The in situ observations and the seawater analyses were conducted in July and August, 1996 for the purpose of describing the characteristics of organic pollution, dissolved oxygen distributions, and the evaluation of water quality in Mokpo harbour. The vertical density distribution of water column was found to be in stable structure with higher water temperature and lower salinity on surface layer at ebb tide in summer. In July, dissolved oxygen was shown to be oversaturated on surface and bottom layers, while in August, which was shown to be oversaturated on surface layer, and to be unsaturated on bottom layer as 68∼93% of saturation percentage. Dissolved oxygen of bottom layer in August was evaluated to be under the regular grades, based on Korean standards of seawater quality. In view of COD, the seawater quality of Mokpo harbour in summer was evaluated to be deteriorated due to organic wastes and graded to be the third class, and TSS of Mokpo harbour in summer was graded to be the second class, based on Korean standards of seawater quality. In particular, COD of surface layer in August was found to be under the regular grades. It is, therefore, necessary to take measures for the control of pollution loads and the proper management of seawater quality in Mokpo harbour. The distribution patterns of DO, COD, VSS and Chlorophyll-a on surface layer along the downstream center line from inner harbour to harbour entrance were similar to one another at ebb tide in August.

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