• Title/Summary/Keyword: KOREAN PENINSULA

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Ecological Risk of Alien Apple Snails Used in Environmentally-friendly Agriculture and the Urgent Need for Its Risk Management in Korea (친환경농법용 외래 왕우렁이의 생태위해성 및 위해성 관리의 필요성)

  • Bang, Sang-Weon;Cho, Mi-Kyeoung
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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    • v.26 no.3
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    • pp.129-137
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    • 2008
  • Alien apple snails (Pomacea canaliculata, Pomacea insularus) used in environmentally-friendly agriculture are different from indigenous snails found in Korea. Due to high herbicidal effects and cost-effectiveness, the number of farmers using the snails has been growing every year since 2000. Moreover, in 2008, because of the outbreaks of avian influenza throughout the country from March to May, 2008, central and local governments recommended the use of alien apple snails in agriculture as an alternative to the ducks-oriented environmentally-friendly agriculture. Therefore, it is expected that the use of alien apple snails in agriculture should be expanded in a near future. Since alien apple snails lay eggs with 95.8% of eclosion rate, they are considered to be potential pests unlike indigenous snails. In addition, Japan, Taiwan and most of the southeast Asian countries had already experienced severe ecological and agricultural damage by the alien apple snails. Subsequently, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) designated P. canaliculata as one of "the 100 of the world's worst invasive alien species". It seems highly likely that the alien apple snails in Korea pose a potential threat to conservation of ecosystem and biodiversity since the snails were either found or invaded into the natural environments in some regions of Gangwon-Do and southern parts of Korean Peninsula. However, just recently, agricultural authorities and farmers using alien apple snails in agriculture opposed a proposition of designating the alien apple snails as an ecosystem-disturbing animal described by the Wildlife Protection Act. This is because there has been no concrete evidence of the ecological risk imposed by the alien snails up to now in Korea. Subsequently, in this paper, we analysed the ecological and agricultural risks imposed by the alien snails from the studies done in domestic and abroad. In addition, we proposed an urgent need and reasoning for ecological risk management of the alien snails at the national level as well as using the snails in agriculture.

Trace (Minor) Elemental and Isotopic Compositions of Aragonitic Mollusk Shells in the Eastern Coast and Cheju Island, Korea (한반도 동해안과 제주도 연안에서 발견되는 아라고나이트질 연체동물 각질의 미량원소 및 탄소와 산소 동위원소 함량의 변화)

  • Ji, Ok-Mi;Woo, Kyung-Sik
    • The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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    • v.3 no.3
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    • pp.112-123
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    • 1998
  • The objectives of this study are to investigate the trace elemental and stable isotopic compositions of aragonitic mollusk shells, such as Gomphina veneriformis melanaegis, Mytilidae and Umbonium coastatum, from the eastern coast of Korean peninsula and Cheju Island, and to compare their variations with latitude, that is, the temperature of the ambient seawater at which the skeletons grew. The Mg compositions of Gomphina veneriformis melanaegis tend to decrease with increasing water temperature, whereas those of Mytilidae and Umbonium coastatum do not show any trend. Sr compositions of Mytilidae tend to increase with increasing water temperature, whereas those of Gomphina veneriformis melanaegis decrease. Fe compositions of Umbonium coastatum tend to decrease with increasing water temperature, whereas those of Gomphina veneriformis melanaegis increase. Fe compositions of Mytilidae do not show any trend with water-temperature variations. Ba compositions of all the skeletons do not show any trend with water-temperature variations. Cd compositions of Mytilidae and Umbonium coastatum do not show any trend with increasing water temperature, whereas those of Gomphina veneriformis melanaegis increase. Cu compositions of Gomphina veneriformis melanaegis increase with increasing water temperature, whereas Mytilidae and Umbonium coastatum do not show any trend. Pb compositions of Umbonium coastatum do not show any tend with increasing water temperature, but those of other skeletons increase. Zn compositions of Mytilidae tend to decrease with increasing water temperature, whereas those of Gomphina veneriformis melanaegis increase. Zn compositions of Umbonium coastatum do not show any trend with increasing water temperature. Estimated water temperatures from oxygen isotopic data of all the skeletons are higher than the range of water temperature of the shallow seawater of the East Sea and around Cheju Island. The oxygen isotopic compositions of all the skeletons are well clustered, but they do not show any trend with latitude. Therefore, this could reflect that the organisms may not have secreted their shells in oxygen isotopic equilibrium with ambient seawater due to vital effect. Thus, isotopic compositions of all the organisms in this study may not be suitable for paleotemperature estimate.

