• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.95-120
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• 2023

Methane (CH₄) is a key greenhouse gas in the atmosphere with 85 times greater greenhouse potent relative to carbon dioxide (CO₂). The atmospheric concentration of CH₄ is rapidly increasing due to the intensive usage of CH₄ and the thawing of the cryosphere. Additionally, with the current warming of ocean water, the dissociation of gas hydrates, an ice-like compound and the largest reservoir of CH₄ on Earth, is expected to occur, resulting in the release of CH₄ from the seafloor into the overlying water and atmosphere. Moreover, bottom water hypoxia is another concern that potentially introduces greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. With ongoing global warming and eutrophication, the size and duration of bottom water hypoxia are rapidly increasing. These low-oxygen conditions would relocate the redox zone shallower in sediment or in the water column, causing the release of CH₄ into the atmosphere and thereby intensifying global warming. However, there exists a gap in the understanding of CH₄ dynamics including its generation in relation to bottom water hypoxia. Therefore, this review article aims to understand the relationship between CH₄ and bottom water hypoxia and to draw attention to CH₄ investigation in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.65-72
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiologic features of juxtafacet cyst and determine the correlation between these features and clinical outcome. Materials and Methods: We analyzed a total of 23 patients. The degree of facet joint degeneration was classified using the Fujiwara method. The facet joint angles were measured with an magnetic resonance imaging to determine whether there was a difference between the cystic lesion that was occupied and the cystic lesion that was not occupied. Disc degeneration was measured by the Pfirrmann classification method. The clinical result was evaluated using the Oswestry disability index score and visual analogue scale. Results: The L4-5 level of juxtafacet cyst was mostly affected, as found in previous studies. Facet joint arthritis was more severe within the side with the cystic lesion. Significant correlation was found between disc degeneration and juxtafacet joint cyst. All patients underwent wide decompression and fusion. Clinical result was excellent. No patients had signs of recurrence during the follow-up periods. Conclusion: Juxtafacet cyst has a significant correlation with facet joint degeneration. Therefore, aggressive surgical treatment-not just simple cyst excision-should be considered as the treatment option for juxtafacet cyst associated with degenerative lumbar disease.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.291-304
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• 2023

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) have become an increasing concern in terms of human health risks as well as aesthetic impairment due to their toxicity. The reduction of water pollutants, especially nutrients from non-point sources in a reservoir watershed, is fundamental for HABs prevention. We investigated the pollutant removal efficiencies of a constructed wetland to evaluate its feasibility as a method for controlling non-point sources located in the Annaecheon stream within the Daecheong Reservoir watershed. The overall removal efficiencies of pollutants were as follows: BOD 14.3%, COD 17.9%, SS 50.0%, T-N 19.0%, and T-P 35.4%. These results indicate that constructed wetlands are effective in controlling pollutants from non-point sources. The seasonal variation in removal efficiency depended on the specific pollutants. The removal efficiencies of BOD, COD, and T-N were stable throughout the year, except during winter, which might have been influenced by lower microorganism activity. In contrast, T-P showed a consistent removal efficiency even during the winter season, suggesting that the wetland can reduce external phosphorus loading to the reservoir. Regarding the effects of pollutant loadings on removal efficiency, the effluent concentrations of all pollutants were significantly decreased compared to those in the influent in case of middle and high loadings. This demonstrates that constructed wetlands can handle high pollutant loads, including the initial runoff during rainfall, to prevent reservoir eutrophication. Despite the various strengths of wetland water purification, there are limitations as passive treatment. Therefore, more case studies should be conducted to suggest optimum operational conditions for constructed wetlands, taking into consideration reservoir-specific characteristics.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.157-164
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• 2023

The estuary dam is a structure installed and operated in a closed state except when flood event occurs to prevent inland saltwater intrusion and secure freshwater supply. However, the closed state of dam leads to issues such as eutrophication, so it is necessary to examine the extent of saltwater intrusion resulting from the opening of sluice gates. Groundwater, due to its subsurface conditions and slow flow characteristics, is widely analyzed using numerical models. OpenGeoSys, an open-source software capable of simulating Thermal- Hydraulic- Mechanical- Chemical phenomena, was adopted for this study. Simulations were conducted assuming natural flow conditions without dam and operating considering busy farming season, mostly from March to September. Verification of the model through analytical solutions showed error of 3.7%, confirming that OpenGeoSys is capable of simulating saltwater intrusion for these cases. From results simulated for 10 years, considering for the busy farming season, resulted in about 46% reduction in saltwater intrusion length compared to natural flow conditions, approximately 74.36 m. It may be helpful to make choices to use groundwater as a water resource.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2003

