• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.477-483
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• 1987

We constructed the tidal chart of $M_2$ tide in the East Sea (Japan Sea) by an objective method. The sea level elevations at coastal stations are specified as Dirichlet boundary conditions, and the tidal constants inside of the East Sea basin are determined by the solution of the complex partial differential equation for the sea surface elevation. We studied the influences of the bottom topography and the tidal friction on the distribution of tidal chart inside of the basin. Using the results of basin-wide tidal model, we constructed a detailed tidal chart of the Ma tide off east of Korea.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2023

The East Sea, one of the regions where the most rapid warming is occurring, is known to have important implications for the response of the ocean to future climate changes because it not only reacts sensitively to climate change but also has a much shorter turnover time (hundreds of years) than the ocean (thousands of years). However, the processes underlying changes in seawater characteristics at the sea's deep and abyssal layers, and meridional overturning circulation have recently been examined only after international cooperative observation programs for the entire sea allowed in-situ data in a necessary resolution and accuracy along with recent improvement in numerical modeling. In this review, previous studies on the physical characteristics of seawater at deeper parts of the East Sea, and meridional overturning circulation are summarized to identify any remaining issues. The seawater below a depth of several hundreds of meters in the East Sea has been identified as the Japan Sea Proper Water (East Sea Proper Water) due to its homogeneous physical properties of a water temperature below 1℃ and practical salinity values ranging from 34.0 to 34.1. However, vertically high-resolution salinity and dissolved oxygen observations since the 1990s enabled us to separate the water into at least three different water masses (central water, CW; deep water, DW; bottom water, BW). Recent studies have shown that the physical characteristics and boundaries between the three water masses are not constant over time, but have significantly varied over the last few decades in association with time-varying water formation processes, such as convection processes (deep slope convection and open-ocean deep convection) that are linked to the re-circulation of the Tsushima Warm Current, ocean-atmosphere heat and freshwater exchanges, and sea-ice formation in the northern part of the East Sea. The CW, DW, and BW were found to be transported horizontally from the Japan Basin to the Ulleung Basin, from the Ulleung Basin to the Yamato Basin, and from the Yamato Basin to the Japan Basin, respectively, rotating counterclockwise with a shallow depth on the right of its path (consistent with the bottom topographic control of fluid in a rotating Earth). This horizontal deep circulation is a part of the sea's meridional overturning circulation that has undergone changes in the path and intensity. Yet, the linkages between upper and deeper circulation and between the horizontal and meridional overturning circulation are not well understood. Through this review, the remaining issues to be addressed in the future were identified. These issues included a connection between the changing properties of CW, DW, and BW, and their horizontal and overturning circulations; the linkage of deep and abyssal circulations to the upper circulation, including upper water transport from and into the Western Pacific Ocean; and processes underlying the temporal variability in the path and intensity of CW, DW, and BW.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.709-716
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• 2011

To investigate the distribution and migrations of sea turtles occurring in Korean waters, an adult female green sea turtle Chelonia mydas was tagged with a satellite transmitter and released at Busan in October 2009. The confirmation was made for the first time that the released green sea turtle migrated back to Korea after visiting Jeju Island and Japan for approximately 9 months. The green sea turtle spent the winter in Jeju and Japan because of low water temperatures in the East Sea and South Sea during winter months, which were not suitable for turtle survival. Compared with an immature green sea turtle that was released at Jeju Island, the adult green showed a markedly different migration pattern, suggesting that juvenile and adult greens move differently because of their peculiar life cycle and their stage of maturity, in addition to responses to temperature changes. Additional satellite tracking with increased representation of species, sexes and sizes of turtles, and regions is required to gather information on the distribution and movements of sea turtles in Korean waters.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2019

This review paper discussed the decadal fluctuations in the catch of the common squid, Todarodes pacificus (T. pacificus) by focusing on migration and distribution patterns. Since 1980s, changes in T. pacificus catches were due to climate regime shift in Korean waters. Fluctuation patterns of catches were different between the East Sea and the Yellow Sea. Generally PDO (Pacific Decadal Oscillation) phase shows a negative correlation with strength of warm current to the East Sea. In 1980s when PDO was positive phase (+), T. pacificus catch was higher in the Yellow, but it was lower in the East Sea. In 1990s when PDO was negative phase (-), T. pacificus catch showed opposite trend compared with 1980s. Such spatial and decadal fluctuations of T. pacificus catch were due to its northward migration along with the warm current or southward movement against the current. In the East Sea, strong (weak) warm current period, the current path has been shifted toward the East Sea coast of Korea (central East Sea or the coast of Japan). It has a correlation with PDO. In the positive PDO phase (1980s), the fishing ground was located on the eastern side of Ulleungdo, whereas during negative PDO phase (1990s), they were situated near the southeastern coast of the Korean peninsula. In the 1980s, volume transport passing into the Yellow Sea increased, whereas volume transport in the East Sea decreased. This is one of major reason increasing T. pacificus larvae in the Yellow Sea.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.21 no.sup1
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• pp.73-73
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• 2009

