This study describes measurements of fast ice recorded on May 23, 2009, in Kongsfjorden (translated as 'Kongs Fjord'), an inlet on the west coast of Spitsbergen in the Svalbard Archipelago. Seasonal fast ice is an important feature for Svalbard fjords, both in relation to their physical environment and also the local ecosystem, since it grows seaward from the coast and remains in place throughout the winter. Ice thickness, snow, ice properties, and wind speed were measured, while SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) data was observed simultaneously observed two times from ALOS-PALSAR (L-band). Measured ice thickness was about 25-35 cm while the thickness of ice floe broken from fast ice was measured as 10-15 cm. Average salinity was 1.9-2.0 ppt during the melting period. Polarimetric data was used to extract H/A/alpha-angle parameters of fast ice, ice floe, snow and glacier, which was classified into 18 classes based on these parameters. It was established that the area of fast ice represents surface scattering which indicates low and medium entropy surface scatters such as Bragg and random surfaces, while fast ice covered with snow belongs to a zone of low entropy surface scattering similar to snow-covered land surfaces. The results of this study will contribute to various interpretations of interrelationships between H/A/alpha parameters and the wave scattering Phenomenon of sea ice.

Comprehensive data collection was carried out between 2001-2006 to investigate the concentration levels of chlorophyll-a, nutrients (DIN and DIP), and COD for surface waters of Korean coastal areas. A statistical analysis of these parameters was carried out on the basis of the frequency distribution of their concentration. Furthermore, the numeric grading for chlorophyll-a, DIN, DIP, and COD concentrations were derived statistically from the normalized frequency distribution of log-transformed data. The statistical grading clearly reflects the water quality characteristics of three Korean coastal water bodies (Western, Southern and Eastern coastal zones), which indicate common environmental and ecological characteristics. So, this study could provide useful information to set up the guideline for water quality assessment of Korean coasts.

We determined potential meso-scale benthic-pelagic ecosystem coupling in the north equatorial Pacific by comparing surface chl-a concentration with sediment bacterial abundance and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration (indication of active biomass). Water and sediment samples were latitudinally collected between 5 and $11^{\circ}N$ along $131.5^{\circ}W$. Physical water properties of this area are characterized with three major currents: North Equatorial Current (NEC), North Equatorial Count Current (NECC), and South Equatorial Current (SEC). The divergence and convergence of the surface water occur at the boundaries where these currents anti-flow. This low latitude area ($5{\sim}7^{\circ}N$) appears to show high pelagic productivity (mean phytoplankton biomass=$1266.0\;mgC\;m^{-2}$) due to the supplement of high nutrients from nutrient-enriched deep-water via vertical mixing. But the high latitude area ($9{\sim}11^{\circ}N$) with the strong stratification exhibits low surface productivity (mean phytoplankton biomass=$603.1\;mgC\;m^{-2}$). Bacterial cell number (BCN) and ATP appeared to be the highest at the superficial layer and reduced with depth of sediment. Latitudinally, sediment BCN from low latitude ($5{\sim}7^{\circ}N$) was $9.8{\times}10^8\;cells\;cm^{-2}$, which appeared to be 3-times higher than that from high latitude ($9{\sim}11^{\circ}N$; $2.9{\times}10^8\;cells\;cm^{-2}$). Furthermore, sedimentary ATP at the low latitude ($56.2\;ng\;cm^{-2}$) appeared to be much higher than that of the high latitude ($3.3\;ng\;cm^{-2}$). According to regression analysis of these data, more than 85% of the spatial variation of benthic microbial biomass was significantly explained by the phytoplankton biomass in surface water. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that benthic productivity in this area is strongly coupled with pelagic productivity.

Blubber plays different biological roles in cetaceans, including structural support, physiological demands (thermoregulation, streamlining, buoyancy, etc.), and energy storage. As such, biochemical composition, especially lipid, in the blubber may be vertically stratified in order to effectively assist with these functions. We analysed lipid content, class and fatty acid composition in the blubber of by-catch minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata; n = 11), long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus capensis; n = 3) and Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obiquidens; n = 2) from Korean waters. Lipid content for all three species ranged from 55 to 96% of wet weight, with a dominance of triacylglycerols. Vertical stratification of blubber lipid content was different between species. For minke whale and longbeaked common dolphin, it increased from inner (near the muscle) to outer (near the skin) layer, whereas it decreased for Pacific white-sided dolphin. Thirty-one fatty acids were found in all blubber samples and vertical stratification of fatty acid composition was similar among all three species. Among grouped fatty acids, monounsaturates were the most abundant, gradually increasing from inner to outer blubber layer, whereas polyunsaturates and saturates decreased. Such vertical stratification of lipid content and composition suggests that the modification and accumulation of lipid occur in the blubber itself in order to help cetaceans with their specific physiological needs.

