Distribution of dissolved trace elements in the northwest Pacific marginal seas around the Korean Peninsula

The horizontal and vertial distributions of trace elements (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and REEs) were investigated in the water column of both the East/Japan Sea (EJS) of the Ulleung Basin (UB) and the Yellow Sea (YS) reagion, the marginal seas of westernmost part of North Pacific. Overall, as a brief result, the distribution patterns of trace elements in our study region were appeared to be affected by the large external sources such as i) shelf input; in the case of the Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cd in 1,000-1,500m, and REEs in 500-1,000m and/or ii) atmospheric input (from surrounding continent); in the case of the Pb in >50m iii) benthic diffusive input; in the case of the Mn, Fe, Co, Cu in bottom layer (>2,000m) superimposed on iv) rapid physical process (i.e., rapid water ventilation of <50 yrs); in the case of the Yellow Sea region, all elements showed a vertically conservative distribution. The Cd plot for nutrients (PO43-, Si) in the East/Japan Sea (EJS) was particularly efficient compared to other major ocenas, and 'kinks' appeared in Zn plot. Above all, some trace elements (Fe, Mn, and V) were noticeably higher in the bottom layer due to the high benthic input. The benthic fluxes of these elements also be quantified based on the gradient of vertical distribution in the bottom layer.