• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.91-109
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• 2022

The ocean is a significant sink for atmospheric anthropogenic CO₂, absorbing one-third of the total CO₂ emitted by human activities. In return, oceans have experienced significant declines in seawater pH and the aragonite saturation state also called ocean acidification. This study evaluates the distribution of aragonite saturation state, an indicator to assess the potential threat from ocean acidification, by combining newly obtained data from the west coast of South Korea with previous datasets covering the Yellow Sea, East Sea, northern South China Sea, and southeast coast of South Korea. In general, offshore waters absorb atmospheric CO₂; however, most of the collected water samples show aragonite oversaturation. On the southeast coast, the aragonite saturation state was significantly affected by river discharge and associated variables, such as freshwater input with nutrients, seasonal stratification, biological carbon fixation, and bacterial remineralization. In summer, hypoxia and mixing with relatively acidic freshwater made the Jinhae and Gwangyang Bays undersaturated with respect to aragonite, possibly threatening marine organisms with CaCO₃ shells. However, widespread aragonite undersaturation was not observed on the west coast, which receives considerable river water discharge. In addition, occasional upwelling events may have worsened the ocean acidification in the southwestern part of the East Sea. These results highlight the importance of investigating site-specific ocean acidification processes in coastal waters. Along with the above-mentioned seasonal factors, the dissolution of atmospheric CO₂ and the deposition of atmospheric acidic substances will continue to reduce the aragonite saturation state in Korean waters. To protect marine ecosystems and resources, an ocean acidification monitoring program should be established for Korean waters.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.738-749
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• 2016

To understand the characteristics of the spatio-temporal distribution of phytoplankton after barrage construction in the Nakdong River Estuary, this study investigated relevant environmental parameters and phytoplankton status based on bi-monthly samples collected from the Nakdong River Estuary itself from February 2013 to December 2015. Environmental parameters did not differ significantly across these years but did vary between zones and seasons. The results suggested that the upper zone was dominated by fresh-water diatoms, green algae, and blue-green algae, whereas the lower zone was mostly dominated by dinoflagellates. The presence of Stephanodiscus spp., Asterionellopsis formosa, and Microcystis spp. in the upper zone was related to the inflow of freshwater discharge by artificial control of dyke gates. The dominant phytoplankton species in this zone were dependent on temperature, wind speed, DIP, and DIN, while those in the lower zone were mostly dependent on nutrients and wind speed. In addition, at the lower zone, there were negative correlations between Prorocentrum donghaiense, DIN, and wind speed, with its abundance being higher during the summer than other seasons. Analysis of temporal variations did not indicate any significant differences in the upper zone but did reveal variations among seasons at the lower zone. Except in 2014, the lower zone could be divided into periods dominated by diatoms (October-April) and dinoflagellates (June-August). These results suggest that the characteristics of the phytoplankton community were influenced by changes in the inflow of freshwater species and nutrients given the difference in the range affected by freshwater discharge.

• Journal of Navigation and Port Research
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• v.28 no.10 s.96
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• pp.947-953
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• 2004

As a large scale port development in coastal waters proceeds step by step and populations in the vicinity of port are getting increased, the issue on 'how to dispose the treated municipal water and wastewater in harbor' brings peoples' concern. The submarine outfall system discharges the primary or secondary treated effluent at the coastline or in deep water, or between these two. The effluent, which has a density similar to that of fresh water, rises to the sea surface forming plume or jet, together with entraining the surrounding sea water and becomes very dilute. We intended in this paper to investigate the impact on dilution of effluent and the behavior of flume under the conditions of the seasonal and spatial temperature variations, which have not been noticeable in designing effective marine outfall system. To predict and analyze the behaviour and dilution characteristics of plume not just with the effluent temperature, but also with the seasonal variation of temperature of surround water, CORMIX( Cornell Mixing Zone Expert System)-GI have been applied. The results should be used with caution in evaluation the mixing zone characteristics of discharged water. We hope to help for the effective operation of outfall system, probable outfall design, protection of water quality, and warm water discharges from a power plant, etc.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.513-523
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• 2013

