Regeneration Processes of Nutrients in the Polar Front Area of the East Sea III. Distribution Patterns of Water Masses and Nutrients in the Middle-Northern last Sea of Korea in October, 1995

Abstract

A survey of biological and chemical characteristics in the middle-northern East Sea of Korea was carried out at 28 stations in October, 1995 on board R/V Tam-Yang. On the basis of the vertical profiles of temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen, water masses in the study area were divided into 5 major groups; (1) Low Saline Surface Water (LSSW), (2) Tsushima Surface Water (TSW), (3) Tsushima Middle Water (TMW), (4) North Korean Cold Water (NKCW), (5) last Sea Porper Water (ESPW). Other 4 mixed water masses were also observed. It is highly possible that the LSSW which occured at depths of in the most southern part of the study area is originated from the Yangtze River (Kiang) of China due to very low salinity $(, which is TMW, were found in only southern area. In the vortical profiles of nutrients, the concentrations were very low in the surface layer and increased drammatically near the thermocline. The highest concentration occurred in the ESPW. The relatively low value of Si/P ratio in the ESPW (13.63) compared to other reports in the East Sea was due to continuous increase of P with depth as well as Si. The N : P ratio was about 6.92, showing that nitrogenous nutrient is the limiting factor for phytoplankton growth. The exponential relationship between Si and P, compared to the linear relationship between N and P, indicates that nitrate and phosphate have approximately the same regenerative pattern, but silicate has delayed regenerative pattern.