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Trace (Minor) Elemental and Isotopic Compositions of Calcitic Skeletons in the Eastern Coast and Cheju Island, Korea (한반도 동해안과 제주도 연안에서 발견되는 방해석질 각질의 미량원소, 부원소 및 탄소와 산소 동위원소 함량의 변화)

  • Ji, Ok-Mi;Woo, Kyung-Sik
    • The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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    • v.3 no.3
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    • pp.124-141
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    • 1998
  • The objectives of this study are to investigate the trace (minor) elemental and isotopic compositions of calcitic skeletons, such as barnacle, echinoid, branching and encrusting calcareous algae and oyster, from the eastern coast of Korean peninsula and Cheju Island, and to compare their variations with latitude, that is, the temperature of ambient seawater at which the skeletons grew. Articulated and encrusting red algae are composed of high-Mg calcite (7-21 mol% $MgCO_3$). Echinoids are also composed of high-Mg calcite (7-15 mol% $MgCO_3$). Whereas barnacles are composed of low-Mg calcite (1-5 mol% $MgCO_3$). The Mg compositions of articulated red algae, barnacle and oyster tend to increase with increasing water temperature, whereas those of encrusting red algae and echinoid do not show any trend. Sr compositions of articulated red algae, echinoid and barnacle tend to decrease with increasing water temperature, whereas those of encrusting red algae and oyster do not show any trend. Mn compositions of articulated red algae and encrusting red algae decrease with an increase of water temperature, whereas those of echinoid and barnacle do not show any trend. Fe compositions of articulated red algae tend to decrease with increasing water temperature, whereas those of encrusting red algae and oyster increase. Fe compositions of echinoid and barnacle do not show any trend with water temperature variations. Ba compositions of echinoid and low-magnesium calcitic skeletons do not show any trend with water temperature variations. Ba compositions of articulated red algae tend to decrease with increasing water temperature, whereas those of encrusting red algae increase. Cd and Pb compositions of all the skeletons tend to increase with increasing water temperature. Cu compositions of encrusting red algae increase with increasing water temperature, whereas articulated red algae, echinoid, barnacle and oyster do not show any trend. Zn compositions of high-magnesium calcitic skeletons and low-magnesium calcitic skeletons do not show any trend. Estimated water temperatures from oxygen isotopic data of all the skeletons except for the barnacle arc higher than the range of temperature of the shallow seawater of the East Sea and around Cheju Island. The oxygen isotopic compositions of oyster and echinoid are well clustered, and they do not show any trend with increasing water temperature. Therefore, this could reflect that the organisms have not secreted their shells in oxygen isotopic equilibrium with ambient seawater due to vital effect. Thus, the oxygen isotopic composition of barnacle can potentially be utilized for paleotemperature estimate whereas those of other organisms in this study may not be useful.

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Diel and Tidal Distributions of the Sand-burrowing Mysids Archaeomysis kokuboi and Acanthomysis nakazatoi on a Sandy Shore Surf Zone of Yongil Bay, Eastern Korea, in Relation to Growth Stages (동해 영일만 쇄파대에 서식하는 곤쟁이 Archaeomysis kokuboi와 Acanthomysis nakazatoi의 성장단계에 따른 주야 및 조석간 분포)

