• Title/Summary/Keyword: Environmental Degradation

Search Result 2,025, Processing Time 0.03 seconds

Analysis of Seasonal Water Quality Variation of a Natural Wetland in the Nakdong River Basin (낙동강 수계 자연습지의 계절별 수질변화특성 분석)

  • Kim, Young Ryun;Lee, Kwang Sup;Lee, Suk Mo;Kang, Daeseok;Sung, Kijune
    • Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
    • /
    • v.25 no.5
    • /
    • pp.713-719
    • /
    • 2009
  • A natural wetland in the Nakdong River basin which effectively removes non-point source pollutants was investigated for 2 years to understand wetland topography, vegetation types, and water quality characteristics. The water depth of the natural wetland was in the range of 0.5~1.9 m which is suitable for the growth of non-emergent hydrophytes. The wetland has a high length to width ratio (3.3:1) and a relatively large wetland to watershed area ratio (0.057). A broad-crested weir at the outlet increases the retention time of the wetland whose hydrology is mainly dependent on storm events. The concentrations of dissolved oxygen in the growing season and the winter season showed anoxic and oxic conditions, respectively. Diurnal variations of DO and pH in the growing season were also observed due to weather change and submerged plants. COD and TP concentrations were low in the winter season due to low inflow rate and increased retention time. Increased TP concentrations in the spring season were caused by degradation of dead wetland plants. Nitrogen in the wetland was mostly in organic nitrogen form (>75%). During the growing season, ammonium concentration was high but nitrate nitrogen concentration was low, possibly due to anoxic and low pH conditions which are adverse conditions for ammonificaiton and nitrification. The results of this study can be used as preliminary data for design, operation, monitoring and management of a constructed wetland which is designed to treat diffuse pollutants in the Nakdong river watershed.

Effects of Bio-degradable Mulches on the Yield of Maize and the Density of Soil Microbe

  • Lim, Soo-Jeong;Lee, Min-Bum;Kim, Se-Won;Kim, Jang-Su;Heo, Su-Jeong;Choi, Seung-Chul;Yoon, Byeong-Sung;Kim, In-Jong
    • Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
    • /
    • v.49 no.4
    • /
    • pp.375-380
    • /
    • 2016
  • The use of polyethylene film has a problem such as increasing rural environmental contamination, collection costs and farmers' workload. The objective of this study was to evaluate bio-degradable films in terms of yield of maize and soil environment. Treatments were bio-degradable film A (BDF A), bio-degradable film B (BDF B), high density polyethylene (HDPE), and non-mulched (NM) soil. Daily mean values of soil temperature (10 cm depth) under BDF A, BDF B, and HDPE were higher than in NM soil by 2.2, 2.8, $3.1^{\circ}C$ respectively. In the mulching cultivation of maize, bio-degradable film began to degrade from 50~60days after the planting. The degradation was much progressed in the harvest time and almost decomposed in the following spring. The weight of ear of maize was not shown significantly by mulching treatments. There were little changes of soil chemical properties for the bio-degradable film mulching. After using bio-degradable films, the contents of biomass-C and dehydrogenase activity increased from 92 to $137{\sim}147mg\;kg^{-1}$, and from 87 to $123{\sim}168mg\;kg^{-1}$ respectively.

Physicochemical Effect on Permeate Flux in a Hybrid Ozone-Ceramic Ultrafiltration Membrane Treating Natural Organic Matter (자연유기물을 처리하는 혼합 오존-세라믹 한외여과 시스템에서 물리화학적 특성이 투과플럭스에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Jeong-Hwan
    • Membrane Journal
    • /
    • v.18 no.4
    • /
    • pp.354-361
    • /
    • 2008
  • Effects of operational conditions and solution chemistry on permeate flux in a hybrid ozone-ceramic ultra-filtration (UF) membrane system treating natural organic matter (NOM) were investigated. Results showed that the extent of permeate flux decline was higher at higher cross-flow velocity and ozone dosage, but it was higher at lower transmembrane pressure (TMP). The mechanism of fouling mitigation was found to be more dependent upon reaction between ozone and natural organic matter at/near catalytic membrane surface than scouring effect due to ozone gas bubbles. Addition of calcium into model NOM solution at high pH led to significant decline in permeate flux while the calcium effect on permeate flux decline was less pronounced at lower pH. After permeate flux decline during the early stage of filtration, the flux started recovering and approached fully to the initial value of it due to degradation of NOM by catalytic ozonation at ceramic membrane surface in the hybrid ozone-ceramic membrane system.

