The surface temperature of the southern sea near Jeju Island has climbed as much as one-point-three degrees Celsius over the past 16 years due to global warming.
 
The Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Administration surveyed water temperatures along the southern coast from March 2000 to March of this year.
 
It said the surface temperature of waters near Jeju Strait was clearly on the rise.
 
The surface temperature for all southern coastal waters grew an average of zero-point-eight degrees during the decade between March 2000 and March 2010.
 
The increase posted a full one degree over 16 years through March this year.
 
The temperature rise was more moderate in deeper waters. At 50 meters below the surface, water temperatures rose zero-point-eight degrees near Moseulpo, zero-point-six degrees near Busan and zero-point-four near Yeosu over the past 16 years.
 
Attributing the warmer waters to global warming, the oceanographic administration said that the hypersaline Tsushima Warm Current which passes through the Straits of Korea has risen in temperature while the transport volume in the area has also increased.