The suitability of the life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to analyze the environmental impact of rice cultivation with different fertilizing systems is investigated. The arst part of an LCA is an inventory of parameters used and emissions released due to the system under investigation. In the following step, the Life Cycle Impact Assessment the inventory data were analyzed and aggregated in order to finally get one index representing the total environmental burden. For the life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) the Eco-indicator 95 method has been chosen because this is well documented and regularly applied impact assessment method. The resulting index is called Eco-indicator value. The higher the Eco-indicator value the stronger is the total environmental impact of an analyzed fertilizing system. The rice field experiment conducted in middle parts of korea was chosen as an example for the life cycle impact analysis. In this experiment the treatments were consisted of none fertilizer plot (NF), standard fertilizer plot (SF) applied chemical fertilizers based on soil chemical analysis before rice transplanting, and efflux fertilized plot (EF) applied with pig wastes fermented as the same rates of SF plot as basis on total nitrogen content. The obtained Eco-indicator values were clearly different among the treatments in the rice trial. The total Eco-indicator values for SF and EF have been observed 58 and 38% relative to the NF, respectively. For all the treatments the environmental effects of eutrophication contributed most to the total Eco-indicator value. The results appeared that the LCA methodology is basically suitable to assess the environmental impact associated with different fertilizer applications for rice cultivation. A comparative analysis of the fertilizing system's contribution to global warming and eutrophication is possible.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.1 s.93
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• pp.30-44
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• 2001

In this study limnological characteristics of Lake Juam was surveyed from June 1993 to May 1994 in order to provides important information regarding water resources. Secchi disc transparency, epilimnetic chlorophyll a (chi-a), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) concentration and primary productivity were in the range of $2.0{\sim}4.5\;m$, $0.9{\sim}13.6\;mgChl/m^3$, 0.78$\{sim}$2.32 mgN/l, $11{\sim}56\;mgP/m^3$, $270{\sim}2.160\;mgCm^{-2}\;day^{-1}$, respectively. On the basis of TP, Chl-a and Secchi disc depth, the trophic state of Lake Juam can be classied as mesotrophic lake. The phosphorus inputs from non-point sources are concentrated in heavy rain episodes during the monsoon season. As a result, phosphorus concentration are higher in summer than in winter. TP loading from the watershed were estimated to be $0.9\;gPm^{-2}yr^{-1}$, which correspond to a boundary of the critical loading ($1.0\;gPm^{-2}yr^{-1}$) for eutrophication. From the results of the algal assay, both phosphous and nitrogen act as limiting nutrients in algal growth. The seasonal succession of phytoplankton community structure in Lake Juam was similar to that observed in other temperate lakes. Diatoms (Asterionella formosa and Aulacoseira granulate var. angustissima)fujacofeira BraHuJafa uar. aHgusHrsiaia) weredominant in spring and winter, cyanobacteria) were dominant in warm season. The organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus content of lake sediment were $9.5{\sim}14.0\;mgC/g$, $1.01{\sim}1.82\;mgN/g$ and $0.51{\sim}0.65\;mgP/g$, respectively. The allochthonous organic carbon loading from the watershed and autochthonous organic carbon loading by primary production of phytoplankton were determined to be 1,122 tC/yr and 6,718 tC/yr, respectively. To prevent eutrophication of Lake Juam, nutrient management of watershed should be focus on reduction of fertilizer application, proper treatment of manure, and conservation of topsoil as well as point source.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.1 s.106
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• pp.78-86
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• 2004

In order to reveal the relationship between the concentration of chlorophyll- a and the environmental factors affecting eutrophication, the present study was biweekly conducted at G stations in the lower part of the Han river during the period from Feb. 24,2001 to Feb. 9,2002. Water temperature was changed from $0.5^{\circ}C$ to $26.4^{\circ}C$, pH was 5.77${\sim}$8.99, DO 3.15${\sim}$14,36 mg $L^{-1}$, BOD 0.90${\sim}$7.45 mg $L^{-1}$, and COD 1.16${\sim}$9.13 mg $L^{-1}$. TN and TP were ranged from 1.68${\sim}$20.96 mg $L^{-1}$, and 0.02 ${\sim}$ 1.17 mg $L^{-1}$, respectively. $NH_4\;^+$-N, $NO_3\;^-$-N, and $PO_4\;^{3-}$-P were ranged from 0.56${\sim}$3.60 mg $L^{-1}$, 0.03${\sim}$7.29 mg $L^{-1}$, and 0.002${\sim}$0.754 mg $L^{-1}$. Chlorophyll- a was extensively changed from 2.29 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ to 136.28 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$ by month and stations. Results of nutrients indicated the eutrophic level in this area and water quality was the gradual worsening in the lower stations than those of upper stations during the period studied. The Pearson correlation analysis between the concentration of chlorophyll- a and the environmental factors indicated that BOD, COD, pH, $NH_4\;^+$-N, TP, TN, conductivity and $PO_4\;^{3-}$-P were positive correlation, but $NO_3\;^-$-N was negative. The environmental factors investigated using the principal component method could be triparted. The first factor group included conductivity, BOD, COD, TN, TP, $NH_4\;^+$-N, $PO_4\;^{3-}$-P and SS, the second WT and DO, and the third pH and $NO_3\;^-$-N. Using the stepwise regression analysis, chlorophyll- a was under the influence of conductivity, $PO_4\;^{3-}$-P, $>NO_3\;^-$-N and $NH_4\;^+$-N Chlorophyll-a = 0.3661 ${\times}$ (Conductivity) - 0.3592 ${\times}$ ($PO_4\;^{3-}$-P) - 0.3449 ${\times}$ ($NO_3\;^-$-N)+0.4362 ${\times}$ ($NH_4\;^+$-N.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.238-253
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• 2017

