• Journal of Korea Society of Waste Management
• /
• v.35 no.7
• /
• pp.606-615
• /
• 2018

Over the past two decades, the options for solid waste management have been changing from land disposal to recycling, waste-to-energy, and incineration due to growing attention for resource and energy recovery. In addition, the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission has become an issue of concern in the waste sector because such gases often released into the atmosphere during the waste management processes (e.g., biodegradation in landfills and combustion by incineration) can contribute to climate change. In this study, the emission and reduction rates of GHGs by the municipal solid waste (MSW) management options in D city have been studied for the years 1996-2016. The emissions and reduction rates were calculated according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change guidelines and the EU Prognos method, respectively. A dramatic decrease in the waste landfilled was observed between 1996 and 2004, after which its amount has been relatively constant. Waste recycling and incineration have been increased over the decades, leading to a peak in the GHG emissions from landfills of approximately $63,323tCO_2\;eq/yr$ in 2005, while the lowest value of $35,962tCO_2\;eq/yr$ was observed in 2016. In 2016, the estimated emission rate of GHGs from incineration was $59,199tCO_2\;eq/yr$. The reduction rate by material recycling was the highest ($-164,487tCO_2\;eq/yr$) in 2016, followed by the rates by heat recovery with incineration ($-59,242tCO_2\;eq/yr$) and landfill gas recovery ($-23,922tCO_2\;eq/yr$). Moreover, the cumulative GHG reduction rate between 1996 and 2016 was $-3.46MtCO_2\;eq$, implying a very positive impact on future $CO_2$ reduction achieved by waste recycling as well as heat recovery of incineration and landfill gas recovery. This study clearly demonstrates that improved MSW management systems are positive for GHGs reduction and energy savings. These results could help the waste management decision-makers supporting the MSW recycling and energy recovery policies as well as the climate change mitigation efforts at local government level.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.411-422
• /
• 2014

In this study, spatial and temporal variations of radiative forcing (RF) and mean temperature changes due to greenhouse gases ($CO_2$, $CH_4$, and $N_2O$) emitted from commercial aircraft were examined based on the simplified expression at the airports in Korea during 2009~2010. The radiative transfer model (SBDART) was used to compare with the RF and mean temperature changes calculated from the simplified expressions for greenhouse gas $CO_2$. The RF simulated by the SBDART was about 67% higher than that of the simplified expression, on average. The highest mean RF (up to $9.0mW/m^2$ for $CO_2$) and mean temperature changes (up to $9.7{\times}10^{-5}^{\circ}K/day$ for $CO_2$) for all GHGs occurred at Ulsan airport during the study period, whereas the lowest RF and temperature changes at Yangyang (for $CO_2$) and Sacheon airports (for $CH_4$ and $N_2O$). In the case of $CH_4$ and $N_2O$, their effects to the RF and mean temperature change were negligible compared to $CO_2$.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
• /
• v.66 no.5
• /
• pp.757-764
• /
• 2017

As the reduction of greenhouse gases(GHGs) emission has become a global issue, the microgrid markets are growing rapidly. With the sudden changes in the market, Korean government suggested a new business model called 'Self-Sufficient Energy Islands'. Its main concern is a stand-alone microgrid composed of Distributed Energy Resources(DERs) such as Renewable Energy Sources(RESs), Energy Storage System(ESS) and Fuel Cell, in order to minimize the emission of GHGs. According to these trend, this paper is written to propose an optimal sizing method of DERs in a stand-alone microgrid by using Genetic Algorithm(GA), one of the representative stochastic methods. It is to minimize the net present cost with the variables, size of RESs and ESS. In the process for optimization, the sunless days are considered as additional constraints. Through the case study analysis, the size of DERs installed in a microgrid system has been computed using the proposed method in MATLAB. And the result of MATLAB is compared with that of HOMER(Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources), a well-known energy modeling software.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
• /
• v.60 no.3
• /
• pp.51-61
• /
• 2018

Transportation and storage technologies, which are key drivers for trade, has increased global trade of agricultural products about 165% from 1995 to 2015. Korea imports 76.2% of grain from major food exporters such as USA, Australia, Brazil, and China. The expected long shipping distances from these countries can seriously cause environmental impacts on various environmental categories such as climate change, particulate matter, and acidification. The goal of this study is to assess the environmental implications focused on greenhouse gases (GHGs) and particulate matters (PMs) emissions of imported grains (wheat, corn, and bean) using food miles analysis and life cycle assessment (LCA). The environmental impacts of imported crops are estimated by transportation modes using the national LCI database provided by Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI). The results of this study are as follows; (1) Imported wheat comes from USA (29%), AUS (27%), and URK (20%), corn is imported from USA (34%), BRA (29%), and URK (16%), and bean comes from BRA (57%), USA (40%), and CHN (2%); (2) the food miles of imported crops (wheat, corn, and bean) are 3.62E+10, 1.30E+11, and $2.20E+10ton{\cdot}km$, respectively; (3) the potential GHGs and PMs of wheat, corn, and bean are 5.02E+08, 1.67E+09, and 2.84E+08 kg $CO_2e$ and 5.89E+05, 1.83E+06, 3.07E+05 kg $PM_{10}e$, respectively. The outputs of this study could provide environmental impacts and carrying distances of imported agricultural products for preparing a plan to reduce environmental impacts.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.46 no.6
• /
• pp.463-468
• /
• 2013

