• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.265-282
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• 2022

This study analyzes the impact of long-range transport of biomass burning emissions from northeastern China on the concentration of particulate matter of diameter less than 10 ㎛ (PM₁₀) in Korea using the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem). Korea was impacted by anthropogenic emissions from eastern China, dust storms from northern China and Mongolia, and biomass burning emissions from northeast China between April 4-and 7, 2020. The contributions of long-range PM₁₀ transport were calculated by separating biomass burning emissions from mixed air pollutants with anthropogenic emissions and dust storms using the zeroing-out method. Further, the radiation energy budget over land and sea around the Korean Peninsula was analyzed according to the distribution of biomass burning emissions. Based on the WRF-Chem simulation during April 5-6, 2020, the contribution of long-range transport of biomass burning emissions was calculated as 60% of the daily PM₁₀ average in Korea. The net heat flux around the Korean Peninsula was in a negative phase due to the influence of the large-scale biomass burning emissions. However, the contribution of biomass burning emissions was analyzed to be <45% during April 7-8, 2020, when the anthropogenic emissions from eastern China were added to biomass burning emissions, and PM₁₀ concentration increased compared with the concentration recorded during April 5-6, 2020 in Korea. Furthermore, the net heat flux around the Korean Peninsula increased to a positive phase with the decreasing influence of biomass burning emissions.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.111-125
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• 2022

Background: Zanthoxylum armatum is one of the 30 prioritized medicinal plants for economic development of Nepal with a high trade value. Understanding the ecology of individual species is important for conservation and cultivation purposes. However, relation of ecological factors on the distribution and populations of Z. armatum in Nepal remain unknown. To address this knowledge gap, an attempt has been made to study the population structure, distribution, and regeneration potentiality of Z. armatum. Vegetation sampling was conducted at six different localities of Salyan district along the elevation range of 1,000 m to 2,000 m. Results: Altogether 50 plant species belonging to 44 genera under 34 families were found to be associated with Z. armatum. Significantly higher species richness was found at Rim (1,400-1,700 m) and Chhatreshwori (1,800-2,000 m) and lower at Kupinde (1,600-1,800 m). The highest population density of Z. armatum was at Kupinde (1,600-1,800 m) with a total of 1,100 individuals/ha. and the lowest at Chhatreshwori (1,800-2,000 m) with 740 individuals/ha. Based on the A/F value (Whitford index), it can be said that Z. armatum has random distribution in the study area. The plants were categorized into seedlings, saplings and adults based on plant height and the status of natural regeneration category determined. The regeneration potentiality of Z. armatum in the study area was fair with the average seedlings and saplings densities of 150 and 100 individuals/ha. Respectively. A Shannon-Weinner index mean value of 2.8 was obtained suggesting high species diversity in the study area. Conclusions: The natural distribution and regeneration of Z. armatum is being affected in the recent years due to anthropogenic disturbances. Increasing market demand and unsustainable harvesting procedures are posing serious threat to Z. armatum. Thus, effective conservation and management initiatives are most important for conserving the natural population of Z. armatum in the study area.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2010

The distribution of coral reefs can be an indicator of environmental or anthropogenic impacts. Here, we present a habitat map of coral reefs developed using high-spatial satellite images. The study area was located on the north-eastern part of Weno island, in the Chuuk lagoon of Federated States of Micronesia. Two fieldwork expeditions were carried out between 2007 and 2008 to acquire optical and environmental data from 121 stations. We used an IKONOS image obtained in December 2000, and a Kompsat-2 image obtained in September 2008 for the purpose of coral reef mapping. We employed an adapted version of the object-based classification method for efficient classification of the high-spatial satellite images. The habitat map generated using Kompsat-2 was 72.22% accurate in terms of comparative analysis with in-situ measurements. The result of change detection analysis between 2000 and 2008 showed that coral reef distribution had decreased by 6.27% while seagrass meadows had increased by 8.0%.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.179-192
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• 2001

In order to characterize the distribution patterns of PAHs between Yellow Sand (YS) and non-Yellow Sand(NYS) periods, we collected and analyzed aerosol samples for PAHs for the periods covering 28 March through 24 April 2000. The concentrations of TSP measured during the YS periods were approximately two times higher than the NYS periods. By contrast, the concentrations of PAHs during YS were higher than those of NYS by 140%. In ad-dition, their concentrations in PM 10 were larger than those TSP by 120% . Detailed inspections of our data indi-catd that three species including chrysene. benzo(b)fluoranthene, and benzo(k)fluoranthene were effeciently ad-sorbed by particles less than 10${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ diameter and that there were dominating the distribution characterstics of PAHs during the YS periods. Results of correlation analysis also indicated that PAHs exhibited strong correlations with those pollutants originating from combustion sources. It is thus concluded that pollutants such as toxic PAHs that originate from diverse anthropogenic sources of China should be contributing to the degradation of the ambient air quality in Seoul.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.412-424
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• 2021

