• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.411-418
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• 2007

We studied the bottom morphology and sedimentary environments of the Masan Bay using high-resolution Chirp seismic profiles and sediments data. According to deep-drilled core samples (up to 20 m thick) penetrated into the weathered rock basement, the sediments consist largely of three sediment types: the lower sandy gravel facies (Unit I) of 1-4 m in thickness, the middle sandy mud and/or muddy sand facies(Unit II) of 1-2 m thick and the upper mudfacies (Unit III) of over 10 m in thickness. The sedimentary column above the acoustic basement can be divided into two major sequences by a relatively strong mid-reflector, which show the lower sedimentary sequenc e(T) with parallel to subparallel internal reflectors and the upper sedimentary sequence(H) with free acoustic patterns. Acoustic basement, the lower sedimentary sequence (T), and the upper sequence (H) are well correlated with poorly sorted massive sandy gravels (Unit I), the sand/mud-mixed sediment (Unit II), and the muddy facies(Unit III), respectively. The acoustic facies and sediment data suggest that the Masan bay is one of the most typical semi-enclosed coastal embayments developed during the Holocene sea-level changes. The area of the Masan Bay reduced from about $19\;km^2$ in 1964 to about $13\;km^2$ in 2005 by reclamation, and its bottom morphology changed as a result of dredging of about $2{\times}10^7\;m^3$.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.175-184
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• 2014

Weirs are conventional structures that control water level and velocity in streams to facilitate water resource management. Despite many weirs built in streams, there is little information how weirs change hydrology regime and how that translates to sediment and phosphorus (P) responses. This study evaluated the influence of weirs on P retention and mobilization in an urban tributary of the Han River in Korea. Total P concentrations in sediments upstream of weirs were higher than the downstream site, mainly due to the increase of potentially available fractions (labile P and aluminum- and iron-bound P) (p < 0.05). Equilibrium phosphorus concentrations ($EPC_o$) were lower than soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) concentrations of stream waters, but there was an increasing trend of sediment $EPC_o$ upstream of weirs compared to the downstream site (p < 0.001) indicating a greater potential for P release upstream of weirs. Sediment core incubation showed that SRP release rates upstream of weirs were higher than the downstream site under anoxic conditions of the water column (p < 0.01), but not under oxic conditions. SRP release rates under anoxic conditions were greater than that measured under oxic conditions. Un-neutral pH and increased temperature could also enhance SRP release rates upstream of weirs. We conclude that weirs can increase P retention within stream sediments and potentially promote significant P releases into waters, which in turn cause eutrophication.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.9-22
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• 2021

We determined the composition of water and sediment bacterial assemblages from the East Sea using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Total bacterial reads were greater in surface waters (<100 m) than in deep seawaters (>500 m) and sediments. However, total OTUs, bacterial diversity, and evenness were greater in deep seawaters than in surface waters with those in the sediment comparable to the deep sea waters. Proteobacteria was the most dominant bacterial phylum comprising 67.3% of the total sequence reads followed by Bacteriodetes (15.8%). Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia, and Actinobacteria followed all together consisting of only 8.1% of the total sequence. Candidatus Pelagibacter ubique considered oligotrophic bacteria, and Planctomycetes copiotrophic bacteria showed an opposite distribution in the surface waters, suggesting a potentially direct competition for available resources by these bacteria with different traits. The bacterial community in the warm surface waters were well separated from the other deep cold seawater and sediment samples. The bacteria exclusively associated with deep sea waters was Actinobacteriacea, known to be prevalent in the deep photic zone. The bacterial group Chromatiales and Lutibacter were those exclusively associated with the sediment samples. The overall bacterial community showed similarities in the horizontal rather than vertical direction in the East Sea.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.475-484
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• 2006