The level of nitrous oxide ($N_2O$), a long-lived greenhouse gas, in atmosphere has increased mainly due to anthropogenic source, especially application of nitrogen fertilizers. Quantifying $N_2O$ emission from agricultural field is essential to develop national inventories of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission. The objective of the study was to develop emission factor to estimate direct $N_2O$ emission from agricultural field in Gangwon-do, Korea by measuring $N_2O$ emissions from potato (Solanum tuberosum), red pepper (Capsicum annum L.), and Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L.) cultivation lands from 2009 to 2012. Accumulated $N_2O$ emission was $1.48{\pm}0.25kg$ $N_2O-N\;ha^{-1}$ for red pepper, $1.27{\pm}0.27kg$ $N_2O-N\;ha^{-1}$ for potato, $1.49{\pm}0.06kg$ $N_2O-N\;ha^{-1}$ for Chinese cabbage cultivated in spring, and $1.14{\pm}0.22kg$ $N_2O-N\;ha^{-1}$ for fall Chinese cabbage. Emission factor of $N_2O$ calculated from accumulated $N_2O$ emission, nitrogen fertilization rate, and background $N_2O$ emission was $0.0051{\pm}0.0016kg$ $N_2O-N\;ha^{-1}$ N for cropland in Gangwon province. More extensive study is deserved to be conducted to develop $N_2O$ emission factor for upland crops in Korea through examining the emission factors from various regions and crops because $N_2O$ emission is influenced by many factors including climate characteristics, soil properties, and agricultural practices.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.1157-1163
• /
• 2012

This study was performed a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) among three rice production systems in order to analyze the difference of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions and environment impacts. Its life cycle inventory (LCI) database (DB) was established using data obtained from interview with conventional, without agricultural chemical and organic farming at Gunsan and Iksan, Jeonbuk province in 2011. According to the result of LCI analysis, $CO_2$ was mostly emitted from fertilizer production process and rice cropping phase. $CH_4$ and $N_2O$ were almost emitted from rice cultivation phase. The value of carbon footprint to produce 1 kg rice (unhulled) on conventional rice production system was 1.01E+00 kg $CO_2$-eq. $kg^{-1}$ and it was the highest value among three rice production systems. The value of carbon footprints on without agricultural chemical and organic rice production systems were 5.37E-01 $CO_2$-eq. $kg^{-1}$ and 6.58E-01 $CO_2$-eq. $kg^{-1}$, respectively. Without agricultural chemical rice production system whose input amount was the smallest had the lowest value of carbon footprint. Although the yield of rice from organic farming was the lowest, its value of carbon footprint less than that of conventional farming. Because there is no compound fertilizer inputs in organic farming. Compound fertilizer production and methane emission during rice cultivation were the main factor to GHGs emission in conventional and without agricultural chemical rice production systems. In organic rice production system, the main factors to GHGs emission were using fossil fuel on machine operation and methane emission from rice paddy field.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.886-891
• /
• 2010

Importance of climate change and its impact on agriculture and environment have increased with a rise of greenhouse gases (GHGs) concentration in Earth's atmosphere, which caus an increase of temperature in Earth. Greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide ($CO_2$), methane ($CH_4$) and nitrous oxide ($N_2O$) in the Upland field need to be assessed. GHGs fluxes using chamber systems in two upland fields having different soil textures during pepper cultivation (2005) were monitored under different soil textures at the experimental plots of National Academy of Agricultural Science (NAAS), Rural Development Administration (RDA) located in Suwon city, Korea. $CO_2$ emissions were 12.9 tonne $CO_2\;ha^{-1}$ in clay loam soil and 7.6 tonne $CO_2\;ha^{-1}$ in sandy loam soil. $N_2O$ emissions were 35.7 kg $N_2O\;ha^{-1}$ in clay loam soil and 9.2 kg $N_2O\;ha^{-1}$ in sandy loam soil. $CH_4$ emissions were 0.054 kg $CH_4\;ha^{-1}$ in clay loam soil and 0.013 kg $CH_4\;ha^{-1}$ in sandy loam soil. Total emission of GHGs ($CO_2$, $N_2O$, and $CH_4$) during pepper cultivation was converted by Global Warming Potential (GWP). GWP in clay loam soil was higher with 24.0 tonne $CO_2$-eq. $ha^{-1}$ than that in sandy loam soil (10.5 tonne $CO_2$-eq. $ha^{-1}$), which implied more GHGs were emitted in clay loam soil.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.358-383
• /
• 2015

