• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.321-338
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• 2014

This study aims to identify spatial distribution of estuarine wetlands in Korea, and to assess temporal variation of the wetlands in the last few decades. Widely known in environmental and coastal management, watershed-based regions which composed with Han-river(western and eastern parts), Keum-river, Yeoungsan-river, Seomjin-river, Nakdong-river, and Jeju, are analyzed to evaluate temporal change of estuarine wetlands in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, through the land-cover map. Results show that estuarine wetlands dramatically decreased in Han-river(western part), Keum-river, Yeoungsan-river that estuarine circulation have been interrupted with man-made structures such as dyke and drainage. But, estuarine wetlands surrounded by forests and grasslands has been relatively less damaged. Habitat diversity providing healthy estuary ecosystem is lower in interrupted estuaries than circulated estuaries, which are composed of tidal-flat, open water, salt marsh, rocky coasts and sandy shoreline. This study indicates that spatial distribution and temporal variation of estuarine wetlands are different with estuary type and region, so estuary type with seven regions can be applied to provides a framework for estuary management strategies and to establish estuary restoration plans.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.65-65
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• 2011

하천의 하구지역은 유역의 보전, 개발 논의가 매우 다양하게 전개되고 있는 지역으로 개발계획들로 인한 환경변화로 유출 특성 및 유사이동 변화에 따른 정밀한 조사연구를 통한 대처방안을 수립이 필요한 지역이다. 본 논문은 2차원 수치해석이 가능하고 복잡한 해안구조를 포함한 하구지역의 흐름해석이 가능한 MIKE21 FM 프로그램을 통하여 홍수기시의 조위조건변화에 따른 수치해석을 수행하여 자연하구역인 한강하구지역을 중심으로 수위 및 유사이동의 변화 특성을 분석하였다. 첨두유량 발생 시점과 하류경계조건의 변화에 따른 하구지역의 수위변화를 살펴보면, 대상 지역의 하천구간에 해당하는 전류수위표 지점에서 기수역 수로 지점에 비하여 변동폭이 가장 크게 나타났으며, 하류의 외해와 인접할수록 변동폭이 줄어드는 것으로 나타났다. 또한, 대상지역의 상류구간은 하천유량의 영향이 크기 때문에 상류구간일수록 창조시간에 비하여 낙조시간이 길게 분포되는 것으로 나타난다. 유사이동의 특성은 하천의 유속이 크게 감소하는 부분에 퇴적이 발생되며 강화북수로의 단면이 급격하게 변화하는 석모도와 교동도사이의 수로, 염하수로의 입구부분에서는 퇴적층이 발달하는 것으로 나타났다. 따라서, 한강하구와 같이 하구둑이 설치되지 않은 하천의 하구지역에 대해서는 상류와 하류 경계조건의 특성에 따라서 복잡한 수리학적 특성이 발생하기 때문에 개발이나 구조물 축조에 앞서 더욱 많은 현장조사와 특성분석을 통한 보다 정확한 경계조건의 구축이 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Korean Society of Coastal and Ocean Engineers
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.383-392
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• 2011

The basic research of the estuarine circulation at Gyeong-Gi bay has not been well studied up to now, although coastal development pressures have been continuously increased. To understand the oceanographic phenomena at the Han River estuary, it's essential to understand the propagation characteristic of tidal wave which is the strongest external forcing in this region. In this study, we investigate the tidal wave propagation characteristics along the 3 major channels using observation data and numerical model. It is found that 3 channels are all hyper-synchronous and the most important physical factor controlling the tidal wave propagation is topographical convergence of estuary shape and friction. The result of analytic solution at ideal channel considering the topographical convergence and friction show that the contribution of physical role of convergence and friction varies at 3 different channel. And the ratio of convergence and friction at Yeomha channel is four times larger than Seokmo channel. Because of this effect, the location of maximum amplitude at Yeomha channel is showed up downward than Seokmo channel. The ratio of decreasing amplitude and increasing phase per unit distance between stations is bigger than Seokmo channel. Although 3 major channel show a hyper-synchronous pattern, Yeomha shows more frictionally dominant channel and Seokmo channel is more dominantly affected by convergence effect.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.138-147
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• 2007

