• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.567-579
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• 2011

Scirpus planiculmis is one of the most dominant species found in the Nakdong River estuary. In order to understand the recent changes in S. planiculmis and the environmental characteristics of the estuary, from 2005 to 2010, an analysis of the density, total dry biomass, tuber biomass, and distribution pattern of S. planiculmis as well as an analysis of the temperature, salinity, precipitation, barrage discharge, and soil texture of the estuary were conducted. In 2006, the density ranged from 10.1 to $87.6no./m^2$, but in 2009, it ranged from 0.4 to $2.2no./m^2$ in 2009 and drastic reductions were observed throughout the sampled areas in the Nakdong river estuary. In 2010, S. planiculmis was observed on the tidal flats of Myungji and Mangummerydeung, at a density of $18.3{\pm}7.7no./m^2$ and $17.5{\pm}20.7no./m^2$, respectively. Hence, S. planiculmis is considered to be in a recovery phase. The aboveground/belowground ratio reduced from $4.54{\pm}0.70$ in 2005 to $1.91{\pm}0.35$ in 2009, clearly showing a large decrease in the biomass amount of the aboveground than of the belowground. Tubers were distributed in the soil, with only 36.0% at the 0~15 cm depth but 64.0% at the 15~30 cm depth. Apparently, tubers were more likely to be found at 15~30 cm below the soil in the Nakdong River estuary. A drastic reduction in the S. planiculmis biomass in 2009 is possibly due to the high salinity in S. planiculmis habitats.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2013

Shoreline data of the barrier islands in Nakdong River Estuary for the last three decades were assembled using six sets of aerial photographs and seven sets of satellite images. Canny Algorithm was applied to untreated data in order to obtain a wet-dry boundary as a proxy shoreline. Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS 4.0) was used to estimate the rate of shoreline changes in terms of five statistical variables; SCE (Shoreline Change Envelope), NSM (Net Shoreline Movement), EPR(End Point Rate), LRR (Linear Regression Rate), and LMS (Least Median of Squares). The shoreline in Jinwoodo varied differently from one place to another during the last three decades; the west tail has advanced (i.e., seaward or southward), the west part has regressed, the south part has advanced, and the east part has regressed. After the 2000s, the rate of shoreline changes (-2.5~6.7 m/yr) increased and the east advanced. The shoreline in Shinjado shows a counterclockwise movement; the west part has advanced, but the east part has retreated. Since Shinjado was built in its present form, the west part became stable, but the east part has regressed faster. The rate of shoreline changes (-16.0~12.0 m/yr) in Shinjado is greater than that of Jinwoodo. The shoreline in Doyodeung has advanced at a rate of 31.5 m/yr. Since Doyodeung was built in its present form, the south part has regressed at the rate of -18.2 m/yr, but the east and west parts have advanced at the rate of 13.5~14.3 m/yr. Based on Digital Shoreline Analysis, shoreline changes in the barrier islands in the Nakdong River Estuary have varied both temporally and spatially, although the exact reason for the shoreline changes requires more investigation.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.58-67
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• 2016

This study was performed to investigate the long-term changes in water quality and benthic ecology around the Nakdong River Estuary. The effect of the estuarine barrage on the ecosystem was also evaluated. The water quality was interpreted using the field survey (2013 and 2014) and monitoring data (MOE, 1989~2013) and the macrobenthic-fauna was investigated through analysis of the field survey data (2014) and literatures review (1985~2013). The long-term variation of water quality of Nakdong River generally showed increased nutrient concentration with decreased discharge, while abrupt influence of the barrage construction was not observed. However, the nutrient and organic matter concentration inside the barrage distinctly was higher than the concentration outside the barrage because the mixing of fresh and seawater was limited by the barrage. Especially, in the period of low discharge during winter, the Chlorophyll-a concentration clearly increased more in the downstream inside the barrage, showing the barrage effect. In other words, stagnant effect caused by barrage construction had an effect on the water quality degradation in dry seasons. As for the benthic ecology inside barrage after barrage construction, molluscans and brackish-water crustaceans disappeared. Outside the barrage, benthic ecosystem has deteriorated and the small-sized organic indicative species like Prionospio membranacea, Pseudopolydora kempi, Sinocorophium sinensis became dominant due to several construction such as Myeong-Gi Bridge, Airport construction, industrial complex after the Nakdong barrage construction.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.581-587
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• 2013