Estimation of Above-Ground Biomass of a Tropical Forest in Northern Borneo Using High-resolution Satellite Image

  • Phua, Mui-How;Ling, Zia-Yiing;Wong, Wilson;Korom, Alexius;Ahmad, Berhaman;Besar, Normah A.;Tsuyuki, Satoshi;Ioki, Keiko;Hoshimoto, Keigo;Hirata, Yasumasa;Saito, Hideki;Takao, Gen
    • Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
    • /
    • v.30 no.2
    • /
    • pp.233-242
    • /
    • 2014
  • Estimating above-ground biomass is important in establishing an applicable methodology of Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) System for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation-Plus (REDD+). We developed an estimation model of diameter at breast height (DBH) from IKONOS-2 image that led to above-ground biomass estimation (AGB). The IKONOS image was preprocessed with dark object subtraction and topographic effect correction prior to watershed segmentation for tree crown delineation. Compared to the field observation, the overall segmentation accuracy was 64%. Crown detection percent had a strong negative correlation to tree density. In addition, satellite-based crown area had the highest correlation with the field measured DBH. We then developed the DBH allometric model that explained 74% of the data variance. In average, the estimated DBH was very similar to the measured DBH as well as for AGB. Overall, this method can potentially be applied to estimate AGB over a relatively large and remote tropical forest in Northern Borneo.

Tree Diversity, Distribution and Population Structure of a Riparian Forest from Certain Zones along the Dikhu River in Nagaland, India

  • Leishangthem, Devlin;Singh, Maibam Romeo
    • Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
    • /
    • v.34 no.1
    • /
    • pp.31-45
    • /
    • 2018
  • At present the biodiversity of the riparian forest is under threat due to various anthropogenic pressures. Hence study was conducted along the three unprotected zones of riparian forest in Dikhu river, Nagaland, north-east India in order to compared the diversity, distribution and population structure of riparian trees. In each zone $100{\times}100m^2$ plot were marked and subdivided into 20 plots of $10{\times}10m^2$. 10 plots on each side of the river were taken randomly covering 0.02 ha. Only tree with dbh ${\geq}10cm$ and dbh above 1.5 m above ground level were recorded as individual species. A total of 29 tree species belonging to 18 families were recorded from the three zones of the river. Tree species richness was highest at the middle zone (19) followed by upper (14) and lower zone (7). The most abundant species and family recorded at upper, middle and lower zones were Melia azaderach of Euphorbiaceae ($380\;stems\;ha^{-1}$), Terminalia chebula of Euphorbiaceae ($432.5\;stems\;ha^{-1}$) and Duabanga grandiflora of Lythraceae ($365\;stems\;ha^{-1}$) respectively. The ranges of diversity indices observed in the three zones were: Shannon-Wiener index (1.25-0.73), Simpson diversity index (0.42-0.93), Evenness index (0.47-0.37) and Index of co-dominance (0.75-0.94). Rest of other indices were also estimated and compared. Distribution of trees shows the contagious pattern common in the upper and middle zones and regular in the lower zone. The girth size class analysis demonstrated that the riparian forest is in less mature succession stage. This study emphasize the need for management and conservation of riparian forest by developing policy to declare the riparian zone as protected area to prevent further degradation and loss of biodiversity from these unregulated zones along the river.

Management Strategies to Conserve Soil and Water Qualities in the Sloping Uplands in Korea (한국의 경사지 밭의 토양 및 물의 보전 관리 전략)

  • Yang, Jae-E.;Ryu, Jin-Hee;Kim, Si-Joo;Chung, Doug-Young
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
    • /
    • v.37 no.3
    • /
    • pp.435-449
    • /
    • 2010
  • Soils in the sloping uplands in Korea are subject to intensive land use with high input of agrochemicals and are vulnerable to soil erosion. Development of the environmentally sound land management strategy is essential for a sustainable production system in the sloping upland. This report addresses the status of upland agriculture and the best management practices for the uplands toward the sustainable agriculture. More than 60% of Korean lands are forest and only 21% are cultivating paddy and upland. Uplands are about 7% of the total lands and about 62% of the uplands are in the slopes higher than 7%. Due to the site-specificity of the upland, many managerial and environmental problems are occurring, such as severe erosion, shallow surface soils with rocky fragments, and loadings of non-point source (NPS) contaminants into the watershed. Based on the field trials, most of the sloping uplands were classified as Suitability Class III-V and the major limiting factor was slope and rock fragments. Due to this, soils were over-applied with N fertilizer, even though N rate was the recommendation. This resulted in decreases in yield, degradation of soil quality and increases in N loading to the leachate. Various case studies drew management practices toward sustainable production systems. The suggested BMP on the managerial, vegetative, and structural options were to practice buffer strips along the edges of fields and streams, winter cover crop, contour and mulching farming, detention weir, diversion drains, grassed waterway, and slope arrangement. With these options, conservation effects such as reductions in raindrop impact, flow velocity, runoff and sediment loss, and rill and gully erosion were observed. The proper management practice is a key element of the conservation of the soil and water in the sloping upland.

