• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.66-72
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• 2024

Background: Vibrio vulnificus is a serious opportunistic human pathogen that has a worldwide distribution in a variety of marine and estuarine environments. Objectives: For this reason, we investigated the distribution of Vibrio vulnificus in coastal areas of Gyeonggido Province from 2018 to 2022. Also, we analyzed the correlation between V. vulnificus leading to infection and two marine environmental factors (water temperature and salinity). Methods: We collected a total of 266 samples from six coastal area points (i.e., seawater, mudflats). Specimens were isolated using selective plating media and isolated strains were identified by a VITEK 2 system. To find the relevance of the isolation rates of V. vulnificus and number of cases of V. vulnificus infection, we summarized the data on 48 cases of V. vulnificus infection from the open data of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Results: Among the 266 samples taken during the investigation period, 47 strains were isolated, and the separation rates of V. vulnificus were 17.7%. The monthly isolation rates of V. vulnificus were ranked in the order of August (53.8%), September (33.3%), June (28.6%), and July (21.1%). There was a positive correlation with the temperature of seawater, but salinity was not significant. The number of cases of V. vulnificus infection reported in Gyeonggi-do Province were 18 (37.5%) in September, 14 (29.2%) in August, and eight (16.7%) in October. The proportion was 83.3%. It was relevant to the isolation rates of V. vulnificus in the marine environmental sources. Conclusions: Our data showed that the number of V. vulnificus infection cases could be affected by changes in the distribution of V. vulnificus due to rise the temperature of seawater in the marine environment.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.97-103
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• 2008

This study presented politic proposals and diverse utilization-type in coastal areas by analyzing results of reviewed related-statements of marine environment during the one year period of 2007 by Marine Environmental Impact Assessment Center. Total of 358 cases were reviewed, which was a significant increase from 270 in 2006. Consultation on the utilization of sea areas (CUSA) accounted for the largest number of 165 (46.1%) and it was followed by 104 cases of environmental impact assessment (EIA) (29.0%) and 89 cases of prior environmental review (PER) (24.9%). As such, evaluation statements (EIA+PER) related to consultations of the Ministry of Environment accounted for approximately 54% of the entire cases reviewed. To analyze the overall results of reviewing marine-related evaluation statements, utilization and planning were conducted by 47.9%, 38.4% and 13.7% in the South Sea, West Sea and East Sea of Korea, respectively. In evaluation statements (EIA+PER), port construction, industrial complex construction, urban management plan and road construction took up most of the part by 40.9%, 20.2%, 10.4% and 7.3%, respectively. In terms of CUSA-statement, it was evaluated that consultations were mostly carried out on use and reclamation of public water surface in coastal areas and on sea aggregate extraction process in EEZ. The largest number of plans for coastal use were established for Jeollanam-do, followed by Gyeongsangnam-do, Chungcheongnam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeonggi-do. In particular, development plans were concentrated on Jeollanam-do and Gyeongsangnam-do with stable marine environment and outstanding view of the nature. In most cases, these regions are adjacent to the areas designated as a sea area for environmental management and fisheries resources protection zone. Therefore, conflicts exist between development and preservation. Also, rather than random development, more detailed marine environmental impact assessment, gathering of public opinions and politic harmony are essentially required. For efficient coastal management and environmentally sound and sustainable development, fulfilling consistent and transparent coastal policies as well as active and reliable decision making to center on coastal environment by management bodies will be important.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.81-83
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• 2010

To figure out the geographical distribution of Gynaecotyla squatarolae and Microphallus koreana metacercariae in Korea, shore crabs of southwestern coastal areas were examined. Eight coastal areas in Inchon-si (A), Gyeonggi-do (B), Chungcheongnam-do (C, D, and E), Jeollabuk-do (F), and Jeollanam-do (G and H) were selected, and 2 kinds of crabs, Macrophthalmus dilatatus and/or Macrophthalmus japonicus, were caught. After transportation to the laboratory, 15 crabs per each group were grouped and ground in a mortar and pestle, and examined for microphallid metacercariae. In M. dilatatus, G. squatarolae metacercariae were recovered from 3 (C, E, and H) out of 6 regions, but M. koreana metacercariae were not recovered. In the case of M. japonicus, G. squatarolae metacercariae were recovered from 6 (B, D, E, F, G, and H) of 7 areas surveyed, and M. koreana matacercariae were detected from 5 regions (A, B, D, F, and H). These results indicate that the life cycle of G. squatarolae is maintained in the western coastal areas using M. dilatatus and M. japonicus as intermediate hosts, while that of M. koreana is maintained only using M. japonicus.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.120-127
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• 2018

