• Title/Summary/Keyword: Anthropogenic impact

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Analysis of the Land Surface Temperature by the Anthropogenic Heat in the Urban Area of Seoul: An Example in Application of Satellite Images (서울 도심지의 인본열에 의한 지표온도 분석: 위성영상 적용 사례)

  • Bhang, Kon-Joon;Park, Seok-Soon
    • Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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    • v.19 no.4
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    • pp.397-407
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    • 2010
  • The increase of the solar reradiation from urban areas relative to suburban due to urbanization heats up the air temperature in urban areas and this is called the urban heat island (UHI) effect. This UHI effect has a positive relationship with the degree of urbanization. Through the studies on UHI using the satellite imagery, the effect of the surface heat radiation was observed by verifying the relationship between the air temperature and the land cover types (surface materials such as urban, vegetation, etc.). In this study, however, the surface temperature distribution was studied in terms of land use types for Seoul. Using land use types, the surface temperature in urban areas such as residential, industrial, and commercial areas in Yeongdeungpo, highly packed with industrial and residential buildings, was maximum $6^{\circ}C$ higher than in the bare ground, which indicated that the surface temperature reflected the pattern of the human-consumed energy on the areas and showed that one of the important causes influencing the air temperature except the surface heat reradiation by the sun is the anthropogenic heat. Also, the effect due to the restoration of the Chunggae stream on UHI was investigated. The average surface temperature for the Chunggae stream was reduced about $0.4^{\circ}C$ after restoration. Considering that each satellite image pixel includes mixture of several materials such as concrete and asphalt, the average surface temperature might be much lower locally reducing UHI near the stream.

Impact of anthropogenic activities on the accumulation of heavy metals in water, sediments and some commercially important fish of the Padma River, Bangladesh

  • M Golam Mortuza
    • Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.66-75
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    • 2024
  • Heavy metals are naturally found in the ecosystem, and their presence in the freshwater river is increasing through anthropogenic activities which pose a threat to living beings. In this study, heavy metal concentrations (Zn, Mn, Cu, Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, and Ni) in different organs (muscle, skin, and gill) of fish from the Padma River were evaluated to quantify, and compare the contamination levels and related human health risks. The results revealed that the heavy metal concentrations in the water, surface sediments, and fish taken from the Padma River were far below the WHO/USEPA's permitted limits. The estimated daily intake (EDI) value in muscle was less than the tolerable daily intake (TDI). The target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard indexes (HI) were less than 1, showing that consumers face no non-carcinogenic risk (CR). CR values of Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Ni ranged from 4.00 × 10-8 to 6.35 × 10-6, less than 10-4, and total carcinogenic risk (CRt) values ranged from 9.85 × 10-6 to 1.10 × 10-5, indicating some pose a CR from consumption of those fish from the Padma River. To establish a more accurate risk assessment, numerous exposure routes, including inhalation and cutaneous exposure, should be explored.

Geochemical Study of Coastal Sediments around the Samcheonpo Coal-fired Power Plant (삼천포화력발전소 주변해역 퇴적물의 지구화학적 연구)

  • Lee, Doo-Ho;Lim, Ju-Hwan;Jeong, Yeon-Tae;Jeong, Nyeon-Ho;Kang, Jeong-Won
    • Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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    • v.10 no.2
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    • pp.85-98
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    • 2001
  • This study was conducted to investigate the geochemical factors governing the distribution of heavy metals(Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in the marine surface sediment samples collected from the Samcheonpo coal-fired power plant. Variations of absolute metal concentrations were related to those in textural and/or carbonate and organic matter content. Most elements, except for Pb, showed generally lower contents compared with the average shale concentration, and the effect of anthropogenic input appeared to be minimal in the sediments. Computations of LF%(labile fraction) and EF(enrichment factor) based on all trace metal data indicated the presence of mineralogical control for Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn, and anthropogenic contamination for Pb, which needs to be considered in the design of long term monitoring programmes.

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High Latitude Antarctic Benthos: A 'Coevolution' of Nature Conservation and Ecosystem Research?

  • Gutt, Julian
    • Ocean and Polar Research
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.411-417
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    • 2001
  • Due to international law the Antarctic is currently the best protected large ecosystem on earth, providing the opportunity for scientific research into processes of both regional and global importance. However, it is impossible to carry out research activities without minor disturbances to the environment. The Weddell Sea with its shelf inhabiting fauna can be considered to be representative for the entire Antarctic shelf with exceptions. It has generally escaped major anthropogenic impact but it is the only area in the high latitude Antarctic where long-term research fishing has been carried out. There are two main results combining aspects of nature conservation and benthos research. Firstly, the use of dredges has clearly decreased over the last two decades, whilst the use of non-invasive underwater photography and video has significantly increased. Secondly, during the same period icebergs destroyed an area of the seafloor and its fauna more than 2000-times greater than the area affected by research trawls. The increased use of imaging methods, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) and other modem instruments, as well as statistically based and coordinated sampling strategies can contribute to both a better understanding of ecosystem function and to an ongoing reduction in anthropogenic impact.