  • Jo, Soo-Gun;Kim, Chung-A;Suh, Hae-Lip
    • The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.112-119
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    • 2012
  • This study investigated the diel and tidal distributions of the two mysids, Archaeomysis kokuboi and Acanthomysis nakazatoi, in relation to their growth stages in the sandy surf zone of Yongil Bay, located on the southeastern part of Korean Peninsula. Sampling was conducted with a sledge net at every two hours for almost 24 hours at three sites: water edge, water surface and sand bottom both in 1-m deep water areas. The abundance of Archaeomysis kokuboi juveniles was too low to count both in day and night samples. While there was no difference in immature A. kokuboi abundance between day and night in the bottom or water edge, that at the water surface was significantly higher at night than daytime. The abundance of A. kokuboi adults, especially of males, in the bottom was significantly higher in daytime than night and no individuals appeared to the water surface either day or night. In comparison, the abundance of Acanthomysis nakazatoi juveniles between day and night did not differ significantly at all the three sites, with the highest number being distributed in the bottom. The abundance of immatures between day and night also did not differ significantly and no individuals appeared to the water surface either day or night. The abundance of A. nakazatoi adults, especially females, in the bottom was significantly higher at night than daytime and there was no significant difference in abundance between day and night in the other sites. There was also no significant difference in abundances of the two species between ebb and flood tides, except for A. kokuboi immatures which appeared significantly more during the ebb tides at the water surface. Overall, the distribution of the two sympatric species, A. kokuboi and A. nakazatoi, was not the same in the sandy surf zone. Its difference seems to depend on their stages of growth, and the change in their abundance may be influenced more by diurnal rhythms than tidal effects. The population density of A. nakazatoi in the sandy surf zone was much higher than that of A. kokuboi, and relatively higher densities in all growth stages of the former were found in the sandy bottom ranging from juveniles to adults. These results indicate that A. nakazatoi has exceedingly better ability of sand burrowing even from the juvenile stage, and thus is an ecologically better adapted species in the sandy surf zone than another sympatric species, A. kokuboi.

Analysis of Geolocation Accuracy of Precision Image Processing System developed for CAS-500 (국토관측위성용 정밀영상생성시스템의 위치정확도 분석)

  • Lee, Yoojin;Park, Hyeongjun;Kim, Hye-Sung;Kim, Taejung
    • Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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    • v.36 no.5_2
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    • pp.893-906
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    • 2020
  • This paper reports on the analysis of the location accuracy of a precision image generation system manufactured for CAS 500. The planned launch date of the CAS 500 is 2021, and since it has not yet been launched, the analysis was performed using KOMPSAT-3A satellite images having similar specifications to the CAS 500. In this paper, we have checked the geolocation accuracy of initial sensor model, the model point geolocation accuracy of the precise sensor model, the geolocation accuracy of the precise sensor model using the check point, and the geolocation accuracy of the precise orthoimage using 30 images of the Korean Peninsula. In this study, the target geolocation accuracy is to have an RMSE within 2 pixels when an accurate ground control point is secured. As a result, it was confirmed that the geolocation accuracy of the precision sensor model using the checkpoint was about 1.85 pixels in South Korea and about 2.04 pixels in North Korea, and the geolocation accuracy of the precise orthoimage was about 1.15 m in South Korea and about 3.23 m in North Korea. Overall, it was confirmed that the accuracy of North Korea was low compared to that of South Korea, and this was confirmed to have affected the measured accuracy because the GCP (Ground Control Point) quality of the North Korea images was poor compared to that of South Korea. In addition, it was confirmed that the accuracy of the precision orthoimage was slightly lower than that of precision sensor medel, especially in North Korea. It was judged that this occurred from the error of the DTM (Digital Terrain Model) used for orthogonal correction. In addition to the causes suggested by this paper, additional studies should be conducted on factors that may affect the position accuracy.

Effect of the Vessel Vibration Noise to the Underwater Ambient Noise (선박진동소음이 해중환경소음에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구)

