Characteristics of the seawater quality variation on the South Coastal Area of Korea

Abstract

Classifying the stations with the similar seawater quality variation, it is possible to cope effectively with and to predict the seawater quality variation on the coastal area. Factor Analysis among various statistical analyses can be used in order to suggest a solution for the above mentioned purposes. And the consequence of factor analysis should be compared and discussed with the relation to the tidal current because seawater quality variance is influenced by the tide. The data for this research was collected from the fifteen stations ranging from Tukryang Bay to Ulsan Bay on the South Costal Area of Korea. The study was based on the data from 1991 to 2000. The eight seawater quality items analyzed were Water Temperature, Salinity, pH, DO, COD, T-N (Total Nitrogen), T-P (Total Phosphorus), and SS (Suspended Solid). The result of the study will be the following consequences, DO, pH, SS items showed that fitten stations were grouped into three or four seawater zones by the axis of Samchonpo-Chinju Bay-South of Koje. On the analysis of all of the eight seawater quality items, the stations of Tukryang Bay and Kohung; and those of Onsan and Ulsan Bay were classified into the same group, respectively. Yosu and Namhae stations were sectioned into one group on the all seawater quaity items but T-P, Samchonpo and South of Koje stations another group on all seawater quality items but Water Temperature, and Masan and Pusan stations the other group on all seawater quality items but DO. The stations from Tukryang Bay through Kohung to East of Koje were grouped together on the COD item, and this showed somewhat different tendency among other seawater quality items.