Background: Cakile edentula (Bigelow) Hook. is a successful invader that has been propagating globally. In Korea, Cakile edentula was found in 2008 for the first time, in the east coast of Korean peninsula. Based on site surveys conducted thereafter, Cakile edentula has propagated in the east coast from Goseong to Jeongdongjin, Gangneung and in the west coast of city of Hwaseong of Gyeonggi-do Province, and Taeangun County of Chungcheongnam-do Province. Results: Cakile edentula has infiltrated into four different vegetation communities (syntaxa) (Calystegio soldanellaeSalsoletum komarovii Ohba, Miyawakiet Tx.1967; Elymo-caricetum Kobomugi Miyawaki 1967; Carex pumila; and Calystegia soldanella) belonging to phytosociological classes of saltwort (barilla) and coastal glehnia. Cakile edentula competes with dominant species such as the saltwort (barilla) and beach morning glory, causing qualitative changes in species composition. It also affects local ecosystems through its competition with indigenous species, causing destruction of the traditional landscape. Conclusions: However, competition of Cakile edentula with indigenous species and the resulting replacement of such species are limitedly reported. Potential competitors with Cakile edentula have not been found yet. In Northeast Asia, qualitative changes realized in local ecosystems due to invasion of Cakile edentula are significantly noticeable. These necessitate proper controls for this invasive alien species to protect and preserve coastal dune areas.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.97-106
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• 2016

Since public facilities have high property values and are directly exposed to the flood hazard, they account for the highest share of disaster damages compared to other assets such as housing, industry, vehicle and agriculture in case of floods. Therefore, this study was conducted to develop and suggest the potential flood damage index for public facilities to evaluate potential flood damage of specific local government directly or indirectly as a tool for decision-making related to flood prevention, maintenance, management, and budget allocation. The flood damage assessment system proposed in this study was evaluated in 231 local governments nationwide. Evaluation results showed that higher values were obtained in Seoul metropolitan government, Gyeonggi-do (province), coastal areas in Gyeongsangnam-do (province), and Jeju island.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.328-336
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• 2020

In this study, the soil characteristics of peat layer in Korea were analysed to predict new peat distribution areas in Taean, Chungcheongnam-do. The soil characteristics of peat distribution areas in Taean were compared with those in other areas in Korea. In Korea, peat researches were conducted in various regions, such as Taean in Chungcheongnam-do, Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province, Gangneung in Gangwon-do, Ulsan, Iksan in Jeollabuk-do and Jangheung in Jeollanam-do. We summarized a) topographic distribution, b) deposition type, c) soil drainage classes, and d) soil suborder of previously studied area to determine criteria for prediction of peat distribution area. Through a case study, the type of peat layer distribution area in Taean were divided into two; (1) a) valley, b) co-alluvium, c) somewhat poorly drained, d) aqualfs and (2) a) marine plain, b) alluvium, c) very poorly drained, d) aquepts. A field survey was conducted to confirm the distribution of the actual peat layer. All peat layer were located within 10-km from the coastal line which is similar to previous studies, and the peat layer was characterized with pH 5, humic acid content of less than 15% and dark brown color. The new peat layer in Taean was deeper, thicker and less humificated than other studied areas.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2016

The west and south coastal regions of Korea are known to be of strong tidal current speed. With the increasing demand for renewable energies, the resource assessment has been a crucial issue which should be conducted before any detail planning and development of the potential sites for tidal current farm. Although there are several results of resource assessment of tidal current energy in Korea, the resource assessment method is not officially announced. This undefined methodology makes the results unreliable and useless. Recently new renewable energy potential definition has been announced by KIER (Korea Institute of Energy Research). This categorizes energy potential as four steps; theoretical, geographical, technical and market potentials. This paper describes the resource assessment of tidal current power in Korea based on API (Averaged Power Intercepted). The results show that the Incheon-Gyeonggi and Jeollanam-do are very promising areas for tidal current power in Korea.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.292-300
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• 2016

