- Tsushima Basin
Infobox East Asian
title=Tsushima Basin
caption=Tsushima Basin where theSea of Japan meets theKorea Strait
sort=japanese2
kanji=対馬海盆
hiragana=つしまかいぼん
hepburn=Tsushima Kaibon
japanesetext=Lang-en|Tsushima Basin
koreanname=South Korean name
hangul=울릉분지
hanja=鬱陵盆地
rr= Ulleung Bunji
mr= Ulleung Bunchi
koreantext=Lang-en|Ulleung BasinThe nihongo|Tsushima Basin|対馬海盆|tsushima kaibon (Ulleung Basin in Korea) is anoceanic basin located where theSea of Japan (East Sea) meets theKorea Strait . It lies immediately south ofUlleung-do andLiancourt Rocks , in the eastern end of theSouth Korean EEZ and the western end of the Japanese EEZ.In 1978, the Japanese government registered the name "Tsushima Basin" with the
International Hydrographic Bureau . In April 2006, Japan's plans to survey the region and South Korea's plans to register the name "Ulleung Basin" with the Internation Hydrographic Bureau resulted in a diplomatic standoff between the two countries. The two countries later agreed to address the issue "at an appropriate time." [http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200605/200605230014.html] .The first exploratory drilling for gas was in 1972, but gas discoveries have drawn regional interest since the late 80s. The first commercial gas discovery was reported in 1998. Nine of 15 exploratory wells have contained gas, a rate indicating high potential prospects. [http://www.ccop.or.th/epf/korea/korea_petroleum.html]
The
East Korea Warm Current , Ulleung Warm Eddy, and Offshore Branch interact within this basin. [http://www.stormingmedia.us/06/0620/A062034.html]A feature of the southwestern Sea of Japan is a deep, developing
continental shelf . The easternOki Islands , a big ridge of three rows lines up in parallel to the Japanese archipelago, and it connects with aYamato Basin which has expanded from Oki Islands and offshore of theTohoku region to the south in between those. The vast Tsushima Basin has extended on the tip of the Oki offshore that expands from Oki Islands on the north side.External links
* [http://sam.ucsd.edu/onr_jes/talley/creams2000_shcherbina/ulleung_velocities.html Current velocities graphs]
* [http://www.ccop.or.th/epf/korea/korea_petroleum.html#2 Petroleum geology map]
* [http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200604/200604180027.html Japanese Nomenclature Encroaches on Korean Waters]
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