  • 박중희
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.163-168
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    • 1987
  • The underwater observation of the ambient noise and the noise generated by the engine revolution in a ship was carried out in July to August, 1984, 1985 and 1987, near around some ports and in the Eastern Sea of Korea. Vertical distribution of the sound pressure of both noises were observed and the spectrum characteristics were analysed and compared. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. Sound pressure level of the ambient noise at 5m deep layer in calm sea condition (wind speed 0-2m/s) near around the ports were observed as 108dB at the eastern part of Pusan port, 106dB at the southern part of Pusan port and 101dB at Kuryongpo port. It shows that the level near around the large port which contains much noisy resources is higher than the small port. The level at 5m deep layer in the open sea, in the mid-region between Korean Peninsula and Ulnung Island was observed as 100dB. It mean that the level in the open sea is lower than that around the ports. The level at 20m and 70m deep layer were 1-2dB lower than that at 5m deep layer, and that at deeper layer than 100m was almost constantly 100dB around. 2. Sound pressure level of the ambient noise at 5m deep layer in windy open sea condition (wind speed 10-15m/s) was 108dB, and was gradually decreased in accordance with the increase of depth with representing 100dB at 70m deep layer and that at deeper layer was almost constantly 100dB. The level of the noise generated by engine revolution was 146, 125, 112, 110, 104dB at 5, 50, 100, 150 and 200m deep layer respectively. It means that the level decrease with the depth. 3. Spectrum level of the ambient noise at 5m deep layer with the frequency band of 10 Hz, 100 Hz, 1 KHz, 10 KHz, in the windy sea condition were 86, 75, 61, 32dB respectively and the level of the noise generated by engine revolution was 105, 95, 86, 55dB respectively. It means that the latter are about 20dB higher than the former. The level of the former at 200m deep layer was 80, 68, 47, 26dB and the latter 82, 70, 59, 31dB. It means that the latter are about 4dB higher than the former.

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A Study on the Restoration of the Wangheungsa Temple's Wooden Pagoda (왕흥사 목탑의 복원 연구)

  • Kim, Kyeong-Pyo;Sung, Sang-Mo
    • Journal of architectural history
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    • v.19 no.3
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    • pp.7-29
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    • 2010
  • The form of the Wangheungsa Temple's wooden pagoda site is that of the traditional form of the wooden pagodas constructed during the Baekjae Period. Likewise, it is an important ruin for conducting research on the form and type of the wooden pagodas constructed during the Baekjae Period. In particular, the method used for the installation of the central pillar's cornerstone is a new technique. The purpose of this research is to restore the ruin of the Wangheungsa Temple's wooden pagoda of the Baekjae Period that remains at the Wangheungsa Temple's wooden pagoda site. Until now, research conducted on the wooden pagoda took place mostly centered on the Hwangryongsa Temple's wooden pagoda. Meanwhile, the reality concerning Baekjae's wooden pagoda is one in which there were not many parallel cases pertain to the design for restoration. This research paper wants to conduct academic examination of the Wangheungsa Temple's wooden pagoda to organize the intention of design and design process in a simple manner. This research included review of the Baekjae Period's wooden pagoda related ruins and the review of the existing wooden pagoda ruin to analyze the wooden pagoda construction technique of the era. Then, current status of the Wangheungsa Temple's wooden pagoda site is identified to define the characteristics of the wooden pagoda, and to set up the layout format and the measure to estimate the size of the wooden pagoda in order to design each part. Ultimately, techniques and formats used for the restoration of the wooden pagoda were aligned with the wooden pagoda of the Baekjae Period. Basically, conditions that can be traced from the current status of the Wangheungsa Temple site excavation using the primary standards as the standard. Wangheungsa Temple's wooden pagoda was designed into the wooden pagoda of the Baekjae's prosperity phase. The plane was formed into $3{\times}3$ compartments to design into three tier pagoda. The height was decided by factoring in the distance between the East-West corridors, size of the compartment in the middle, and the view that is visible from above the terrace when entering into the waterway. Basically, the origin of the wooden structure format is based on the Goguryeo style, but also the linkage with China's southern regional styles and Japan's ancient wooden pagoda methods was factored in. As for the format of the central pillar, it looks as if the column that was erected after digging the ground was used when setting up the columns in the beginning. During the actual construction work of the wooden pagoda, central pillar looks as if it was erected by setting up the cornerstone on the ground. The reason that the reclaimed part of pillar that use the underground central cornerstone as the support was not utilized, was because the Eccentric Load of the central pillar's cornerstone was factored in the state of the layers of soil piled up one layer at a time that is repeated with the yellow clay and sandy clay and the yellow clay that were formed separately with the $80cm{\times}80cm$ angle at the upper part of the central pillar's cornerstone was factored in as well. Thus, it was presumed that the central pillar was erected in the actual design using the ground style format. It is possible to presume the cases in which the reclaimed part of pillar were used when constructed for the first time, but in which central pillar was installed later on, after the supplementary materials of the underground column is corroded. In this case, however, technique in which soil is piled up one layer at a time to lay down the foundation of a building structure cannot be the method used in that period, and the reclamation cannot fill up using the $80cm{\times}80cm$ angle. Thus, it was presumed that the layers of soil for building structure's foundation was solidified properly on top of the central pillar's cornerstone when the first wooden pagoda construction work was taking place, and that the ground style central pillar was erected on its upper part by placing the cornerstone once again. Wangheungsa Temple's wooden pagoda is significant from the structure development aspect of the Korean wooden pagodas along with the Hwangryongsa Temple's wooden pagoda. Wangheungsa Temple's wooden pagoda construction technique which was developed during the prosperity phase of the Baekjae Period is presumed to have served as a role model for the construction of the Iksan Mireuksa Temple's wooden pagoda and Hwangryongsa Temple's wooden pagoda. With the plan to complement the work further by excavating more, the basic wooden pagoda model was set up for this research. Wangheungsa Temple's wooden pagoda was constructed as at the Baekjae Kingdom wide initiative, and it was the starting point for the construction of superb pagoda using state of the art construction techniques of the era during the Baekjae's prosperous years, amidst the utmost interest of all the Baekjae populace. Starting out from its inherent nature of enshrining Sakyamuni's ashes, it served as the model that represented the unity of all the Baekjae populace and the spirit of the Baekjae people. It interpreted these in the most mature manner on the Korean peninsula at the time.