Diverse and comprehensive countermeasures were established to prevent water pollution in coastal areas such as constructed wetlands(CW).This study was conducted to assess the water quality improvement through CW constructed along the shoreline of Hwaseong coastal reservoir. The CW is located in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do and consisted of a forebay and a wetland. The CW was monitored twice during rainy days and 10 times during dry days. The monitoring results indicated that in and out flowrates were highly correlated with COD and TN loads. COD, TN and TP concentrations in the forebay was lower during dry days than rainy days. However, concentration and mass removal efficiencies of COD, TN and TP were greater during rainy days. In addition, the volume flowing into the CW was less compared to the outflow during rainy days indicating that the CW efficiently reduced the runoff volume. The overall pollutant removal efficiency of the CW were at least 50% for TSS, 20 to 35% for TP, and 26 to 94% for TN. The data gathered may be used to improve the pollutant removal efficiency of the system in the future.

• Atmosphere
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.171-182
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• 2008

In this study, we analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution of wind resources over Korea based on hourly observational data recorded over a period of 5 years from 457 stations belonging to Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The surface and 850 hPa wind data obtained from the Korea Local Analysis and Prediction System (KLAPS) and the Regional Data Assimilation and Prediction System (RDAPS) over a period of 1 year are used as supplementary data sources. Wind speed is generally high over seashores, mountains, and islands. In 62 (13.5%) stations, mean wind speeds for 5 years are greater than $3ms^{-1}$. The effects of seasonal wind, land-sea breeze, and mountain-valley winds on wind resources over Korea are evaluated as follows: First, wind is weak during summer, particularly over the Sobaek Mountains. However, over the coastal region of the Gyeongnam-province, strong southwesterly winds are observed during summer owing to monsoon currents. Second, the wind speed decreases during night-time, particularly over the west coast, where the direction of the land breeze is opposite to that of the large-scale westerlies. Third, winds are not always strong over seashores and highly elevated areas. The wind speed is weaker over the seashore of the Gyeonggi-province than over the other seashores. High wind speed has been observed only at 5 stations out of the 22 high-altitude stations. Detailed information on the wind resources conditions at the 21 stations (15 inland stations and 6 island stations) with high wind speed in Korea, such as the mean wind speed, frequency of wind speed available (WSA) for electricity generation, shape and scale parameters of Weibull distribution, constancy of wind direction, and wind power density (WPD), have also been provided. Among total stations in Korea, the best possible wind resources for electricity generation are available at Gosan in Jeju Island (mean wind speed: $7.77ms^{-1}$, WSA: 92.6%, WPD: $683.9Wm^{-2}$) and at Mt. Gudeok in Busan (mean wind speed: $5.66ms^{-1}$, WSA: 91.0%, WPD: $215.7Wm^{-2}$).

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.101 no.2
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• pp.185-194
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• 2012

The purpose of this contribution is to develop the framework of a methodology for identifying potential errors in georeferencing and in an application of it using specimens of Ox-Knee, Achyranthes bidentata Blume in Korea. At infraspecific level, uncertainty of identification showed that 41% of A. bidentata var. japonica and 28% of var. bidentata were misidentified, suggesting that the uncertainty level was independent of the reliability of experts' identification. For georeference specimen records, 71 specimens out of total 303 were selected and utilized as occurrence data: Uncertainty was 32.4 km at maximum and was 0.1297 km at minimum (mean = 4,055 m, s.d. = 5,772 m). Var. japonica is common throughout most of the southeastern Korea and west coastal areas, while var. bidentata has been found as far north as Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces. We modelled the potential distribution of two varieties using Bioclim approach in Korea based on several environmental factors. Our results indicated the most important region for var. japonica lies the west coast ranges and southern area, while for Chungcheongnam-do of potential high diversity occurs for var. bidentata. This study shows that the major factors to determine the distribution patterns of two varieties were thermal factors, rather than precipitation. The Bioclim model using geocode and georeferencing data makes the information increasingly useful and reliable. To improve data quality, it requires full management from data collection to final databases including data cleaning.