Temporal and spatial fluctuation characteristics of sea surface temperature in Yeosu Bay, Korea
Temporal and spatial fluctuations of surface water temperature in Yeosu Bay for the period from 2010 to 2011 were studied using the data from temperature monitoring buoys deployed at 32 stations in the south coast of Korea. Temperatures in the northern part of the bay are higher in summer and lower in winter than in the southern part of the bay. The lowest and highest temperature of the annual mean are found at the eastern coast of POSCO and at the west of Dae Island, respectively. Cold water masses appear at estuarine area when the discharge of Sumjin river is affluent. Amplitude of temperature fluctuation whose period is less than semi-diurnal is largest at Hadong coast and around Dae Island. Spectral analysis of surface water temperature shows a significant peak at a periodic fluctuation of 0.5 to 24 days and about 15-day period of predominant fluctuation is most frequent in Yeosu Bay. From the cross-correlation analysis of temperature fluctuations, Yeosu Bay can be classified into six areas; the south area affected by South Sea of Korea, the mixed area in the center of the bay, the estuarine area affected by river discharge at the north of the bay, the hot waste water area near Hadong coast, the area around Dae Island and the area near Noryang Channel affected by the water in Jinju Bay, respectively.