An Estimation of Concentration of Asian Dust (PM10) Using WRF-SMOKE-CMAQ (MADRID) During Springtime in the Korean Peninsula (WRF-SMOKE-CMAQ(MADRID)을 이용한 한반도 봄철 황사(PM10)의 농도 추정)

  • Moon, Yun-Seob;Lim, Yun-Kyu;Lee, Kang-Yeol
    • Journal of the Korean earth science society
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    • v.32 no.3
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    • pp.276-293
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    • 2011
  • In this study a modeling system consisting of Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF), Sparse Matrix Operator Kernel Emissions (SMOKE), the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model, and the CMAQ-Model of Aerosol Dynamics, Reaction, Ionization, and Dissolution (MADRID) model has been applied to estimate enhancements of $PM_{10}$ during Asian dust events in Korea. In particular, 5 experimental formulas were applied to the WRF-SMOKE-CMAQ (MADRID) model to estimate Asian dust emissions from source locations for major Asian dust events in China and Mongolia: the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) model, the Goddard Global Ozone Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport (GOCART) model, and the Dust Entrainment and Deposition (DEAD) model, as well as formulas by Park and In (2003), and Wang et al. (2000). According to the weather map, backward trajectory and satellite image analyses, Asian dust is generated by a strong downwind associated with the upper trough from a stagnation wave due to development of the upper jet stream, and transport of Asian dust to Korea shows up behind a surface front related to the cut-off low (known as comma type cloud) in satellite images. In the WRF-SMOKE-CMAQ modeling to estimate the PM10 concentration, Wang et al.'s experimental formula was depicted well in the temporal and spatial distribution of Asian dusts, and the GOCART model was low in mean bias errors and root mean square errors. Also, in the vertical profile analysis of Asian dusts using Wang et al's experimental formula, strong Asian dust with a concentration of more than $800\;{\mu}g/m^3$ for the period of March 31 to April 1, 2007 was transported under the boundary layer (about 1 km high), and weak Asian dust with a concentration of less than $400\;{\mu}g/m^3$ for the period of 16-17 March 2009 was transported above the boundary layer (about 1-3 km high). Furthermore, the difference between the CMAQ model and the CMAQ-MADRID model for the period of March 31 to April 1, 2007, in terms of PM10 concentration, was seen to be large in the East Asia area: the CMAQ-MADRID model showed the concentration to be about $25\;{\mu}g/m^3$ higher than the CMAQ model. In addition, the $PM_{10}$ concentration removed by the cloud liquid phase mechanism within the CMAQ-MADRID model was shown in the maximum $15\;{\mu}g/m^3$ in the Eastern Asia area.

