• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.379-399
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• 2008

Spatial-temporal variations in physiochemical water qualities (temperature, salinity, DO, SPM, POC and nutrients) of surface and bottom waters were investigated along the mid-western coastal area (Taean Peninsula to Gomso Bay) of Korea. Spatial distribution patterns of temperature and salinity were mostly controlled by the physical mixing process of freshwater from Geum River and/or Gyunggi Bay with nearby coastal water. A strong tidal front is formed off Taean Peninsula during spring and summer. Seasonal variations in nutrient concentrations, lower in spring and summer and higher in fall and winter, are primarily regulated by magnitude of phytoplankton occurrence rather than freshwater loadings into the bay. Based on seasonal and spatial variability of physicochemical parameters, water quality of the study area can be divided into four water masses; Gyunggi Bay-influenced Water Mass (GBWM), Geum River-influenced Water Mass (GRWM), Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water Mass (YSBCWM) and Cheonsu Bay Water Mass (CBWM). Water quality of the GBWM (Taean Peninsula coastal area), which has relatively low salinity and high concentrations of nutrients, is strongly controlled by the Gyunggi Bay coastal water, which is under influence of the Han River freshwater. In this water mass, the mixed layer is always developed by strong tidal mixing. As a result, a tidal front is formed along the offshore boundary of the mixed layer. Such tidal fronts probably play an important role in the distribution of phytoplankton communities, SPM and nutrients. The GRWM, with low salinity and high nutrients, especially during the flood summer season, is closely related to physiochemical properties of the Geum River. During the flood season, nutrient-enriched Geum River water mass extends up to 60 km away from the river mouth, potentially causing serious environmental problems such as eutrophication and unusual and/or noxious algal blooms. Offshore (<$30{\sim}40m$ in water depth) of the study area, YSBCWM coupled with a strong thermocline can be identified in spring-summer periods, exhibiting abundant nutrients in association with low temperature and limited biological activity. During spring and summer, a tidal front is formed in a transition zone between the coastal water mass and bottom cold water mass in the Yellow Sea, resulting in intensified upwelling and thereby supplying abundant nutrients to the GBWM and GRWM. Such cold bottom water mass and tidal front formation seems to play an important role in controlling water quality and further regulating physical ecosystem processes along mid-western Korean coastal area.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.447-453
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• 2009

Vegetation distribution and soil salinity were surveyed on the conservation plot in the Daeho reclaimed tidal land, in where the plants species distribution was more various than a periodically inundated tidal flat and the early stage of reclamation. According to the soil salinity where the vegetation patches were occurred, the mono patches of Salicornia europaea, Suaeda maritima, and Suaeda glauca were distributed in the average range of 31.05 dS/m in soil salinity, the mixed patches of them were distributed in the average range of 42.75 dS/m. Therefore, Salicornia europaea, Suaeda maritima, and Suaeda glauca showed strong salt tolerance. The mono patches of Aster tripolium, Sonchus brachyotus, and Scirpus planiculm were distributed in the range of 11.73 dS/m in soil salinity, and the mixed patches were distributed in the average range of 9.43 dS/m. Therefore Aster tripolium, Sonchus brachyotus, and Scirpus planiculmis showed moderate salt tolerance. The mono patches of Imperata cylindrica, Trifolium pratense, Miscanthus sinensis, Setaria viridis, and Trisetum bifidum were distributed in the range of 2.42 dS/m in soil salinity. These species showed characteristics of glycophytes with weak salt tolerance. The distribution of vegetation patches was influenced by the soil salinity as pioneer halophytes patches occurred at higher soil salinity zone than facultative halophytes patches, glycophytes patches occurred at lower soil salinity zone than facultative halophytes. These results suggested that occurrence of plant species and plant distribution type might be useful index to evaluate the soil salinity and desalinization in the reclaimed land of the midwest coastal area of Korea.