An emergy concept was used to evaluate the environment and economy of the Han River basin in Korea and to suggest policy perspectives far the sustainable utilization of its environment and associated estuarine ecosystem. The economy of the basin used $5.19{\times}10^{23}\;sej/yr$ of emergy in 2005. The economy of the Han River basin was heavily dependent on outside energy sources from foreign countries and other parts of Korea, with internal sources, renewable and nonrenewable, contributing only 15.6% to the total emergy use. The basin's trade balance in terms of emergy showed trade surplus, whereas there was a deficit in monetary terms. The population of the Han River basin was far greater than the carrying capacity calculated using the emergy flow, with renewable carrying capacity only at 1.8% of the basin's population and developed carrying capacity at 14.3%. The economy of the basin imposed a substantial stress on its environment, with an environmental loading ratio of 54.8. Overall, the economy of the Han River basin was not sustainable with an emergy sustainability of 0.02. These are reflected in lower quality of living expressed in the emergy term than the national average. Deconcentration of population and economic activities is needed to reduce environmental stress on the environment of the basin and its valuable estuarine ecosystem. Policies to restore ecosystem productivity of the basin are also needed to ensure the sustainability of the basin's economic activities and the sustainable utilization of the Han River estuary. In this regard, it is urgently needed for the Korean government to implement sustainable management measures for the Han River estuary, a well-preserved, productive natural estuarine ecosystem in Korea.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.225-236
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• 2003

In order to understand the relationship of depositional environment between fluvial and estuarine-embayment in Han River system, including depositional change in main Han River, more than 250 bottom sediment and 70 suspended sediment were analyzed with hydrologic data. Based on the previous data, the study area can be divided into two environment(fluvial and estuarine-embayment) by Singok underwater dam. The gravelly facies occurs in the South and North Han Rivers and sandy and silty facies occupies in the main Han River. Depositional environment of main Han River changed mainly because of limited sediment transport and hydrological condition. In the estuarine-embayment environment, coarse-grained sediments are dominant in tidal channel and of shore whereas fine and poorly sorted sediments are observed in coastal area. During moderate period, relationship between fluvial-estuarine-embayment system is discontinuou s because of flow restriction by artificial construction such as dam and underwater dam, so that each river system characterizes the individual environment. Fluvial and estuarine system is influenced by tide and, thus, transition zone of estuarine- embayment system moves landward. During flooding period, however, each river system is integrated as continuous depositional system by high discharge and, thus, transition zone of fluvial-estuarine-embayment system moves seaward. For further detailed systems about the lower Singok under-water dam, joint research of South-North Korea should be necessary.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.21-31
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• 2007

Estuarine wetland, where freshwater meets saltwater, is a transitional ecosystem that is valuable ecologically for a variety of reasons, such as feeding and breeding sites for birds, fish, and wildlife. However, research on the spatial distribution and temporal dynamics of estuarine wetlands in Korea is rare. As a fundamental basis for wetland conservation, this study quantified the wetlands in three major estuaries, and evaluated the temporal dynamics of the wetlands since the 1910s. In particular, this study classified the wetland types into mud flat, sand, and emergent-plant types, and estimated the change of each wetland type, using topographic maps produced in the 1910s, 1970s, and 2000s. The wetlands in both the Han and Youngsan River estuaries have declined since the 1910s, but the rate of wetland decline was relatively low before the 1970s, compared to that since the 1970s. The impact of human activities, such as the Youngsan Watershed Comprehensive Development Project and the construction of estuary barrages, has disrupted the estuary cycles and destroyed huge amounts of wetland in the Youngsan estuary. By contrast, estuarine wetlands have been preserved in the small Gahwa estuary, and provide a variety of habitats for plants and wildlife. A special management strategy for wetlands should be established as soon as possible.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.2B
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• pp.109-119
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• 2011

