Numerical simulations using momentum source wave-maker applied to RANS equation model

For Navier-Stokes equation model using the VOF scheme, Lin and Liu (Lin, P. and Liu, P.L.-F. (1999). Internal wave-maker for Navier-Stokes equations models. J. Waterw. Port Coast. Ocean Eng., 125 (4), 207–215.) developed an internal wave-maker method for which a mass source function of the continuity equation was used to generate target wave trains. Using this internal wave-maker method, various numerical experiments have been conducted without any problems due to waves reflected by a wave-maker. In this study, an internal wave-maker method using a momentum source function was proposed. Various numerical simulations in two and three dimensions were performed using the momentum source wave-maker applied to the RANS equation model in a CFD code, FLUENT. To verify their applicability in 2 dimensions, the computational results obtained using the momentum source wave-maker in a channel of constant depth were compared with the results obtained by using the mass source wave-maker and with the analytical solutions. And the results of the present numerical simulations of hydraulic experiments, which represent nonlinear waves on a submerged shoal and breaking waves on a plane beach, were compared with measurements. The comparisons showed good agreements between them. To see their applicability into 3-dimensional cases, the present results in a basin of constant depth were compared with the analytical solutions, and they agreed well with each other. In addition, vertical variation of longshore current was presented by using the 3-dimensional simulation results.     

Evolution of waves and currents over a submerged laboratory shoal

The vertically-integrated effect of interaction between waves and wave-induced currents on wave transformation over a submerged elliptic shoal was investigated based on numerical simulations of the Vincent and Briggs experiment [Vincent, C.L., Briggs, M.J., 1989. Refraction- diffraction of irregular waves over a mound. Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal and Ocean Engineering, 115(2), pp. 269–284.]. The numerical simulations were performed using two numerical wave-current model systems: one, a combination of the wave model SWAN and the current model SHORECIRC, and the other, a combination of the wave model REF/DIF and the same current model. A time-dependent, phase-resolving wave and current model, FUNWAVE, was also utilized to simulate the experiment. In the simulations, the developed wave-induced currents defocused waves behind the shoal and brought on a wave shadow zone that showed relatively low wave height distributions. For the breaking case of monochromatic waves, the wave heights computed using FUNWAVE showed good agreement with the measurements and the resulting wave-induced currents showed a jet-like velocity distribution in transverse direction. And the computed results of the two model combinations agreed better with the measurements than the computed results obtained by neglecting wave-current interaction. However, it was found that for the case in which transverse interference pattern caused by refracted waves was strong, REF/DIF-SHORECIRC did not correctly evaluate radiation stresses, the gradients of which generate wave-induced currents. SWAN-SHORECIRC, which cannot deal with the interference patterns, predicted a jet-like wave-induced current. For breaking random wave cases, the computed results of the two model combinations and FUNWAVE agreed well with the measurements. The agreements indicate that it is necessary to take into account the effect of wave-induced current on wave refraction when wave breaking occurs over a submerged shoal.     

Organic carbon accumulation and sulfate reduction rates in slope and basin sediments of the Ulleung Basin,East/Japan Sea

This study investigated the organic carbon accumulation rates (OCARs) and sulfate reduction rates (SRRs) in slope and basin sediments of the Ulleung Basin, East/Japan Sea. These sediments have high organic contents at depths greater than 2,000 m; this is rare for deep-sea sediments, except for those of the Black Sea and Chilean upwelling regions. The mean organic carbon to total nitrogen molar ratio was estimated to be 6.98 in the Ulleung Basin sediments, indicating that the organic matter is predominantly of marine origin. Strong organic carbon enrichment in the Ulleung Basin appears to result from high export production, and low dilution by inputs of terrestrial materials and calcium carbonate. Apparent sedimentation rates, calculated primarily from excess ²¹⁰Pb distribution below the zone of sediment mixing, varied from 0.033 to 0.116 cm year⁻¹, agreeing well with previous results for the basin. OCARs fluctuated strongly in the range of 2.06–12.5 g C m⁻² year⁻¹, these rates being four times higher at the slope sites than at the basin sites. Within the top 15 cm of the sediment, the integrated SRRs ranged from 0.72 to 1.89 mmol m⁻² day⁻¹, with rates approximately twice as high in the slope areas as in the basin areas. SRR values were consistently higher in areas of high sedimentation and of high organic carbon accumulation, correlating well with apparent sedimentation rates and OCARs. The sulfate reduction rates recorded in the basin and slope sediments of the Ulleung Basin are higher than those reported for other parts of the world, with the exception of the Peruvian and Chilean upwelling regions. This is consistent with the high organic carbon contents of surface sediments of the Ulleung Basin, suggesting enhanced organic matter fluxes.     