In order to reveal the vertical variation of physical properties in deep-sea sediments, deep-sea sediment cores were collected at 78 stations using a multiple corer in the KR5 area, one of the Korea contract areas for manganese nodule exploration, located in the northeast equatorial Pacific. Based on the color of sediments, sampled sediment cores were characterized into three lithologic units (unit 1,2, and 3). In all sediment cores, three units appear systematically; unit 1 lies at the top of cores and unit 2 and/or unit 3 appear to underlie unit 1 or alternate with unit 3. Unit 1 layer from the top of cores shows dark grayish brown to dark brown with mean thickness of 10.2cm. Unit 2 and 3 layers show very dark brown to black color and yellowish brown to brown color, respectively. According to the physical properties of the deep-sea sediment cores, sediment column can be divided into three sections. Section A $(0{\sim}15cm)$ in subbottom depth consists mostly of unit 1. Mean values of physical properties of section B $(15{\sim}30cm)$ in subbottom depth are similar to those of section C (>30 cm) in subbottom depth. However, the physical properties of section B were more variable than those of section C because of the high activity of bioturbation in section B. These results will provide valuable information for selecting suitable sites for mining manganese nodules in the Korea contract areas.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2014

Sediment pollutants have been considered an important source for the eutrophication of estuarine reservoir. In this study, the effects of pollutants released from bottom sediment to water column were investigated. Sediment samples were collected each two station from Namyang and Sukmoon estuarine reservoirs in August 2013. The fractionation result of sediment phosphorus indicated that Adsorbed-P ($36.7{\pm}8.84%$) and Nonapatite-P ($29.3{\pm}12.50%$) are the two dominant phosphorus groups in the sediments. For sediment release test, eight sets of acrylic chamber (0.3 m $diameter{\times}1m$ high, with 0.15 m sediment depth) were used with aerobic and anaerobic environment. Under anaerobic conditions, rates of $NH_4-N$ release from the sediments were highly variable, with final concentrations of $NH_4-N$ in the overlying water varying from between about 0.69~1.04 in Namyang and 2.58~4.23 mg/L in Sukmoon reservoir. The $NH_4-N$ release was active at the upstream around the confluence of tributary compared to downstream near the embankment. The $PO_4-P$ release was more obvious than $NH_4-N$ in anaerobic condition. The final $PO_4-P$ concentrations were approximately from two-fold to eight-fold higher than initial concentration. In terms of reservoir water quality management, not only tributary pollutants but also sediment nutrient loading is necessary to consider the water quality contribution.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.233-243
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• 2015

The bimodal flocculation of cohesive sediments in water environments describes the aggregation and breakage process developing a bimodal floc size distribution with dense flocculi and floppy flocs. A two class population balance equation (TCPBE) was tested for simulating the bimodal flocculation by a model-data fitting analysis with two sets of experimental data (low and high turbulent flows) from 1-D flocculation-settling column tests. In contrast to the Single-Class PBE (SCPBE), the TCPBE could simulate interactions between flocculi and flocs and the flocculation mechanism by differential settling in a low turbulent flow. Also, the TCPBE could perform the same quality of simulation as the elaborate Multi-Class PBE (MCPBE), with a small number of floc size classes and differential equations. Thus, the TCPBE was proven to be the simplest model that is capable of simulating the bimodal flocculation of cohesive sediments in water environments and water, wastewater treatment systems.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.195-206
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• 2021

Contaminated marine sediment is a secondary pollution source in the coastal areas, which can result in increased nutrients concentrations in the overlying water. We analyzed the nutrients release characteristics into overlying water from sediments and the interaction among benthic circulation of nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, and sulfur were investigated in a preset sediment/water column. Profiles of pH, ORP, sulfur, iron, nitrogen, phosphorus pools were determined in the sediment and three different layers of overlying water. Variety types of sulfur in the sediments plays a significant role on nutrients transfer into overlying water. Dissimilatory nitrate reduction and various sulfur species interaction are predominantly embodied by the enhancing effects of sulfide on nitrogen reduction. Contaminant sediment take on high organic matter, which is decomposed by bacteria, as a result promote bacterial sulfate reduction and generate sulfide in the sediment. The sulfur and iron interactions had also influence on phosphorus cycling and released from sediment into overlying water may ensue over the dissolution of ferric iron intercede by iron-reducing bacteria. The nutrients release rate was calculated followed by release rate equation. The results showed that the sediments released large-scale quantity of ammonium nitrogen and phosphate, which are main inner source of overlying water pollution. A mechanical migration of key nutrients such as ammonia and inorganic phosphate was depicted numerically with Fick's diffusion law, which showed a fair agreement to most of the experimental data.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.207-215
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• 2004