Design and Analysis on Composite Structure for Aircraft Certification (항공기 인증을 위한 복합재 구조물 설계/해석)

  • Kim, Sung-Joon;Choi, Ik-Hyeon;Ahn, Seok-Min;Yeom, Chan-Hong
    • Aerospace Engineering and Technology
    • /
    • v.8 no.1
    • /
    • pp.42-48
    • /
    • 2009
  • There are a number of factors affecting the continued airworthiness of composite structure. Unlike metal structure, damages made in manufacturing processes or maintenance repair procedures need to be considered. The different levels of degradation and damage, which may occur, must be considered for structural substantiation of static strength, stiffness, flutter, and damage tolerance. This can start with an evaluation of environmental effects for the particular composite material. Matrix-dominated composite properties, such as compressive strength, are most sensitive to moisture absorption and temperatures. Static strength substantiation includes the smaller damages that will not be detected in production or maintenance inspection while damage tolerance addresses larger damages that need to be repaired once discovered. In this paper, we intend to list the airworthiness regulations and advisory circular that are deemed closely related to the certification of composite airplanes.

  • PDF

A Review on Prognostics of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (고분자전해질 연료전지 예지 진단 기술)

  • LEE, WON-YONG;KIM, MINJIN;OH, HWANYEONG;SOHN, YOUNG-JUN;KIM, SEUNG-GON
    • Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
    • /
    • v.29 no.4
    • /
    • pp.339-356
    • /
    • 2018
  • Although fuel cell systems have advantages in terms of electric efficiency and environmental impact compared with conventional power systems, fuel cell systems have not been deployed widely due to their low reliability and high price. In order to guarantee the lifetime of 10 years, which is the commercialization goal of Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), it is necessary to improve durability and reliability through optimized operation and maintenance technologies. Due to the complexity of components and their degradation phenomena, it's not easy to develop and apply the diagnose and prognostic methodologies for PEFCs. The purpose of the paper is to show the current state on PEFC prognostic technology for condition based maintenance. For the prognostic of PEFCs, the model driven method, the data-driven, and the hybrid method can be applied. The methods reviewed in this paper can contribute to the development of technologies to reduce the life cycle cost of fuel cells and increase the reliability through prognostics-based health management system.

Correlation between Reverse Voltage Characteristics and Bypass Diode Operation with Different Shading Conditions for c-Si Photovoltaic Module Package

  • Lim, Jong-Rok;Min, YongKi;Jung, Tae-Hee;Ahn, Jae-Hyun;Ahn, Hyung-Keun
    • JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
    • /
    • v.15 no.5
    • /
    • pp.577-584
    • /
    • 2015
  • A photovoltaic (PV) system generates electricity by installing a solar energy array; therefore, the photovoltaic system can be easily exposed to external factors, which include environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and radiation. These factors-as well as shading, in particular-lead to power degradation. When there is an output loss in the solar cell of a PV module package, the output loss is partly controlled by the bypass diode. As solar cells become highly efficient, the characteristics of series resistance and parallel resistance improve, and the characteristics of reverse voltage change. A bypass diode is connected in parallel to the string that is connected in series to the PV module. Ideally, the bypass diode operates when the voltage is -0.6[V] around. This study examines the bypass diode operating time for different types of crystalline solar cells. It compares the reverse voltage characteristics between the single solar cell and polycrystalline solar cell. Special modules were produced for the experiment. The shading rate of the solar cell in the specially made solar energy module was raised by 5% each time to confirm that the bypass diode was operating. The operation of the bypass diode is affected not only by the reverse voltage but also by the forward bias. This tendency was verified as the number of strings increased.

Effect of Sowing Time on Germination and Early Seedling Growth of Quercus floribunda Lindl.

  • Karki, Himani;Bargali, Kiran;Bargali, SS
    • Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
    • /
    • v.34 no.3
    • /
    • pp.199-208
    • /
    • 2018
  • Quercus floribunda (Tilonj oak) is among the five species of Quercus and an evergreen tree found in Kumaun Himalayan region. Timing of germination is a crucial event determining the success of seedling establishment and survival. The aims of the study were to investigate the effect of sowing date on the germination and morphological responses of Tilonj oak (Quercus floribunda), cultivated during the month of August-September, with supplementary irrigation. The experiment was conducted by sowing seeds at two dates with one month interval in glass house conditions at DSB Campus, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India. Present study revealed that higher germination percentage (46.67 %) was recorded at sowing time $S_2$ as compared to the sowing time $S_1$ (32.86 %). Germination percentage as well as seedling growth were affected by sowing date though the differences were insignificant. At both the sowing dates, highest germination percentage was recorded for large seeds (32.86-46.67 %) followed by medium (31.43-33.33 %) and lowest germination (6.67-7.14 %) was recorded for small size seeds. In all parameters assessed, sowing time $S_2$ had the best performance in combination with large seed size. Thus, September is suitable month for best germination, growth and seedling vigour and large seed size is recommended to silviculturists and tree planters. The information on seed germination and seedling growth is vital both for conservation and rehabilitation of degraded lands.