The in situ observations and the seawater analyses were conducted at all seasons from July 1996 to April 1999 for the purpose of describing the characteristics of seasonal variations of water quality in Mokpo harbour, Korea. Vertical stratification started to be formed in water column in spring, developed in summer and disappeared in fall. In summer, vertical density distribution of water column was found to be in stable structure with lower temperature and higher salinity of bottom water, and the vertical mixing of water between surface and bottom layers was restricted. In winter, however, surface water was found to be similar to bottom water in temperature and salinity, and water column was in unstable structure and in well-mixed condition between surface and bottom waters. The saturation percentage of dissolved oxygen(DO) in bottom water of inner part of Mokpo harbour at all seasons was shown to be decreased to the third grade or under the third grade of Korean standards of seawater quality. In particular, dissolved oxygen was oversaturated in surface water and undersaturated in bottom water in summer, due to stratification and organic pollution. The difference of DO concentration between surface and bottom waters was found to be greater in spring and summer than in fall and winter, due to stratification and photosynthesis of phytoplankton. The concentrations of chemical oxygen demand(COD) over the entire waters of Mokpo harbour were found to fluctuate from below the third grade to the first grade of Korean standards through all seasons and COD concentrations of same seasons were shown to be different year after year. In particular, in view of COD, the annual average seawater quality of Mokpo harbour was evaluated to be in third grade of Korean standards, due to organic pollution. The average COD of surface water was greater than that of bottom water in spring and summer, due to the autochthonous COD caused by production of phytoplankton in surface waters, while the average COD of surface water was similar to that of bottom water in fall and winter, due to the vertical mixing of water between surface and bottom layers.

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