical pacific carbonate dissolution type(enhanced dissolution during interglacial and reduced dissolution during glacial time) as suggested by previous work (e.g., Wu et al., 1990). Variation in sedimentary Ca/Ba ratio thus strongly supports that glacial-interglacial fluctuation in carbonate dissolution has been prevailed in the northwest Pacific Ocean.

Depositional processes of fine-grained sediments were investigated on the basis of sediment transport vector analysis and identification of benthic foraminiferal assemblages in Yoja Bay, southern coast of Korea. The bay is a semi-enclosed embayment where extensive mud flats occur with a width up to about 4 km. Most surface sediments are poorly sorted (sorting values: 1.9-3.0 ${\phi}$) mud and silt (mean grain size: 6.0-8.7 ${\phi}$), except for the tidal inlets with basement rocks locally exposed. Grain-size distribution shows a fining tendency toward the basin center near the Yoja Island, implying a possible existence of turbidity maximum and relatively rapid settling of fine-grained sediments. The agglutinated foraminiferal taxa are dominant in the inner bay and decrease in abundance toward the mouth of the bay. Species diversities are higher in the outer bay, due to mixing of the offshore faunas with those of the bay. Four groups of benthic foraminiferal assemblages, identified by cluster analysis, represent the bay. Biofacies I and ll with relatively lower diversities are dominated by Ammobaculites exiguus and Ammonia beccarii, suggestive of influx of fresh water. In contrast, biofacies III and IV with relatively higher diversities include increased amounts of calcareous genus Elphidium and Quinquelocuzina, accounting for strong influence of sea water from the offshore. The fluvial discharge in summer floods appears to develop a bay-wide, clockwise lateral circulation in Yoja Bay, a typical of well-mixed estuaries. Accordingly, the foraminiferal assemblages of the surface sediments well show a sign of this circulation. The dominant inflow of the offshore water into the western part of the bay has resulted in more extensive muddy tidal flats compared to the eastern narrower counterpart.

The analysis of stable carbon isotope ratios for benthic fauna was applied to identify the source of carbon in benthic food webs in Youngil Bay, Korea. The ${\delta}^{13}$C values of 9 invertebrate species collected in this area showed a narrow range between -20.5 and -16.3%$_o$ with a mean of-18.1 (${\pm}$1.1)"%$_o$. The results suggest that the major source of organic carbon for the benthic fauna of the lower estuarine reaches and the oceanic sites is autochthonous marine particulate organic matter. The contribution of organic matter from terrestrial and riverine sources to the diet of the benthic fauna in this area appears to be minor, despite the considerable inflow of riverine waters.