Seasonal Variation of Submesoscale Flow Features in a Mesoscale Eddy-dominant Region in the East Sea

Seasonal changes in the distribution of submesoscale (SM) flow features were examined using a fine-resolution numerical simulation. The SM flows are expected to be strong where mesoscale (MS) eddies actively develop and also when the mixed layer depth (MLD) is deep due to enhanced baroclinic instability. In the East Sea (ES), MS eddies more actively develop in summer while the MLD is deeper in winter, which provided the motivation to conduct this study to test the effects of MLD and MS eddies on the SM activity in this region. Finite-scale Liapunov exponents and the vertical velocity components were employed to analyze the SM activities. It was found that the SM intensity was marked by seasonality: it is stronger in winter when the mixed layer is deep but weaker in summer - despite the greater eddy kinetic energy. This is because in summer the mixed layer is so thin that there is not enough available potential energy. When the SM activity was quantified based on parameterization, (MLD × density gradient), it was determined that the seasonal variation of MLD plays a more important role than the lateral density gradient variation on SM flow motion in the ES.     

Distribution and Variability of the Meiobenthic Assemblages near the Korean Polymetallic Nodule Claim Area of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (Subequatorial NE Pacific)

This study was carried out as part of a baseline long-term environmental project in the proposed mining areas for an environmental impact assessment of future mining in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ). The community structure and distributional pattern of meiobenthos were investigated in the deep-sea bottom of the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone of the northeastern Pacific in July 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003 and August 2004, 2005. Twenty one meiobenthic groups were found at the stations in the study area. The most abundant meiobenthos comprised nematodes followed by benthic foraminiferans and harpacticoid copepods. The maximum density of meiobenthos was 306 ind/10 cm² at the station located at 11°N (water depth, 4833 m), and the minimum density was 6 ind/10 cm² at the station located at 14°N (water depth, 5037 m). Oligotrophic conditions in the CCFZ seem to directly reflect the lower standing stocks of meiobenthos in the CCFZ compared to other deep-sea plains of similar depth. The latitudinal distribution pattern of meiobenthos in the study area seemed to be related with surface water primary productivity, which was connected to the water circulation pattern of the Pacific Ocean near the Equator, diverging at 8ºN latitude and converging at 5°N. The horizontal distribution of meiobenthic organisms in the study area showed high densities at the stations within 135–136°W. The densities of meiobenthic organismas within the CCFZ were high at stations with few manganese nodules on the sediment surface at low-latitude sites. In 1998, the observed relative high values of meiobenthic abundance were at stations from 5° to 6°N. Other stations from 7° to 10°N showed no significant fluctuations during the interannual sampling periods. It is considered that the inter-annual fluctuation of meiobenthos abundance is intimately related with a regime shift that may have occurred in the north Pacific between 1998 and 1999, the El Niño period. Vertical distribution of meiobenthic organisms showed the highest individual numbers in the surface sediment layers of 0～2 cm depth and a steep decreasing trend as sediment becomes deeper at the stations of high latitude located in 16～17°N. Size distribution analyses showed that organisms that fit into the sieve mesh size of 0.063 mm were abundant.     