This ecological study was conducted to analyze seasonal variation characteristics of Zostera marina at HAENAM SAGUMI on the Southern Coast of Korea. Environmental characteristics, plant morphological characteristics, shoot density, biomass, and leaf production were monitored from August 2008 to March 2011. Zostera marina occurred in the subtidal zone from 0 to 2.5 m below the mean low water level. Water temperature showed a clear annual pattern, with increase in spring and summer, and decreases in fall and winter. Irradiance showed seasonal variation, even though daily weather condition has short-term variation in the incident irradiation. Plant morphological characteristics, shoot density, biomass, and leaf production showed clear seasonal variation. Seasonal variation in the above biomass of Zostera marina was mainly caused by changes in shoot length. We found that there are correlations between environmental characteristics (water temperature, irradiation) and the growth of Zostera marina. There is stronger correlation between water temperature and the growth of Zostera marina, compared to the correlation between irradiation and the growth of Zostera marina. In particular, the growth of Zostera marina is inhibited by both higher and lower water temperature.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.150-160
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to analyze long-term temporal trends of water chemistry and spatial heterogeneity for 7 sampling sites of the Hyeongsan River watershed using water quality dataset during 1999 to 2008 (obtained from the Ministry of Environment, Korea). The water quality, based on eight physical and chemical parameters, varied largely depending on the years, seasons and sampling sites. Seasonal and annual means of conductivity, used as a key indicator for a ionic dilution declined during the monsoon season and TN, based on overall mean of all sites, showed marked declines during the monsoon, compared to those of the premonsoon. In the mean time, BOD and COD had no significant relations with a precipitation, in spite of some differences in the sampling sites. In contrast, major input of SS occurred during the period of summer monsoon season. Spatial trend analyses of all parameters, except for DO and temperatures, showed that gyeongju city acted as a point source, and thus, water quality at the location of Site 4 declined abruptly, compared to locations of Site 1~2. Based on overall dataset, efficient water quality management in the point source tributary streams is required for better water quality of the main Hyeongsan River.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2003

We have investigated water quality of the coastal saline groundwaters utilized for fish farms in Jeju Island. The water quality investigation included the spatial observations for 75 fish farms during March-May, 1994 and the hi-monthly observations for both coastal saline groundwaters and seawaters at four fish farms from August 1994 to December 1995. Water temperature of the saline groundwaters ranged from 16 to 18$^{\circ}C$ over the study period. Salinity of the saline groundwaters varied between 20.60 ppt and 34.02 ppt, slightly lower than that of the coastal seawaters(26.47~34.53 ppt). This salinity variation must be associated with local precipitation conditions in Jeju Island. The oxygen saturation for most saline groundwater samples was lower than 80%, ranging from 24.7 to 89.8%. The COD and pH values for the saline groundwaters were similar to those for the coastal seawaters. The concentrations of DIP for the saline groundwaters varied between 0.021 mg/L and 0.121 mg/ L, and seasonal variation of DIP in the saline groundwater ranged from 0.014 to 0.077 mg/L, which were higher than that of the coastal seawaters(0.000~0.015 mg/L). Nitrate in the saline groundwaters accounted for more than 90% of the DIM. The maximum concentrations of ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and DIN in the saline groundwaters were 0.085, 0.012, 2.294 and 2.309 mg/L, respectively. These concentrations of the saline groundwaters were considerably lower than those affected culture organisms. Overall, the saline groundwaters utilized for fish farms in Jeju Island appear to maintain good waterquality for fish farms.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2002