The concept of 'carbon footprint' has been developed as a means of quantifying the specific emissions of the greenhouse gases (GHGs) that cause global warming. Although there are still neither clear definitions of the term nor rules for units or the scope of its estimation, it is broadly accepted that the carbon footprint is the total amount of GHGs, expressed as $CO_2$ equivalents, emitted into the atmosphere directly or indirectly at all processes of the production by an individual or organization. According to the ISO/TS 14067, the carbon footprint of a product is calculated by multiplying the units of activity of processes that emit GHGs by emission factor of the processes, and by summing them up. Based on this, 'carbon labelling' system has been implemented in various ways over the world to provide consumers the opportunities of comparison and choice, and to encourage voluntary activities of producers to reduce GHG emissions. In the agricultural sector, as a judgment basis to help purchaser with ethical consumption, 'low-carbon agricultural and livestock products certification' system is expected to have more utilization value. In this process, the 'cradle to gate' approach (which excludes stages for usage and disposal) is mainly used to set the boundaries of the life cycle assessment for agricultural products. The estimation of carbon footprint for the entire agricultural and forestry sector should take both removals and emissions into account in the "National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report". The carbon accumulation in the biomass of perennial trees in cropland should be considered also to reduce the total GHG emissions. In order to accomplish this, tower-based flux measurements can be used, which provide a direct quantification of $CO_2$ exchange during the entire life cycle. Carbon footprint information can be combined with other indicators to develop more holistic assessment indicators for sustainable agricultural and forestry ecosystems.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.60 no.11
• /
• pp.27.1-27.8
• /
• 2018

Background: Enteric methane ($CH_4$) accounts for about 70% of total $CH_4$ emissions from the ruminant animals. Researchers are exploring ways to mitigate enteric $CH_4$ emissions from ruminants. Recently, nano zinc oxide (nZnO) has shown potential in reducing $CH_4$ and hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$) production from the liquid manure under anaerobic storage conditions. Four different levels of nZnO and two types of feed were mixed with rumen fluid to investigate the efficacy of nZnO in mitigating gaseous production. Methods: All experiments with four replicates were conducted in batches in 250 mL glass bottles paired with the ANKOM$^{RF}$ wireless gas production monitoring system. Gas production was monitored continuously for 72 h at a constant temperature of $39{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ in a water bath. Headspace gas samples were collected using gas-tight syringes from the Tedlar bags connected to the glass bottles and analyzed for greenhouse gases ($CH_4$ and carbon dioxide-$CO_2$) and $H_2S$ concentrations. $CH_4$ and $CO_2$ gas concentrations were analyzed using an SRI-8610 Gas Chromatograph and $H_2S$ concentrations were measured using a Jerome 631X meter. At the same time, substrate (i.e. mixed rumen fluid+ NP treatment+ feed composite) samples were collected from the glass bottles at the beginning and at the end of an experiment for bacterial counts, and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) analysis. Results: Compared to the control treatment the $H_2S$ and GHGs concentration reduction after 72 h of the tested nZnO levels varied between 4.89 to 53.65%. Additionally, 0.47 to 22.21% microbial population reduction was observed from the applied nZnO treatments. Application of nZnO at a rate of $1000{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$ have exhibited the highest amount of concentration reductions for all three gases and microbial population. Conclusion: Results suggest that both 500 and $1000{\mu}g\;g^{-1}$ nZnO application levels have the potential to reduce GHG and $H_2S$ concentrations.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.30 no.12
• /
• pp.1245-1254
• /
• 2008

Proposing a method for the estimation of the social cost for global warming impact (external cost) is the aim of this paper. Both the endpoint approach and conjoint analysis were applied to estimating the social cost for global warming. The endpoint approach was used to assess the damage on the safeguard subjects by global warming due to the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The conjoint analysis was used to estimate the economic values for safeguard subjects which measure the social preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) on safeguard subjects. The economic values of human health and social asset were estimated at 62,261,700 Won / DALY (yr) and 10,000 Won / 10,000 Won, respectively. Moreover, cost factors of GHGs were calculated by multiplying the damage factor which is quantified the unit damage on safeguard subject and the economic value. In the case of CO$_2$, the cost factor was calculated at 13.52 Won / kg (13,520 Won / ton). External cost of products or services can be calculated by multiplying the GHG inventory result of products or services by the cost factor of each GHG. inventory.