The sewage and wastewater (SAW) are a well-known major source of eutrophication and greentide in freshwaters and also a potential source of thermal pollution; however, there were few approaches to thermal effluent of SAW in Korea. This study was performed to understand the behavioral dynamics of the thermal effluents and their effects on the water quality of the connected streams during winter season, considering domestic sewage, industrial wastewater and hot spring wastewater from December 2015 to February 2016. Sampling stations were selected the upstream, the outlet of SAW, and the downstream in each connected stream, and the water temperature change was monitored toward the downstream from the discharging point of SAW. The temperature effect and its range of SAW on the stream were dependent not only on the effluent temperature and quantity but also on the local air temperature, water temperature and stream discharge. The SAW effects on the stream water temperature were observed with temperature increase by $2.1{\sim}5.8^{\circ}C$ in the range of 1.0 to 5.5 km downstream. Temperature effect was the greatest in the hot spring wastewater despite of small amount of effluent. The SAW was not only related to temperature but also to the increase of organic matter and nutrients in the connected stream. The industrial wastewater effluent was discharged with high concentration of nitrogen, while the hot spring wastewater was high in both phosphorus and nitrogen. The difference between these cases was due to with and without chemical T-P treatment in the industrial and the hot spring wastewater, respectively. The chlorophyll-a content of the attached algae was high at the outlet of SAW and the downstream reach, mostly in eutrophic level. These ecological results were presumably due to the high water temperature and phosphorus concentration in the stream brought by the thermal effluents of SAW. These results suggest that high temperature of the SAW needs to be emphasized when evaluating its effects on the stream water quality (water temperature, fertility) through a systematized spatial and temporal investigation.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.194-200
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• 2000

The amount of swine wastewater reaches about $197,000m^3$ per day at live-stock houses in the whole country. A half of the swine wastewater resources are too small to be restricted legally. This untreated wastewater causes the eutrophication in the water bodies. In case of swine wastewater treatment, the solid-liquid separation must be performed because feces(solid phase) and urine(liquid phase) have large differences in nitrogen and phosphorus concentration. It is necessary to assess exactly the concentration of the pollutants in swine wastewater for planning the wastewater treatment facilities. A full-scale operation was carried out in K city and the plant is consists of conventional plant, the supplementary flocculation basin of chemical treatment process and $anaerobic{\cdot}aerobic$ basin for nitrogen removal. The improved full-scale swine wastewater treatment plant removed the $1,500{\sim}3,000mg/l$ of total-nitrogen(T-N) to 120mg/l of T-N and $131{\sim}156mg/l$ of total-phosphorus(T-P) to $0.15{\sim}1.00mg/l$ of T-N. Accordingly, as a results of operational improvement, the removal efficiencies of T-N and T-P were over $92{\sim}96%$, 99%, respectively. The continuous supply of organic carbon sources and the state of pH played important roles for the harmonious metabolism in anaerobic basin and the pH value of anaerobic basin maintained at about 9.0 for the period of the study.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.230-239
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• 2006

Nutrient over-enrichment as a consequence of anthropogenic loading leads to eutrophication, which has the detrimental effects on river and stream ecosystems. To examine dynamics of factors causing cultural eutrophication in a over-licked mountain stream due to anthropogenic loading, physicochemical parameters were measured from 5 stations in the upper Daecheon stream, Busan, from January 2002 to May 2003. The five study sites were located along the stream gradient. DC1 is upper most clean site, and DC5 is located at the lowest area. Wastewater was released into the stream from just upstream of DC2 site. Water column ammonium and phosphate concentrations were higher during winter than other seasons, while water column nitrate +nitrite concentration did not show clear seasonal variation. Water column ammonium, nitrate+nitrite and phosphate concentrations were lowest at DC1 and highest at DC2 in which waste water loading occurred. TOC and DOC, conductivity, turbidity, and BOD in the water column were also increased drastically at DC2, and then decreased at DC5. Sediment pore water phosphate concentrations during winter and spring were higher than those in summer and fall, while sediment pore water ammonium and nitrate +nitrite concentrations showed no seasonal trend. Sediment pore water ammonium and phosphate concentration were also increased at DC2 and slightly decreased at DC5, while sediment pore water nitrate+nitrite concentration was highest at DC5. Organic matter and inorganic nutrients at up-stream of Daechon stream significantly increased as a result of wastewater discharge, and the nutrient concentrations decreased at low-stream suggesting self-purification ability of the stream.