• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.225-242
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• 2012

This is the first attempt to produce simultaneous surface current field from satellite altimeter data for the entire East Sea and to provide surface current information to users with formal description. It is possible to estimate surface geostrophic current field in near real-time because satellite altimeters and coastal tide gauges supply sea level data for the whole East Sea. Strength and location of the major currents and meso-scale eddies can be identified from the estimated surface geostrophic current field. The mean locations of major surface currents were explicated relative to topographic, ocean-surface and undersea features with schematic representation of surface circulation. In order to demonstrate the practical use of this surface current information, exemplary descriptions of annual, seasonal and monthly mean surface geostrophic current distributions were presented. In order to objectively classify surface circulation patterns in the East Sea, empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis was performed on the estimated 16-year (1993-2008) surface current data. The first mode was associated with intensification or weakening of the East Korea Warm Current (EKWC) flowing northward along the east coast of Korea and of the anti-cyclonic circulation southwest of Yamato Basin. The second mode was associated with meandering paths of the EKWC in the southern East Sea with wavelength of 300 km. The first and second modes had inter-annual variations. The East Sea surface circulation was classified as inertial boundary current pattern, Tsushima Warm Current pattern, meandering pattern, and Offshore Branch pattern by the time coefficient of the first two EOF modes.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.743-754
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• 2000

Model parameters of the WASP5 applied to Saemanguem lake were estimated. The methodology is based on grouping water quality constituents and relevant parameters and successively estimating each group of parameters by a trial-and-error procedure. Chlorophyll-a, nitrogen cycles, phosphorus cycles, BOD and DO were simulated at the complexity level 4. The Saemangeum basin divided into a number of unit sub-watershed. And a water budget model analysis with 22 years from 1975 to 1996 year was examined. In this paper, input data at upstream boundaries of model was made to determine seasonally-averaged flow rate through water budget analysis. Calibration and verification of the model were used seasonal average of water quality measurements in 1997 and 1998 years. Grouping water quality constituents and associated parameters proved to be efficient in estimating a number of model parameters. From the results of model calibration and verification, it was found that quantitative evaluations of nonpoint source for organic matters are essential.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.153-158
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• 2010

To investigate the velocity structure in the central and southern parts of the Korean peninsula, a 299-km NW-SE seismic refraction profile KCRT-2008was obtained across major tectonic boundaries. Seismic waves were generated by detonating 250 ~ 1500 kg explosives at depths of 50 ~ 100 m in eight drill holes located at intervals of 21 ~ 113 km. The seismic signals were detected by 4.5 Hz geophones at a nominal interval of 500 m. The first-arrival times were inverted to derive a velocity tomogram. The raypaths indicate several mid-crust interfaces including those at approximate depths of 2 ~ 3, 11 ~ 13, and 20 km. The Moho discontinuity with refraction velocity of 7.7 to 8.1 km/s has a maximum depth of 34.5 km under the central portion of the peninsula. The Moho becomes shallower as the Yellow Sea and the East Sea are approached on the west and east coasts of the peninsula, respectively. The depth of the 7.6 km/s velocity contour varies from 31.3 km to 34.4 km. The velocity tomogram shows the existence of a 129 km wide low-velocity zone centered at 7.2 km depth under the Okchon fold belt and Gyeonggi massif and low-velocity(< 5.4 km/s) rocks in the Gyeongsang sedimentary basin with a maximum thickness of 2.6 km

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.297-306
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• 2023

Saemangeum Lake is the largest artificial lake in Korea. The continuous deterioration of lake water quality necessitates the introduction of novel water quality management strategies. Therefore, this study aims to identify the spatiotemporal water quality characteristics of Saemangeum Lake using data from the National Water Quality Measurement Network and provide basic information for water quality management. In the water quality parameters of Saemangeum Lake, water temperature and total phosphorous content were correlated, and salt, total nitrogen content, pH, and chemical oxygen demand were significantly correlated. Other parameters showed a low correlation. The spatial principal component analysis of Saemangeum Lake showed the characteristics of its four zones. The mid-to-downstream section of the river affected by freshwater inflow showed a high nutrient salt concentration, and the deep-water section of the drainage gate and the lake affected by seawater showed a high salt concentration. Two types of water qualities were observed in the intermediate water area where river water and outer sea water were mixed: waters with relatively low salt and high chemical oxygen demand, and waters with relatively low salt and high pH concentration. In the principal component analysis by time, the water quality was divided into four groups based on the observation month. Group I occurred during May and June in late spring and early summer, Group II was in early spring (March-April) and late autumn (November-December), Group III was in winter (January-February), and Group IV was in summer (July-October) during high temperatures. The water quality characteristics of Saemangeum Lake were found to be affected by the inflow of the upper Mangyeong and Dongjin rivers, and the seawater through the Garuk and Shinshi gates installed in the Saemangeum Embankment. In order to achieve the target water quality of Saemangeum Lake, it is necessary to establish water quality management measures for Saemangeum Lake along with pollution source management measures in the upper basin.