The amounts of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in relation to dry weight (D.W.) were measured in zooplankton from the large four rivers (Han R., Geum R., Yeongsan R. and Seomjin R.) during 2004~2008. The stoichiometry of total zooplankton in four river systems was highly variable. The ranges of average C, N and P-contents were $70{\sim}620mgC\;mg^{-1}$ D.W., $7.1{\sim}85.5{\mu}gN\;mg^{-1}$ D.W. and $2.5{\sim}7.4{\mu}gP\;mg^{-1}$ D.W., respectively. The mean C :N: P atomic ratios reflected large spatial differences. The C : P and N : P ratios of the zooplankton community ranged from 38 to 392 : 1 and from 4 to 65 : 1 in all sampling sites. Self-Organizing Map (SOM) was applied to the survey data, and the study sites were clearly classified into 3 clusters. Clustering was largely affected by the distribution pattern of C, N, P-contents, which is related with characteristics of river systems on the basis of stoichiometry.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.48 no.12
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• pp.1011-1021
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• 2015

This study aims to investigate droughts from the magnitude perspective based on the SPI (Standardized Precipitation Index) and the theory of runs applicable to quantitative analysis of drought in South Korea. In addition, the dry spell analysis was conducted on the drought history in the five major river basins of South Korea to obtain the magnitude, duration and severity of drought, and the quantitative evaluation has been made on historical droughts by estimating the return period using the SDF (Severity-Duration-Frequency) curve gained through drought frequency analysis. The analysis results showed that the return periods for droughts at the regional and major river basin scales were clearly identified. The return periods of severe drought that occurred around the major river basins in South Korea turn out to be mostly 30 to 50 years with the years of the worst drought in terms of severity being 1988 and 1994. In particular, South Korea experienced extremely severe droughts for two consecutive years during the period between 1994 and 1995. Drought in 2014 occurred in the Han River basin and was evaluated as the worst one in terms of severity and magnitude.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.463-480
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• 2009

The weathering properties and provenance of loess-paleosol sequence deposited on gravel layer of river terrace in Bongdong-eup, Wangju-gun, Jeonbuk Province are examined using soil analysis, magnetic susceptibility measurement, grain size and element analysis. The Bongdong section consists of, from top to bottom, Layer 1(paleosol), Layer 2(loess), Layer 3(paleosol) and the gravel layer of river terrace. The magnetic susceptibility values show the systematic variations in the sequence and the results of grain size analysis reveal that the sequence was deposited by not fluvial or slope process, but eolian process, and that contains finer materials than the Daecheon loess and Chinese Loess Plateau. Among the results of soil analysis, organic contents indicate systematic variations similar to the magnetic susceptibility. The wet soil colors further reflect the characteristics of the sequence rather than the dry soil colors. Based on the analytical results of major and rare earth elements, the eolian materials contained in the sequence were deposited by the materials originated from the areas where the Chinese Loess Plateau has been originated or the reworked materials from the Chinese Loess Plateau, and after the depositions, the materials experienced the intensive chemical weathering under the humid-warm climatic conditions in the Korean Peninsula.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.323-334
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• 2021

Pilot-scale coagulation and sedimentation processes were operated to investigate the T-P (Total phosphorus) removal efficiency. A multiple regression model was also derived to predict the water quality improvement effect with river water characteristics. The inflow rates for the pilot-scale facility were 157-576 m³/day, and the coagulant doses were in the range of 13.7-58.5 mg/L (average 38.9 mg/L) for PAC (Poly alum chloride) and 16.5-62.1 mg/L (average 36.0 mg/L) for alum. The results found that the influent BOD (Biochemical oxygen demand) and T-P concentrations were 4.9 mg/L and 0.115 mg/L, and the removal efficiencies were 52.7% and 59.4%, respectively. T-P removal efficiencies on wet weather days were higher by 10% than dry weather days because influent solids influenced T-P's coagulation process. The pH of river water was 6.9-7.8, and the average pH was 7.3. Although the pH variation was not significant, the trend showed that the treatment efficiency of T-P and PO₄-P removal increased. Thus, the pH range considered in this study seems to be appropriate for the coagulation process, which is essential for phosphorous removal. The T-P removal efficiencies were 19.6-93.3% (average 59.2%) for PAC and 16.4-98.5%(average 55.9%) for alum; thus, both coagulants showed similar results. Furthermore, the average coagulant doses were similar at 42.4 mg/L for PAC and 41.3 mg/L for alum. When the T-P concentration of the effluent was compared by the [Al]/[P] ratio, the phosphorus concentration of the treated water decreased with an increasing [Al]/[P] ratio, and the lowest T-P concentration range appeared at the [Al]/[P] ratio of 10-30. A seasonal multiple regression analysis equations were derived from the relationships between 10 independent and dependent variables (T-P concentration of effluent). This study could help lake water quality maintenance, reduce eutrophication, and improve direction settings for urban planning, especially plans related to developing waterfront cities.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.409-422
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• 2022

