Socheongcho Ocean Research Station (Socheongcho ORS) opened in October 2014, and was built to help advance the understanding of the dynamics of the Yellow Sea, including its influence on Korea’s marine, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments, via the continuous and simultaneous multidisciplinary observation of local air and sea environments.

Socheongcho ORS is located in the central Yellow Sea about 50 km off the western coast of the Korean Peninsula. Its steel-jacket framed tower-type platform was built near the submarine rock named “Socheongcho” by the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST). The Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency (KHOA) has operated this platform since January 1, 2016.

Socheongcho ORS stands 42 m in height above the datum level (DL) and consists of a boat landing plus 7 decks (Bottom Deck, Intermediate Deck, Cellar Deck, Accommodation Deck, Main Deck, Roof Deck, and Heli Deck). Most of its meteorological instruments and sensors are installed on the Roof Deck, including two anemometers, two barometer, two air temperature sensors, and two relative humidity sensors. Ocean temperature and salinity have been relatively consistently measured at Socheongcho ORS. Aanderaa inductive-type conductivity-temperature (CT) sensors are installed at depths of 5.5 m throughout the entire year, operating at 1 min sampling intervals by KHOA. Residential facilities are on the Accommodation Deck and the electrical control room are on the Main Deck, while a seawater desalination system and a diesel generator system are installed on the Cellar Deck.