As the sea connecting with the East Sea, the Sea of Okhotsk is the most potential area of gas hydrates in the world. In other to examine geophysical structures of gas hydrate-bearing sediments in the Sea of Okhotsk, the CHAOS (hydro-Carbon Hydrate Accumulation in the Okhotsk) international research expedition was carried out in August 2003. In the expedition, high-resolution seismic and geochemical survey was also conducted. Sparker seismic profiles show only diffusive high-amplitude reflections without BSRs at BSR depth. It means that BSR appears to be completely different images on seismic profiles obtained using different frequencies. Many gas chimneys rise up from BSR depth to seafloor. The chimneys can be divided into two groups with different seismic characteristics; wipe-out (WO) and enhanced reflection (ER) chimneys. Different seismic responses in the chimneys would be caused by amount of gas and gas hydrates filling in the chimneys. In hydroacoustic data, a lot of gas flares rise up several hundreds meters from seafloor to the water column. All flares took placed at the depths within gas hydrate stability zone. It is interpreted that gas hydrate-bearing sediments with low porosity and permeability due to gas hydrate filling in the pore space make good pipe around gas chimneys in which gas is migrating up without loss of amount. Therefore, large-scale gas flare at the site on gas chimney releases into the water column.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.295-304
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• 2000

Vertical measurement of CTDT at about 30 min intervals and spatial surface temperature, salinity, and concentration of suspended particulate matters were conducted to elucidate the character of water column and the dispersal pattern in a floating ice-dominated fjord, Marian Cove, West Antarctica. Marian Cove showed two distinct water layers in terms of turbidity; 1) cold, fresh, and turbid surface plume in the upper 2 m,2) warm, saline, and relatively clean Maxwell Bay inflow between 15-45 m in water depth. Thermal melting of Maxwell Bay inflow and tidewater glacier/floating ices developed the surface mixed layer and the activity of floating ices cause Maxwell Bay inflow to be unstable. Due to the unstable water column, the development of Maxwell Bay inflow and subsequent surface plume are not influenced by tidal frequency. Coastal current generated by strong northwesterly wind may extend warm, saline, and turbid surface plume into the central part of the cove along the northern coast via the western coast of Weaver Peninsula. Terrigenous sediments of meltwaters from the glaciated ice cliffs near the corner of tidewater glacier and some coasts enter into the cove and their dispersion depends upon the hydrographic regimes (tide, wind, wave etc.). At the period of spring tide, the strong wind stress with the northwesterly wind direction reserve suspended sediment-fed surface plume and so allow the possibility of deposition of terrigenous sediments within the basin of cove.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2022

Hypoxia can affect water-atmosphere methane flux by controlling the production and consumption processes of methane in coastal areas. Seasonal methane concentration and fluxes were quantified to evaluate the effects of seasonal hypoxia in Dangdong Bay (Gyeongsangnamdo, Jinhae Bay, South Korea). Sediment-water methane flux increased more than 300 times during hypoxia (normoxia and hypoxia each 6, 1900 µmol m^-2 d^-1), and water-atmospheric methane flux and bottom methane concentration increased about 2, 10 times (normoxia and hypoxia each 190, 420 µmol m^-2 d^-1; normoxia and hypoxia each 22, 230 nM). Shoaling of anaerobic decomposition of organic matter in the sediments during the hypoxia (August) was confirmed by the change of the depth at which the maximum hydrogen sulfide concentration was detected. Shoaling shortens the distance between the water column and methanogenesis section to facilitate the inflow of organic matter, which can lead to an increase in methane production. In addition, since the transport distance of the generated methane to the water column is shortened, consumption of methane will be reduced. The combination of increased production and reduced consumption could increase sediment-aqueous methane flux and dissolved methane, which is thought to result in an increase in water-atmospheric methane flux. We could not observe the emission of methane accumulated during the hypoxia due to stratification, so it is possible that the estimated methane flux to the atmosphere was underestimated. In this study, the increase in methane flux in the coastal area due to hypoxia was confirmed, and the necessity of future methane production studies according to oxygen conditions in various coastal areas was demonstratedshown in the future.