Multi-sensor Monitoring of Green and Golden-tide in the eastern Yellow Sea

Abstract

Floating green-tide has occurred for the every years in the Yellow Sea since 2007. Recently, massive golden-tide caused by floating brown macroalgal Sargassum also founded. Compared with the western Yellow Sea, there is a lack of research on the distribution and transport of floating macroalgal bloom in the eastern Yellow Sea. Therefore, aim of this research is to find the origin, distribution and transport route of floating macroalgal patches in the eastern Yellow Sea usingmulti-satellite sensors. Massive green-tide was found in the eastern Yellow Sea for the first time in 2008, and the satellite image traced back shows that it originated from the western Yellow Sea. In 2009 and 2011, large mass of green-tidealso found in the eastern Yellow Sea, and its largest scale of any green-tide has been found in 2011. In 2013, floating golden-tide was found in the eastern Yellow Sea for the first time, and since then it has moved into the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula every year. Taking into account geographical distribution of S. horneri (along the Chinese coast) and the northeastward surface current (Taiwan Warm Current), the possible origin of Sargassum patches in the eastern YS is suspected to be the western part of the northern East China Sea. In 2017, green and golden-tide were found in the Yellow Sea at the same period. As they are expected to different ecological impacts on the Yellow Sea and coastal aren the distribution and transport of floating macroalgal bloom in the eastern Yellow Sea. Therefore, aim of this research is to find the origin, distribution and transport route of floating macroalgal patches in the eastern Yellow Sea usingmulti-satellite sensors. Massive green-tide was found in the eastern Yellow Sea for the first time in 2008, and the satellite image traced back shows that it originated from the western Yellow Sea. In 2009 and 2011, large mass of green-tidealso found in the eastern Yellow Sea, and its largest scale of any green-tide has been found in 2011. In 2013, floating golden-tide was found in the eastern Yellow Sea for the first time, and since then it has moved into the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula every year. Taking into account geographical distribution of S. horneri (along the Chinese coast) and the northeastward surface current (Taiwan Warm Current), the possible origin of Sargassum patches in the eastern YS is suspected to be the western part of the northern East China Sea. In 2017, green and golden-tide were found in the Yellow Sea at the same period. As they are expected to different ecological impacts on the Yellow Sea and coastal are