Evaluation of the Effect of Marine Ranching Activities on the Tongyeong Marine Ecosystem

Using ecosystem models (Ecopath, Ecosim, and Ecospace), we assessed the structure and function of the Tongyeong marine ranching ecosystem and compared changes in various ecosystem components before and after marine ranching activities. An ecosystem structure model, Ecopath, was used to estimate the changes in biomass and trophic level of major species or groups, the relative contribution of target species or groups to the total flow of energy (throughput), and niche overlaps and impacts of competition between major species or groups. It showed that the Tongyeong ecosystem had 4 trophic levels. A large amount of energy flows occurred at trophic levels 3 and 4, and jacopever rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) and black rockfish (S. inermis) that were target species for stock enhancement belonged to trophic level 3, indicating that those two species played an important role in the ecosystem. Using an ecosystem dynamic model, Ecosim, the mechanism of dynamic changes in the quantity of target species or groups was investigated to identify the effects of stock enhancement activities and impacts of fishing intensity. After marine ranching activities, the biomass of two target species had increased, while those of most other fish groups decreased. Assuming that fishing mortality was double the current level, the biomass of most fish groups decreased but jacopever rockfish maintained its current stock level due to excessive stock enhancement and low fishing mortality in recent years. An ecosystem space model, Ecospace, was employed to simulate the temporal and spatial dynamics of the biomass of organisms in order to examine how resource enhancement activities have changed the distribution and abundance of target species or groups in the ecosystem. The distribution pattern of jacopever rockfish and black rockfish showed stronger aggregations around reefs and rocky areas with high stock densities after ranching. However, most of the other fish groups exhibited lower densities in the marine ranching area, while they showed higher densities outside the marine ranching area. Thus, it would be necessary to take appropriate holistic management actions based on the ecosystem-based approach to keep the ranching ecosystem healthy and to maintain the fishery production of the ecosystem at the maximum sustainable level.     

Optimization of Chemical Oxygen Demand Determination in Seawater Samples Using the Alkaline Potassium Permanganate Method

Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is a practical parameter that is used to estimate the amount of organic pollutants in aqueous systems. It is generally used as a guideline to control the quality of waste treatment effluent globally and is a management tool to evaluate the total pollution load in the highly developed coastal regions of Korea. It is a preferred method because of the speed and simplicity of the analysis and because there are fewer instrumentation requirements. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) of the Republic of Korea developed a standard procedure for the measurement of COD. It has been revised several times, and the most recent revision was made in 2013 (MOF 2013–230). In this study, we modified the standard COD measurement procedure (MOF 2013–230), especially the sample digestion apparatus, to enhance analytical efficiency for a large sample number (batch), which is called a Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) modified MOF 2013–230. We examined uncertainty related to each experimental step and optimized laboratory conditions to reduce such uncertainties. The detection limit and estimated expanded uncertainty related to the KIOST modified MOF 2013–230 was 0.18 and 0.11 mg O₂/L at a 95% confidence level (k = 2), respectively. This study also provides several tips to maintain consistent COD measurements in seawater using the alkaline potassium permanganate method.     

Cross-section restoration and one-dimensional basin modeling of the Central Subbasin in the southern Kunsan Basin,Yellow Sea

The petroleum system of the Kunsan Basin in the Northern South Yellow Sea Basin is not well known, compared to other continental rift basins in the Yellow Sea, despite its substantial hydrocarbon potential. Restoration of two depth-converted seismic profiles across the Central Subbasin in the southern Kunsan Basin shows that extension was interrupted by inversions in the Late Oligocene-Middle Miocene that created anticlinal structures. One-dimensional basin modeling of the IIH-1Xa well suggests that hydrocarbon expulsion in the northeastern margin of the depocenter of the Central Subbasin peaked in the Early Oligocene, predating the inversions. Hydrocarbon generation at the dummy well location in the depocenter of the subbasin began in the Late Paleocene. Most source rocks in the depocenter passed the main expulsion phase except for the shallowest source rocks. Hydrocarbons generated from the depocenter are likely to have migrated southward toward the anticlinal structure and faults away from the traps along the northern and northeastern margins of the depocenter because the basin-fill strata are dipping north. Faulting that continued during the rift phase (∼ Middle Miocene) of the subbasin probably acted as conduits for the escape of hydrocarbons. Thus, the anticlinal structure and associated faults to the south of the dummy well may trap hydrocarbons that have been charged from the shallow source rocks in the depocenter since the Middle Miocene.