High concentration of chlorophyll a occurred around the Ulleung Warm Eddy off Ulleung Island in the East Sea of Korea in spring season. The abnormal distributions of chlorophyll a were captured by satellite remote sensing and measured field data. The temporal and spatial scale of the abnormal distributions were around 20 days and 50km diameter off Ullung Island. The anomalies were quantified by estimated chlorophyll a derived from OCM and SeaWiFS ocean color data from 2000 to 2004.
The origin of abnormal high concentrations was estimated by this study. It was that suspended material discharged from the Nakdong River and the coastal water located in the southeastern part of Korean Peninsula moved to northeastern coast, and then moved to off Ullung Island. The high chlorophyll a concentrations including inorganic materials were accumulated by anticyclonic eddy such as the Ullung Warm Eddy around Ullung Island in the East Sea of Korea in spring season.

• 서영상(국립수산과학원 동해수산연구소) | Young Sang Suh Corresponding Author