The electron density and temperature in the topside ionosphere are observed by the ionosphere Measurement Sensor (IMS) onboard the KOMPSAT-1, which has the sun-synchronous orbit of the altitude of 685 km and the orbital inclination of $98^{\circ}$ with a descending node at 22:50LT. Observations have been analyzed to determine the seasonal variations of the electron density and temperature in the low-latitude region. Only the night-time (22:50LT) behavior on magnetically quiet days (Kp < 4) has been examined. Observations show a strong longitudinal and seasonal variation. Generally, in the dip equator the density increases and the temperature decreases. In equinox the latitudinal distributions of the electron density and temperature are quite symmetric about the dip equator. However, the local maximum of the density and the local minimum of the temperature shift toward the Northern hemisphere in summer solstice but the Southern hemisphere in winter solstice. Such variations are due to the influences of field-aligned plasma transport induced by F region neutral wind. Compared with the IRI95 model, the observed electron density and temperature show significant differences from those predicted by the IRI95 model.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.169-176
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• 2000

This study was carried out to clarify the spatial and temporal patterns of macrobenthic assemblages on the subtidal area around Mokpo, southwest of Korea. A total of 238 species and 663 ind./$m^{2}$ were collected. Polychaetes were the most abundant faunal group that comprised 88 species and had a mean density of 389 ind./$m^{2}$. In the semi-enclosed Youngsan River estuarine bay and neighbouring Mokpo Port area were composed of fine sediments with high organic content, and revealed large seasonal variations in the salinity of surface water and bottom dissolved oxygen in contrast to little seasonal changes in those parameters in the outer area. The study area was classified into four station groups by the cluster analysis; the harbor area, the offshore area, and the inner and outer estuarine bay. Two estuarine bay areas showed different species composition; the dominant species of inner bay were Tharyx sp., Poecilochaetus johnsoni, Heteromastus filiformis and other opportunistic species whereas those in the outer bay were Ruditapes philippinarum, Corophium sinense. From the environmental data and species composition of benthic community, the inner bay was characterized to have unstable benthic faunal assemblages, especially under the seasonal disturbance and receiving large amount of organic matter input and intermittant discharge of fresh water. The coastal developments around Mokpo city also seem to have stressed the subtidal communities spatio-temporally.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.339-346
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• 2002

From March 1998 to August 2000, the phonology and morphometrics change of Zostera caespitosa Miki were examined at the Duksan Port in the eastern coast of Korea. Morphometric characteristics (shoot height, leaf length, sheath length, leaf width, and number of leaf per shoot), size and number of reproductive structures (spathe, spadix, and seeds), shoot density, biomass and physiochemical parameters (water temperature and nutrient concentrations) were measured. Significant differences between months (p < 0.05) existed for morphometric characteristics except for sheath length. The sequence of shoot heights clearly showed cyclical annual variation with water temperature. Vegetative shoots of Z. caespitosa were present throughout the year, but reproductive shoots were rarely occurred from mid January to early April in water temperature of $9-12^\circ{C}$. Flowering in the spathe began in mid February, and seed maturing was occurred in early April. Water column nitrate and phosphate concentration showed seasonal variation, but ammonia concentration was variable with season. Relationships between shoot morphometrics and physiochemical parameters were not significantly correlated but water temperature seemed to regulate the re-productive phase and annual life cycle. The mean shoot density and above biomass of the populations were $511.6\pm{25.6}\;shoots\;m^{-2}$ and $413.4\pm{19.8}\;g\;dry\;wt\;m^{-2}$, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.620-628
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• 2012

This study addressed the influence of forest harvesting on seasonal water table dynamics in small headwater riparian areas. Four treatments including potential Best Management Practices(BMPs) for ephemeral and intermittent streams were implemented(BMP1, BMP2, clearcut and reference). Water table measurements were obtained at bi-monthly intervals for 3 years including one year of pre- and two years of post-harvest observations. Overall, water table responses affected largely by rainfall amount. In addition, significant increases in water table levels following harvesting occurred throughout the two post-harvest years. Water table levels increased up to 28.2cm in the clearcut treatment during 2008 and up to 54.2cm in BMP2 during 2009. However, increase in water table elevation was not directly related to basal area removal despite considerable differences in basal area removed between BMP2 and clearcut treatments. Water table rises were apparent in that water table were more elevated during dry season(June through November) than during wet season(December through May). These seasonal fluctuations were presumably driven by changes in evapotranspiration caused by differences in leaf area of overstory canopy and understory following harvest.