The modern cartilaginous fishes, class Chondrichthyes, are small group of Pisces, and comprisingmore 1,000 described valid species, and including approximately 190 genera, 55 families, and 15 orders. The Chondrichthyes consists of two subclasses, the Holocephali (chimeras) and the Elasmobranchii(sharks and rays). The dominant subclass Elasmobranchii includes sharks (Selachii) and rays (Batoidea), the former is more diverse than the latter in higher taxa (order, family, genus) but has fewer species. The Batoidea, batoids or rays, has long been recognized as monophyletic, however, the interrelationships of the groups are problematic and uncertain. In order to review biodiversity and systematics of batoids, valid species name and supraspecific taxa from the published materials are studied. Batoids (including sawfishes, Pristiformes; electric rays, Torpediniformes; stingrays, Myliobatiformes; skates, Rajiformes; wedgefishes, Rhiniformes; and guitarfishes, Rhinobatiformes) is speciose and worldwide with about 580 species in 4 to 6 orders, 17 to 19 families, and about 75 genera. In East Asian waters, the previous records of the Batoidea reveal about 170 species belonging to 41 genera, 18 families, 6 orders. The largest group of batoid fauna in the area is order Myliobatiformes comprising about 80 species, 16 genera of 7 families. The predominant families are Dasyatidae (whiptail stingrays: 46 spp. of 6 genera), Arhynchobatidae (softnose skates: 26 spp. of 3 genera), and Rajidae (skates: 21 spp. of 6 genera). The predominant genera are Bathyraja (softnoseskates: 20 spp.), Himantura (whiprays:19spp.), and Dasyatis (fantailstingrays: 18 spp.). There are 23 species in the Yellow Sea, 70 species in the East China Sea, 82 species in the South China Sea, and 58 species in the North Pacific coast of Japan. Batoid fauna from the East Sea (Sea of Japan) is the poorest of the five regions, consisting of 14 species. Korean waters include only 28 species, 16 genera, 10 families and 5 orders of batoids. Two species is torpediniforms, 4 rhinobatiforms, arhynchobatiforms, 11 rajiforms and 10 myliobatiforms. By the earlier works, the systematics and a check list of the valid species of batoids will be presented.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2004

This paper deals with a possible contribution to international relations and affairs by the discipline of geography and raises the necessity of a new field in geography that would study relations between nations. The proposed change of the name 'East Sea' is used as a case study in promoting international standardization. Two major international organizations oversee the international standardization of geographical names. One is the UN Conferences of the Standardization of the Geographical Names which work in association with the UN Group of Experts on Geographical Names, and the other is the International Hydrographic Organization. These two organizations have in the past passed all the relevant resolutions pertaining to geographical names. From recent developments on the Korean Peninsula, however, it has become evident that international disputes on place names sometimes require a long process of consultation with the relevant parties. Efforts being made to restore the historically appropriate name of 'East Sea' as opposed to the 'Sea of Japan' have only now begun to diffuse in many areas. It would be appropriate if geographers could develop a new area of 'Geography of International Relations' that deals with WTO, oceans, environment and climatic issues, FAT, as well as territories and boundaries. Furthermore, it would improve the quality of discourse if geographers participated more in the decision-making processes in international affairs.

• The Journal of Fisheries Business Administration
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.71-103
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• 2009

