Hokkaido Fishing Ground Oceanographic Observations 1986-1987

1566 observation points document the marine environment across the Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, and Pacific Ocean economic zones of Hokkaido. These observations were conducted from April 1986 to March 1987 by the organization SCIOPS. The findings were compiled into the 1989 edition of the Data Record of Oceanographic Observations No.2.

Use Cases

• Analyze spatial patterns of sea temperature and salinity across 1566 stations to identify fishing ground characteristics.
• Correlate oceanographic parameters like dissolved oxygen with historical fishery productivity in Hokkaido's economic zones.
• Establish baseline environmental conditions for the Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, and Pacific Ocean from the 1986-1987 period.
• Model coastal water mass interactions using point observations of water column properties.

Strengths

• 1566 distinct observation points provide detailed spatial coverage.
• Data collection spanned a full annual cycle from April 1986 to March 1987.
• Covers three distinct marine regions: the Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, and Pacific Ocean.

Limitations

• Data is over 35 years old, limiting its use for analyzing current ocean conditions.
• Specific measured parameters (columns) are not detailed in the available metadata.
• The sample size of 1566 points may be sparse for high-resolution spatial modeling across the entire region.

Provenance

Source

SCIOPS, as part of an investigation on fishing ground environments.

Collection Method

Direct oceanographic observations conducted at sea.

Time Range

April 1986 to March 1987

Freshness

Final observations were made in March 1987; the dataset is a historical snapshot.

Geography

Territorial and economic waters of Hokkaido, Japan, encompassing portions of the Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, and the Pacific Ocean.