Long-term ocean observations in the Yellow and East China Sea by the Ocean Research Stations in Korea

Abstract

Large-scale and long-term environmental changes have been reported in the Yellow Sea andEast China Sea (YECS) during the last couple of decades. Many important meteorological andoceanic processes occurring in the YECS are changing their environment. From the early 2000s,several ocean research stations (ORSs) have been planned in Korea as a part of the ‘IntegratedCoastal Monitoring System’ program. The Ieodo ORS (IORS) is the first open-ocean researchtower station in Korea. The IORS is located in the northeastern part of the East China Sea andmore than half of the typhoons which affect the Korean peninsula pass over the IORS area.Equipped with more than 30 different types of instruments, the IORS is observing more than 40different variables of the ocean and atmosphere (wind, wave, temperature and salinity, air-seafluxes, etc). Constructions of 2 more ORSs, the Gageocho and Socheongcho ORSs, werecompleted in 2009 and 2014, respectively. Currently (March 2016) there are about 20 on-goingresearch programs utilizing the ORSs to investigate typhoons, air-sea interactions,transportations of air pollutant particles, sea-fog formations, changes of the biological ecoenvironment,etc. Scientists can use the ORSs to attach/integrate their own sensors, andconduct process studies on or nearby the station (staying for days). The ORSs could serve asone of the reference stations for monitoring global cl environment. From the early 2000s,several ocean research stations (ORSs) have been planned in Korea as a part of the ‘IntegratedCoastal Monitoring System’ program. The Ieodo ORS (IORS) is the first open-ocean researchtower station in Korea. The IORS is located in the northeastern part of the East China Sea andmore than half of the typhoons which affect the Korean peninsula pass over the IORS area.Equipped with more than 30 different types of instruments, the IORS is observing more than 40different variables of the ocean and atmosphere (wind, wave, temperature and salinity, air-seafluxes, etc). Constructions of 2 more ORSs, the Gageocho and Socheongcho ORSs, werecompleted in 2009 and 2014, respectively. Currently (March 2016) there are about 20 on-goingresearch programs utilizing the ORSs to investigate typhoons, air-sea interactions,transportations of air pollutant particles, sea-fog formations, changes of the biological ecoenvironment,etc. Scientists can use the ORSs to attach/integrate their own sensors, andconduct process studies on or nearby the station (staying for days). The ORSs could serve asone of the reference stations for monitoring global cl