This study is designed to propose the ways of the multilateral cooperation system for effective management of fisheries resources in the various overlapping zones established by bilateral fisheries agreements between Korea, China and Japan in North East Asia as semi-enclosed sea. It is necessary to build multilateral fisheries cooperation between Korea, China and Japan in North East Asia because conservation & management of transboundary fish stocks could not be guaranted effectively by the management of fisheries resources in the area where piled up the current-fishing-pattern zone, as white zone and the various grey zone as middle zone, and the interim measures zone of bilateral fisheries agreements between Korea, China and Japan are piled up. Fisheries management in Korea, China and Japan by the bilateral fisheries agreements in North East Asia is faced with difficulties manage fisheries resources. International relationship on fisheries is maintained by bilateral fisheries agreements based on UNCLOS. However fisheries resources are over-exploited and the recovery of the fisheries resources is very slow because proper conservation and management of transboundary fish stocks which article 63(1) of UNCLOS defines have not prepared yet. Thus close cooperation among the coastal States for a proper conservation and management of transboundary fish stocks is necessary. Since the transboundary fish migrate within the EEZs of two or more coastal States, there is a need to manage the fish stocks in the region between Korea, China and Japan through a multi-lateral mechanism at ccircumference area of the current-fishing-pattern zone as white zone. Coastal States must guarantee sustainable maintenance of transboundary fish stocks through the regional cooperation for a proper conservation & management because one coastal State alone could not guarantee conservation and management of fish stocks. Thus there is a need to build multilateral fisheries cooperation between Korea, China and Japan in North East Asia. There are many successful instances including the Barents' sea for a proper conservation & management of transboundary fish stocks. The Barents' sea is one of the best research object to study the regional cooperation for a conservation & management of transboundary fish stocks in North East Asia. In conclusion, it is necessary to build a multilateral fisheries cooperation system between Korea, China and Japan in North East Asia to conserve and manage transboundary fish stocks effectively. It seems desirable that the range of the area to conserve and manage fish stocks should may be any partial area in the current-fishing-pattern zone and interim measures zone between Korea and China, Jeju middle zone between Korea and Japan, interim measures zone of bilateral fisheries agreements between China and Japan.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.179-188
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• 2015

This study was carried out to determine the optimal number of ARGO floats in the East Sea in order to maximize their applications. The dominant spatio-temporal scale, size of the domain, and the typical float lifetimes in the East Sea were taken into consideration. The mean spatial de-correlation scale of temperature on isobaric surfaces reaches about 60 km. The minimum necessary number of floats is about 82 on average in order to secure independent ARGO profiles with the de-correlation scale. Considering the float lifetimes, about 27 floats per year should be deployed to maintain the 82 ARGO float array every year. To obtain spatially uniform distribution of ARGO float data, mean residence time and dispersion rate (basin area/residence time) of ARGO floats were evaluated in each basin of the East Sea. A faster (slower) dispersion rate requires more (less) ARGO floats to maintain the spatially uniform number of floats. According to the analysis, it is likely that the optimal ratio of the number of floats for each basin is 1:2:4 corresponding to Ulleung Basin:Yamato Basin:Japan Basin. In order to maintain relatively uniform ARGO observing networks, it is necessary to establish a long-term plan for deployment strategy based on float pathways and the dispersion rate parameters estimated by using currently active ARGO float trajectory data as well as reanalysis data.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.160-166
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• 2007

The coarse deposit with a lower mud content adjacent to the shelf of the southern East Sea is probably a "relict" sediment deposited in response to a lower stand of sea level during the Pleistocene. The sediment that developed on the slope and in the deep sea was river-borne primarily and was secondarily reworked or redistributed by the Tsushima Warm Current from the East China Sea. The clay mineralogy of the area suggests various sources of fine-grained sediment from adjacent rivers, the Korea Strait, volcanic material from Ulleung Island, and the Japan coast. Massive sand, bioturbated mud, homogeneous mud, and laminated mud were the dominant facies found in the core sediments from the study area. The massive sand was mainly volcanic ash from an eruption on Ulleung Island (9300 yr BP) and consisted of colorless pumiceous glass and a black scoriaceous type. The sedimentation rates on the slope, based on the Ulleung-Oki ash layer, were about 10cm/ky higher than in the basin. Other than the coarse-grain sediment, the mean size of the fine sediment dominating the bioturbated and homogeneous muds in the basin and the laminated mud on the slope was 6-10 phi. This indicates a difference in the major sedimentary process: hemipelagic sedimentation in the Ulleung Basin and mass flow deposition, such as turbidite, on the slope of the southern East Sea.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.59-62
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• 2002

Dokdo, which is located in the middle of the East Sea, is a small island tilth a total area of 0.186 $\textrm{km}^2$. However, this small island, with its mild oceanic climate, has rich bio-resources and picturesque natural surroundings. Dokdo in the crystaline waters and In the central area of the deep sea is a treasury of algaes (sea oak, sea mustard, gulf weed, laver, agar-agar, etc.), molluscs (squid, ear shell, conch, etc.) and fishes (Alaska pollack, anchovy, saucy, herring, etc.). On the other hand, there are a lot of grasses and various kinds of grasses on the land of Dokdo. And a lot of back-tailed gulls (about 20,000 Individuals) live on this island. There have been disputes on the sovereignty over Dokdo between Korea and Japan. Japan has claimed sovereignty over Dokdo since Japan incorporated the island into Japanese territory in 1905 when it occupied the Korean Peninsula by force. Korea governed Dokdo not only before 1905 but also after its liberation in 1945. The Korean government, while heavily financing building facilities like pleas and quays, is endeavoring to preserve the natural surroundings of this island.