Distribution of Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides in sediments, seawater and fish tissues were examined. Concentrations of ${\Sigma}PCBs$ and ${\Sigma}DDTs$ in the intertidal sediments of Asan Bay ranged from $1.90{\sim}3.27\;ng\;g^{-1}$ dw (dry weight) and $0.51{\sim}1.26\;ng\;g^{-1}$ dw, respectively. ${\Sigma}PCBs$ concentrations in the tissue of greenling (Hexagrammos otakii), olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and finespotted flounder (Pleuronichthys cornutus) were $1.27{\pm}0.55$, $1.30{\pm}0.71$ and $1.19{\pm}0.43\;ng\;g^{-1}$ ww (wet weight), respectively. The profile of PCBs in the sediments and the 3 species of fish differed as witnessed by the dominance of tetra- to penta-chlorinated congeners in sediments while penta- to hexa-chlorinated congeners dominated in fish. ${\Sigma}DDTs$ concentrations were $0.67{\pm}0.52$, $0.79{\pm}0.61$, $1.58{\pm}1.05\;ng\;g^{-1}$ ww respectively in the tissue of greenling, olive flounder and finespotted flounder. The p,p'-DDE appeared to be the most important metabolite of DDT in studied fishes. The concentrations of PCBs and organochlorine pesticides measured in this study for fish were generally lower than those of previous studies. Compared to the pollutant concentration quality guidelines in marine fish, the environment of Asan Bay appears to be in a healthy state.

The distribution and inter-annual variation of nutrients (N, P, Si) and dissolved/particulate organic carbon were investigated in the equatorial thermocline ridge ($7^{\circ}{\sim}11.5^{\circ}N$, $131.5^{\circ}W$) of the northeast Pacific. From the Oceanic Nino Index and Multivariate ENSO Index provided by NOAA, normal condition was observed in July 2003 and August 2005 on the aspect of global climate/ocean change. However, La Ni$\~{n}$a and El Ni$\~{n}$o episodes occurred in July 2007 and August 2009, respectively. Thermocline ridge in the study area was located at $9^{\circ}N$ in July 2003, $8^{\circ}N$ in August 2005, $10^{\circ}N$ in July 2007, and $10.5^{\circ}N$ in August 2009 under the influence of global climate/ocean change and surface current system (North Equatorial Counter Current and North Equatorial Current) of the northeast Pacific. Maximum depth integrated values (DIV) of nutrients in the upper layer (0~100 m depth range) were shown in July 2007 (mean 21.12 gN/$m^2$, 4.27 gP/$m^2$, 33.72 gSi/$m^2$) and higher variability of DIV in the equatorial thermocline ridge was observed at $10^{\circ}N$ during the study periods. Also, maximum concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the upper 50 m depth layer was observed in July 2007 (mean $107.48{\pm}14.58\;{\mu}M$), and particulate organic carbon (POC, mean $9.42{\pm}3.02\;{\mu}M$) was similar to that of DOC. Nutrient concentration in the surface layer increased with effect of upwelling phenomenon in the equatorial thermocline ridge and La Ni$\~{n}$a episode, which had formed in the central Pacific. This process also resulted in the increasing of organic carbon concentration (DOC and POC) in the surface layer. From these results, it is suggested that spatial and temporal variation of chemical and biological factors were generated by physical processes in the equatorial thermocline ridge.

A test miner named MineRo was constructed for the purpose of shallow water test of mining performance. In June of 2009, the performance test was conducted in depth of 100 m, 5 km away from Hupo-port (Korean East Sea), to assess if the developed system is able to collect and lift manganese nodules from seafloor. In August of 2010, in-situ test of automatic path tracking control of MineRo was performed in depth of 120 m at the same site. For path tracking control, a localization algorithm determining MineRo's position on seabed is prerequisite. This study proposes an improved underwater navigation algorithm through estimation of MineRo's kinematic parameters. In general, the kinematic parameters such as track slips and slip angle are indirectly calculated using the position data from USBL (Ultra-Short Base Line) system and heading data from gyro sensors. However, the obtained data values are likely to be different from the real values, primarily due to the random noise of position data. The aim of this study is to enhance the reliability of the algorithm by measuring kinematic parameters, track slips and slip angle.

In this study we examined the economic value of restoration technology for oil spill using contingent value methods. One and one half approach to questionnaires can be taken when analyzing tax payer situations as well as single bound approach. The results of the empirical analysis suggest three conclusions. First, the economic value of the restoration technology considered are estimated to be between 8,439 won to 11,867 won per month. Second, the WTP is estimated differently depending on the approaches, OOHB and SB, and the degrees of difference are very sensitive to the model specifications. This empirical result supports the argument for using interval for the economic value when using CVM. Third, the empirical results may provide useful input to policy authorities attempting to estimate the economic justification of the R&D investment for developing an ocean environmental restoration technology.

The tidal flats of Korea today have reduced by 40% in size compared to 1964. To manage this important habitat properly, development of well-organized and nationwide-applicable grading systems is required. There have been several assessment systems proposed previously in Korea, but they are critically flawed in that selected biological indicators are not adequate and grading criteria are obscure and arbitrary. We reviewed the indicators used in these previous evaluation systems (e.g., diversity indices, quantity and quality of benthic macrofauna, halophytes, water birds, etc.) and subsequently proposed new indicators and an improved grading scheme. For the quantitative assessment of macrobenthic community, biomass reflecting production and ecosystem function is recommended over density, which is much less discriminatory among habitats. Of biodiversity indices used, within-, between-habitat and regional biodiversity indices that accurately reflect sampling efforts are suggested. In addition, we proposed to include species rarity, ecosystem engineers, and the ecological quality index ISEP (Inverse function of Shannon-Wiener Evenness Proportion). As for halophytes, their low spatial coverage on benthic habitat suggests that their presence can be used as an ecological indicator of benthic habitat, regardless of their protective status. We stress the need to introduce 1) quantile approach for quantitative indicators (e.g., diversity, biomass, etc.) in relation to grading, 2) presence-absence approach for spatial or aggregate indicators (e.g., boundaries of halophytes and feeding ground of water birds) and 3) benthic habitat mapping that combines all of these indicators.