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Comparison of Two Methodsto Estimate Urban Sensible Heat Flux by Using Satellite Images (위성 영상을 활용한 두 가지 현열 플럭스 추정 방법 간의 비교)

  • Kim, Sang-Hyuck;Lee, Dong-Kun
    • Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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    • v.31 no.1
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    • pp.63-74
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    • 2022
  • In orderto understand the urban thermal conditions, many studies have been conducted to estimate the thermal fluxes. Currently sensible heat fluxes are estimated through various methods, but studies about comparing the differences between each method are very insufficient. Therefore, this study try to estimate the sensible heat flux of the same area by two representative estimation methods and compare their results to confirm the significance and limitation between methods. As a result of the study, the heat balance methods has a great advantage in terms of resolution but it can not consider the anthropogenic heat flux, so sensible heat flux can be underestimated in urban areas. When estimating based on physical equation, anthropogenic heat flux can be considered and the error is relatively small, it has a limitations in time and space resolutons. The two methods showed the largest difference in industiral areas where anthropogenic heat fluxes are high, with an average of 135 W/m2 and a maximum of 400 W/m2. On the other hand, the green and water have a very small difference with and average of 20 W/m2. The results between two methods show significant differences in urban areas, it is necessary to select a suitable method for each research purpose.

A Comparison of the Impact of Regional Anthropogenic Climatic Change in Urban and Rural Areas in South Korea (1955-2016) (최근 60년간 도시 및 농촌 지역의 국지적 기후변화 비교 분석)

  • Yoon, Dong-Hyun;Nam, Won-Ho;Hong, Eun-Mi;Kim, Taegon;Ho, Chang-Hoi;Hayes, Michael J.
    • Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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    • v.60 no.3
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    • pp.37-50
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    • 2018
  • Local climate characteristics for both urban and rural areas can be attributed to multiple factors. Two factors affecting these characteristics include: 1) greenhouse gases related to global warming, and 2) urban heat island (UHI) effects caused by changes in surface land use and energy balances related to rapid urbanization. Because of the unique hydrological and climatological characteristics of cities compared with rural and forested areas, distinguishing the impacts of global warming urbanization is important. In this study, we analyzed anthropogenic climatic changes caused by rapid urbanization. Weather elements (maximum temperature, minimum temperature, and precipitation) over the last 60 years (1955-2016) are compared in urban areas (Seoul, Incheon, Pohang, Daegu, Jeonju, Ulsan, Gwangju, Busan) and rural/forested areas (Gangneung, Chupungnyeong, Mokpo, and Yeosu). Temperature differences between these areas reveal the effects of urbanization and global warming. The findings of this study can be used to analyze and forecast the impacts of climate change and urbanization in other urban and non-urban areas.

Study on the Variation of Nighttime Cooling Rate Associated with Urbanization (도시화에 의한 야간 대기 냉각율 변화에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Soon-Hwan;Park, Myung-Hee;Kim, Hea-Dong
    • Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.24 no.1
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    • pp.83-90
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    • 2008
  • In order to clarify the urbanization intensity of Daegu Metropolitan and its characteristics, comparative study on the variation of the cooling rate of two different sites was carried out using observation data for 40 years by Korea Meteorological Adminstration. Daegu Metropolitan and Chupungnyung represent well urbanized and rural areas, respectively. In comparison with Chupungnyung, yearly mean temperature at Daegu Metropolitan increases rapidly and especially the differences of minimum temperature increasing rate during 40 years becomes greater. These differences of regional warming are caused by the different urbanization intensity between two sites. And the impact of anthropogenic heat due to urbanization should be stronger in nighttime than in daytime. Sensible heat advection by regional wind during 6 hours from 18 LST contributes to atmospheric cooling. For this reason wind speed is in proportion to cooling rate of atmosphere. However, wind after 24 LST induces the warm air advection and makes decrease the cooling rate in urban area. Although the cooling rates between Daegu Metropolitan and Chupungnyung are some different, the variation tendencies of cooling rate of two site are almost same. Therefore atmospheric cooling rate in nighttime tends to be associated with the intensity of wind speed.