Riverine wetlands are an important element of the river ecosystem and account for approximately 38% of the inland wetlands surveyed so far. The Shincheon Wetland located in Mangyeong River is also a channel wetland as the flow rate is slowed by the constructed weirs, leading to sediment accumulation. To identify the conservation value and ecological characteristics of Shincheon Wetland, its vegetation and plant diversity were identified using a phytosociological method, and a total of 45 vegetation-related datasets were collected. Overall, 24 plant communities, comprising a total of 153 taxa (49 families, 117 genera, 146 species, 2 subspecies, 5 varieties) were identified. The plant with the highest appearance rate in the communities was Humulus japonicus Siebold & Zucc. In addition, annual herb species, including Rumex crispus L., Bromusjaponicus Thunb., Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers., and Artemisia indica Willd. were frequently observed to be growing in the secondary grassland. Naturalized plants were surveyed in the 38 taxa; the urbanization index was 10.3% and the naturalized index was 24.8%. Plant communities were largely classified into submerged vegetation, floating and floating-leaved vegetation, annual and biennial vegetation, perennial herb vegetation, and woody vegetation. The distribution of plant communities reflecting various habitats, including the lentic and lotic zone maintaining a constant water depth, littoral zone experiencing intermittent water level fluctuations, and dry floodplain environment was also confirmed. Overall, plant community development plays an important role in the habitat for wild animals; therefore, it is expected to positively impact biodiversity enhancement.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.50-64
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• 2019

Recently, quantitative analyses of food web structure based on carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes are widely applied to environmental assessments as well as ecological researches of various ecosystems, particularly rivers and streams. In the present study, we analyzed carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of POM (both planktonic and attached forms), zooplankton, benthic macroinvertebrates and fish collected from 6 sites located at Nakdong River. Samples were collected from upstream areas of 5 weirs (Sangju, Gangjeong-Goryeong, Dalseong, Hapcheon-Changnyeong, and Changnyeong-Haman Weirs) and one downstream area of Hapcheon-Changnyeong Weir in dry season (June) and after rainy season (September). We suggested ranges of their carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios and calculated their trophic levels in the food web to compare their temporal and spatial variations. Trophic levels of organisms were relatively higher in Sangju Weir located at upper part of Nakdong River, and decreased thereafter. However, the trophic levels were recovered at the Changnyeong-Haman Weir, the lowest weir in the river. The trophic level calculated by nitrogen stable isotope ratios showed more reliable ranges when they were calculated based on zooplankton than POM used as baseline. The suggested quantitative ecological information of the majority of biological communities in Nakdong River would be helpful to understand the response of river food web to environmental disturbances and can be applied to various further researches regarding the quantitative approaches for the understanding food web structure and function of river ecosystems as well as restoration.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.398-405
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• 2012

PAHs(Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) in coastal area and estuary adjacent to urban area and industrial activities region are mainly introduced into marine environment via atmosphere and river. This study which is evaluated the distribution characteristics of PAHs discharge from rivers and sewage disposal water which flowing into Ulsan bay, and were carried out in Jun of dry season and in Auguest of wet season, 2008. The water samples from eight main rivers and Youngyeon WWTP(Wastewater Treatment Plant) flowed into Ulsan bay were taken for analysis of dissolved PAHs. The range and mean values of dissolved PAHs concentrations showed 10.30 to 87.88 ng/L, its mean 36.94 ng/L in dry season and 10.30 to 69.57 ng/L, its mean 24.37 ng/L in wet season. The distribution of dissolved PAHs showd the high concentrations in the Gungcheoncheon which is flowed from urban and industrial area. The ranges and means values of the loading fluxes were estimated with 0.04 to 8.27 g/day, its mean 2.05 g/day in dry season, and 0.03 to 4.77 g/day, its mean 1.61 g/day, in wet season. The loading flux showed the highest value in Taewha river due to the high flow rate and the urban activity. The composition patterns of dissolved PAHs compound showed most of the trend occupying low molecuar weight PAHs than high molecular weight PAHs. These results were due to physical and chemical characteristics of PAHs compound, and were similar to those of other studies. The concentrations of dissolved PAHs in this study are lower than those of other studies, and the level of PAHs pollution appeared to be not serious in reverine waters of Ulsan coast.