In this study, the flow characteristics of Han River Estuary were investigated by using a two-dimensional numerical model according to the assumption of shift and modification of the Shingok submerged weir. The two-dimensional analysis has contributed to our understanding of the hydraulic effects induced by shift of the weir on the topography, especially wetlands. The tide and flow discharge of 2007 were adopted as an input data for the simulation. The tidal data contained both spring and neap tide, and the flow discharge condition was divided into monsoon and normal seasons. The boundaries of this study were Hangang Bridge, Tongil Bridge, and Yu island. The simulation results showed that influence area of seawater changed depending on the weir shift, and the water level at particular station fluctuated according to the condition of tide and flow discharge.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 2008

In order to clarify the factors that diminish the population size of Scirpus planicumis in Han River Esturay Wetland Conservation Area of South Korea, I analysed the autoecological traits of competitive hydrophytes over the species, compared the performance ability of Scirpus planicum group inhabited between in soil-accumulated site and in soil-unaccumulated site, and suggested the management strategy of restoration of this plant based on the field survey. Scirpus planicumis had lower competitive ability than other hydrophyte such as Phragmites australis, Zonia latifolia, Typha augustifola. in terms of dry matter production, height, and reproductive regime. S. planicumis group in soil-accumulated site had lower tuber production, lower vegetative and reproductive production than that of in soil-unaccumulated site, and plant height was shorter in soil-accumulated than in soil-unaccumulated condition. Tuber was appeared in lower soil depth within 15cm in laboratory condition. These results indicated that soil-accumulated condition is the dominant factor caused the decreasing of population size of S. planicumis. It was urgently suggested that constructing a water ways to removed accumulated soil layer is need to restore the population size of S. planiculmus in this wetland.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.452-468
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• 2012

Marine organisms were collected by the stow nets and the stow net on boat fisheries from April 2010 to November 2011 in the Han River Estuary and categorized as 126 species, 61 families, and 5 taxa. The species were consisted with 34 in Crustacea, 5 in Cephalopoda, 79 in Pisces, unidentified jellyfishes in Cnidaria, and Finless porpoise in Mammals. The major species were composed of fish and crustaceans in the Han River Estuary. The dominant species in Crustacea were Chinese ditch prawn (Palaemon gravieri), blue crab (Portunus trituberculatus), Ridgetail prawn (Exopalaemon carinicauda), and mantis crab (Oratosquilla oratoria), and those in Pisces were Korean anchovy (Coilia nasus), and Japanese grenadier anchovy (Coilia mystus). The length structures of the six dominant species have more than one mode in the Han River Estuary. It reflects that the species inhibit during a part of and/or whole lifetime in the Han River Estuary where they utilize as spawning and/or nursery grounds. Freshwater fishes were collected from station D where is the closest location to the Han River stream, and their appearances were well matched with the large amount of freshwater discharge due to flood periods. Principal components analysis (PCA) was carried out with species compositions and showed temporal and spatial differences by the variations of species.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 2021

The naturally opened Han river estuary is a place where the flows of the Han river, Imjin river, Yaesung river meet with West Sea of Korea, so the hydrodynamic mechanism(Impact-Response) structure of Han river estuary is complex. Continuous observation and measurement due to the morphological characteristics at the estuary are required to maintain the estuary environment and river management facilities. However, the Sannam wetland(the study area) is in the military operation area. Therefore, Sannam wetland has the limited access under the control from military office. In 2020, there had a natural disaster due to flooding in August and COVID-19, and it made a survey hard. The noncontact survey technique, the analysis of LANDSAT images at Sannam wetland, was applied to analyze riverbed fluctuation and morphological transformation around Sannam wetland. LANDSAT images obtained from EarthExplorer, USGS and analyzed by QGIS. The analysis was performed based on the area and the distance near Sannam wetland. As a result, an erosion was happened on the downstream of the study area, and the upstream of the study area did not have any serious sediment transport. Considering the resolution of LANDSAT images, this noncontect survey technique is applicable to manage the study area. From the analysis of LANDSAT images, it is assumed that the tidal effect is greater than the inflow from the upstream. The pattern change of tidal response causes the damage of the river facilities near the Hangang river estuary.