Phytosociological Community Type Classification and Flora of Vascular Plants for the Forest Vegetation of Daecheongbong Area in Mt. Seorak (설악산 대청봉일대 산림식생의 식물사회학적 군락유형 및 관속 식물상 특성)

  • Kim, Ji Dong;Park, Go Eun;Lim, Jong-Hwan;Yun, Chung Weon
    • Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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    • v.106 no.2
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    • pp.130-149
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    • 2017
  • The subalpine zone which is vulnerable to climate change could be functioning as a habitat for northern plant species especially in the Korean peninsula. In this study, classification of phytosociological community type and investigation on flora of vascular plants of Daecheongbong area in Mt. Seorak were carried out in order to provide a basic information for an ecological restoration and management of the vegetation through community ecological approach. Vegetation data were collected from 31 of quadrates from May to October, 2016. We analyzed vegetation types with phytosociological method, importance value with Curtis & McIntosh method, CCA using PC-ORD program tool, and flora of vascular plants. As a result, the forest vegetation was classified into Abies nephrolepis community. The community was divided 3 groups such as Pinus pumila group, Rhododendron brachycarpum group and Angelica decursiva group. Therefore, the vegetation had 3 kinds of units. The differential species group, it was classified into total of 7 species group units including Thuja koraiensis and Smilacina bicolor differential species group. The mean importance percentage (MIP) in VU 1 was shown Pinus koraiensis (24.1), A. nephrolepis (23.6) and Betula ermanii (10.5), and in VU 2, it was P. koraiensis (26.2), A. nephrolepis (20.8) and B. ermanii (10.5), and in VU 3, it was P. koraiensis (22.2), A. nephrolepis (16.4), B. ermanii (13.5) in the order, respectively. As for importance values of P. koraiensis and A. nephrolepis representative competition species, were different at each layers. The former (46.7) was higher than the latter (26.1) in tree layer, but the latter was higher than the former in subtree and, shrub and herb layers of VU 1. VU 2 and VU 3 also indicated the same tendency. P. pumila group and A. decursiva group were shown to have positive correlation with altitude and present species, respectively. The designated as the endemic plant was 11 taxa and, as the rare plant 24 taxa and 62.5% of vascular plant was northern plant species. It is necessary to continue further long-term monitoring of 3 vegetation units, IV of main competition species (P. koraiensis and A. nephrolepis) with stratum and main specific species (rare plants and endemic plants) considering vegetation science and, population and community ecology approaches.

A Study on Lateral Flow in Soft Grounds under Embankments for Road Constructions (도로 성토로 인한 연약지반의 측방유동에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Junghoon;Hong, Wonpyo;Lee, Choongmin;Lee, Junwoo
    • Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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    • v.13 no.9
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    • pp.17-29
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    • 2012
  • To investigate the characteristics of shear strength and soil deformation in soft grounds, in which various vertical drains were placed, two hundreds field monitoring data of embankments performed in thirteen road construction sites at west and south coastal areas of the Korean Peninsula were collected. At first, the relationship between settlement and lateral displacement was investigated into three stages, in which embankment construction works were divided into initial filling stage, final filling stage and stage after complete filling. And then, the relationship of surcharge pressures and embankment heights with undrained shear strength of soft grounds were investigated. The investigation on settlement and lateral displacement illustrated that the increment of lateral flow to the increment of settlement was low during initial filling stage, but increased gradually with filling and showed largest during final filling stage. After complete filling, the lateral displacement was converged, even though the settlement was increased continuously. Therefore, most of lateral flow was occurred during embankment filling. The ratio of the lateral displacement increment to the settlement increment was 20% for initial filling stage, which coincided with the one presented by Tavenas et al.(1979), but became 50% for final filling stage, which was half of the one presented by Tavenas et al.(1979). However, the ratio reduced to 1% to 9%, which was quite lower than the one presented by Tavenas et al.(1979). Shear deformations, even shear failures, were predicted in soft grounds under initial undrained shear strength, since the design heights of embankments were higher than the yield height in all the sites. However, embankment construction would be possible since the yield height became higher than the design height due to improvement of shear strength of soft grounds with application of the vertical drains. In order to perform safely embankments for road constructions, the embankment loads should be designed not to be exceed 5.14 times the initial undrained shear strength of soft grounds and to be less than 3.0 times the undrained shear strength improved with application of vertical drains in soft grounds.