Understanding the distribution of heavy metals in sediment is necessary because labile heavy metals can partition into the water column and bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms. Here we investigated six heavy metals (Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in sediment cores using a five-step sequential leaching method to examine the occurrence of heavy metals in the sediment. The results showed that all elements, except Mn, are depleted in the exchangeable and carbonate fractions. However, heavy metal concentrations are much higher in the Fe-Mn oxide and organic matter fractions, especially for Cu, indicating enrichment in the organic matter fraction. Furthermore, contamination parameters (contamination factor and geoaccumulation index) indicate that Mn contamination is high, primarily derived from anthropogenic sources, presenting a potential risk to ecosystems in the Nakdong River.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 2022

Pteris griffithii Hook., one of the rarest fern species on the Indian subcontinent, is reported from Bhutan for the first time. The identity of this species was confirmed through morphological determination at the National Herbarium (THIM) of the National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) of Bhutan. It was found only in one location, in Gyelpozhing in eastern Bhutan, at an elevation of 521 m a.s.l. on 10 January 2016. Given that a very limited study of this species was conducted, the knowledge baseline with regard to its distribution is poor. It is also reported that this species has not been found for several years. The species is also considered to be very rare or critically endangered in some countries; however, there are no assessments on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List for this particular species. This paper attempts to provide baseline information considering its rarity and data deficiency. This species is also reported from the adjacent neighboring Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh as very rare, and also from Myanmar; however, confirmation of its presence in China is not clear at this time. Therefore, considering its data deficient status, we attempt to document it scientifically to create a knowledgebase pertaining to this particular species. Concurrently, this species merits further research to understand its distribution patterns in Bhutan and any related anthropogenic threats.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.19 no.E2
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• pp.63-73
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• 2003

The atmospheric pollution distribution in the industrial area of Yosu in Korea is calculated using numerical model and the model is validated by comparing the calculations with observed data. The emission of NO$_{x}$ and SO$_{x}$ was estimated for 6 sources, and the emission amount of HC was estimated for 9 anthropogenic sources. The calculated wind speed, wind direction and temperature agreed well with the observed data at two observatories, and the calculated concentration of NO, NO$_2$, $O_3$ and SO$_2$ were also reasonable for 5 monitoring stations. The validity of the model is evaluated using 3 indexes of the EPA, and the model is found to be valid and accurate.ate.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.1-9
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• 2015

Groundwater has been a very precious resource for human life and economic development in the world. With increasing population and food demand, the groundwater use especially for agriculture is largely elevated worldwide. The very much large groundwater use results in depletion of major aquifers, land subsidences in many large cities, anthropogenic groundwater contamination, seawater intrusion in coastal areas and accompanying severe conflicts for water security. Furthermore, with the advent of changing climate, securing freshwater supply including groundwater becomes a pressing and critical issue for sustainable societal development in every country because prediction of precipitation is more difficult, its uneven distribution is aggravating, weather extremes are more frequent, and rising sea level is also threatening the freshwater resource. Under these difficulties, can groundwater be sustaining its role as essential element for human and society in the near future? We have to focus our efforts and wisdom on answering the question. Korean government should increase its investment in securing groundwater resources for changing climate.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.340-348
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• 2003

Sedimentological investigations on surface and suspended sediments were performed in Kwangyang Bay of the middle South Sea in order to reveal recent changes in depositional environments concerning anthropogenic influence. A variety of coastal developments caused the texture of the surface sediments to become distinctively finer, particularly in the southwestern part of the bay. Accordingly, the westward lining sedimentary facies was somewhat simplified from triple-mode distribution to the dual-mode one by the construction of POSCO. This east-west distribution to the sedimentary facies has recently graded into the north-south distribution by further construction of other industrial complexes including Kwangyang Port. The prominent textural changes in surface sediments are most likely associated with weakening of tidal currents related to the developments which is anticipated to be .still continued. The distribution and flux estimation of suspended sediments suggest a noticeable import of fine particles into the bay predominantly through a northern entrance rather than the southern entrance. The movements of suspended sediments in the water level near the seabed prevailed over those of the mid and surficial levels.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.179-191
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• 2000

Both acid-leached and residual Pb in surface sediments of the Yellow Sea are analyzed in order to explain the spatial distribution of Pb contents and to determine a major controlling factor of its geographical distribution. Leached and residual Pb contents in surface sediments, which may have a different origin, show mirrored geographical distribution. Sediments with high residual Pb ( ${\sim}$20 ${\mu}$g/g; northeastern sand) contain low leached Pb (6-8 ${\mu}$g/g) while sediments with high leached Pb ( ${\sim}$20 ${\mu}$g/g; central mud) contain low residual Pb. As a result, total Pb shows little variation spatially. The mirrored distribution of both species also leads the grain-size dependence of Pb contents to be unclear although the grain-size dependence of other trace metals (Cr, Co, Ni etc.) has been well reported in this shelf. High leached Pb contents (>15 ${\mu}$g/g) were also observed in sediments off the Changjiang River mouth and off the Kyunggi Bay where they can be interpreted as the results of diagenetic accumulation and anthropogenic pollution, respectively. Residual Pb enriched in sands of the northeastern area might be from K-feldspar, which in turn allows the suggestion that northeastern sands may have originated from coastal erosion of granitic landmass or directly from nearby rivers.