• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.295-304
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• 2000

Vertical measurement of CTDT at about 30 min intervals and spatial surface temperature, salinity, and concentration of suspended particulate matters were conducted to elucidate the character of water column and the dispersal pattern in a floating ice-dominated fjord, Marian Cove, West Antarctica. Marian Cove showed two distinct water layers in terms of turbidity; 1) cold, fresh, and turbid surface plume in the upper 2 m,2) warm, saline, and relatively clean Maxwell Bay inflow between 15-45 m in water depth. Thermal melting of Maxwell Bay inflow and tidewater glacier/floating ices developed the surface mixed layer and the activity of floating ices cause Maxwell Bay inflow to be unstable. Due to the unstable water column, the development of Maxwell Bay inflow and subsequent surface plume are not influenced by tidal frequency. Coastal current generated by strong northwesterly wind may extend warm, saline, and turbid surface plume into the central part of the cove along the northern coast via the western coast of Weaver Peninsula. Terrigenous sediments of meltwaters from the glaciated ice cliffs near the corner of tidewater glacier and some coasts enter into the cove and their dispersion depends upon the hydrographic regimes (tide, wind, wave etc.). At the period of spring tide, the strong wind stress with the northwesterly wind direction reserve suspended sediment-fed surface plume and so allow the possibility of deposition of terrigenous sediments within the basin of cove.