Soil Chemical Properties in Asian Dust Source region in Northern China (황사발생지역에서 토양입자의 화학적 특성)

  • Han, J.S.;Shin, Sun-A;Kong, B.J.;Park, M.S.;Park, S.U.;Kim, S.J.
    • Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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    • v.13 no.6
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    • pp.277-284
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    • 2004
  • The chemical composition and properties of soil were determined at selected sites, such as Loess plateau, Gobi and sand deserts in northern China, where most dust storms occur. Although the transport of this sort of dust storms to Korean peninsula is a well-documented phenomenon, there is not enough information about the very source regions. In this reason, this study tried to measure the chemical composition, including soil elements, anthropogenic elements and ions for soil samples so that certain properties of some major source regions of Asian Dust can be provided. Furthermore, the results are classified into four types of soil like Loess, Loess & sand, Gobi, and sand in order to identify the characteristics and difference among the types. $(X/Al)_{crust}$ values for each soil type were also calculated in this study and compared with those of other references including Asian Dust material(ADM). The results indicated that Ca contribution was higher than Al in all the soil types of this study including ADM and, compared with the values of urban area, contribution of anthropogenic elements such as Cr, Pb, Zn was quite low. However, it must be noted that there is such a variation in the result of soil composition, but it is also certain that the very source region soil composition resolved from this study could support the enhanced study on Asian Dust phenomenon in Korea.

The influence of anthropogenic disturbances and watershed morphological characteristics on Hg dynamics in Northern Quebec large boreal lakes

  • Moingt, M.;Lucotte, M.;Paquet, S.;Beaulne, J.S.
    • Advances in environmental research
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    • v.2 no.2
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    • pp.81-98
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    • 2013
  • Mercury (Hg) dynamics in the boreal environment have been a subject of concern in recent decades, due to the exposure of local populations to the contaminant. Land use, because of its impact on mercury inputs, has been highlighted as a key player in the sources and eventual concentrations of the heavy metal. In order to evaluate the impact of watershed disturbances on Hg dynamics in frequently fished, large boreal lakes, we studied sediment cores retrieved at the focal point of eight large lakes of Qu$\acute{e}$bec (Canada), six with watersheds affected by land uses such as logging and/or mining, and two with pristine watersheds, considered as reference lakes. Using a Geographical Information System (GIS), we correlated the recent evolution of land uses (e.g., logging and mining activities) and morphological characteristics of the watershed (e.g., mean slope of the drainage area, vegetation cover) to total Hg concentrations (THg) in sedimentary records. In each core, THg gradually increased over recent years with maximum values between 70 and 370 ng/g, the lowest mercury concentrations corresponding to the pristine lake cores. The Hg Anthropogenic Sedimentary Enrichment Factor (ASEF) values range from 2 to 15. Surprisingly, we noticed that the presence of intense land uses in the watershed does not necessarily correspond to noticeable increases of THg in lake sediments, beyond the normal increment that can be attributed to Hg atmospheric deposition since the beginning of the industrial era. Rather, the terrestrial Hg inputs of boreal lakes appear to be influenced by watershed characteristics such as mean slopes and vegetation cover.

Disturbance, Diversity, Regeneration and Composition in Temperate Forests of Western Himalaya, India

  • Tiwari, Om Prakash;Sharma, Chandra Mohan;Rana, Yashwant Singh;Krishan, Ram
    • Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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    • v.35 no.1
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    • pp.6-24
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    • 2019
  • We have investigated the impact of anthropogenic and natural disturbances on regeneration, composition and diversity in some temperate forests of Bhagirathi Catchment Area of Garhwal Himalaya. The forests were categorized on the basis of canopy cover and magnitude of disturbance into highly, moderately and least disturbed classes. The dominant tree species at lower elevation were Pinus roxburghii and Quercus leucotrichophora, while Abies pindrow, Q. semecarpifolia and Rhododenron arboreum were the dominant species at the upper elevational forests. Cythula tomentosa and Indegophera heterentha were the dominant shrub species present in all the forests. Similarly, Circium wallichii and Oxalis corniculata were the dominant herb species found in all forests (except Q. leucotrichophora forest), whereas Thalictrum foliolosum and Viola pilosa were noticed in each forest (except P. roxburghii forest). The tree density values oscillated between $400{\pm}10\;trees\;ha^{-1}$ to $750{\pm}89.1\;trees\;ha^{-1}$ which generally decreased from lower to higher disturbance regimes however, the total basal cover value was highest ($88.1{\pm}23.6m^2\;ha^{-1}$) in highly disturbed forest and lowest ($25.8{\pm}2.2m^2\;ha^{-1}$) in moderately disturbed forest. The shrub and herb densities were maximum in least disturbed forest, while the young regenerating individuals i.e., sapling and seedling were observed increasing from high to low disturbed forests which reflected that the forest fragmentation adversely affected the regeneration. However, A. pindrow and P. roxburghii were found invariably encroaching the habitats of R. arboreum and Q. leucotrichophora at various altitudes, respectively. The Canonical Correspondence Analysis clearly indicated that the elevation and lopping intensity have more impact on trees, while shrub and herbs were more influenced by elevation, canopy cover, light attenuation and soil erosion. Pinus roxburghii was the only species which was affected by heavy litter removal and forest fire.