• Atmosphere
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.187-204
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• 2013

This study analyzed the synoptic distribution and vertical structure about four cases of precipitation occurrences using NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data and upper level data of winter intensive observation to be performed by National Institute of Meteorological Research at Bukgangneung, Incheon, Boseong during 63days from 4 JAN to 6 MAR in 2012, and Observing System Experiment (OSE) using 3DVAR-WRF system was conducted to examine the precipitation predictability of upper level data at western and southern coastal regions. The synoptic characteristics of selected precipitation occurrences were investigated as causes for 1) rainfall events with effect of moisture convergence owing to low pressure passing through south sea on 19 JAN, 2) snowfall events due to moisture inflowing from yellow sea with propagation of Siberian high pressure after low pressure passage over middle northern region on 31 JAN, 3) rainfall event with effect of weak pressure trough in west low and east high pressure system on 25 FEB, 4) rainfall event due to moisture inflow according to low pressures over Bohai bay and south eastern sea on 5 MAR. However, it is identified that vertical structure of atmosphere had different characteristics with heavy rainfall system in summer. Firstly, depth of convection was narrow due to absence of moisture convergence and strong ascending air current in middle layer. Secondly, warm air advection by veering wind with height only existed in low layer. Thirdly, unstable layer was limited in the narrow depth due to low surface temperature although it formed, and also values of instability indices were not high. Fourthly, total water vapor amounts containing into atmosphere was small due to low temperature distribution so that precipitable water vapor could be little amounts. As result of OSE conducting with upper level data of Incheon and Boseong station, 12 hours accumulated precipitation distributions of control experiment and experiments with additional upper level data were similar with ones of observation data at 610 stations. Although Equitable Threat Scores (ETS) were different according to cases and thresholds, it was verified positive influence of upper level data for precipitation predictability as resulting with high improvement rates of 33.3% in experiment with upper level data of Incheon (INC_EXP), 85.7% in experiment with upper level data of Boseong (BOS_EXP), and 142.9% in experiment with upper level data of both Incheon and Boseong (INC_BOS_EXP) about accumulated precipitation more than 5 mm / 12 hours on 31 January 2012.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.314-322
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the hot air drying characteristics of squash slices depending on the drying conditions (input air velocity, input air temperature, and sample thickness). Methods: The developed drying system was equipped with a controllable air blower and electric finned heater, drying chamber, and ventilation fan. Squash (summer squash called Korean zucchini) samples were cut into slices of two different thicknesses (5 and 10 mm). These were then dried at two different input air temperatures (60 and $70^{\circ}C$) and air velocities (5 and 7 m/s). Six well-known drying models were tested to describe the experimental drying data. A non-linear regression analysis was applied to determine model constants and statistical indices such as the coefficient of determination ($R^2$), reduced chi-square (${\chi}^2$), and root mean square error (RMSE). In addition, the effective moisture diffusivity ($D_{eff}$) was estimated based on the curve of ln(MR) versus drying time. Results: The results clearly showed that drying time decreased with an increase in input air temperature. Slice thickness also affected the drying time. Air velocity had a greater influence on drying time at $70^{\circ}C$ than at $60^{\circ}C$ for both thicknesses. All drying models accurately described the drying curve of squash slices regardless of slice thickness and drying conditions; the Modified Henderson and Pabis model had the best performance with the highest R2 and the lowest RMSE values. The effective moisture diffusivity ($D_{eff}$) changes, obtained from Fick's diffusion method, were between $1.67{\times}10^{-10}$ and $7.01{\times}10^{-10}m^2/s$. The moisture diffusivity was increased with an increase in input air temperature, velocity, and thickness. Conclusions: The drying time of squash slices varied depending on input temperature, velocity, and thickness of slices. The further study is necessary to figure out optimal drying condition for squash slices with retaining its original quality.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.237-246
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• 2018

Purpose: This study (a) investigated the effect of microwave power intensity and sample thickness on microwave drying characteristics of radish strips, and (b) determined the best-fit drying model for describing experimental drying data, effective moisture diffusivity ($D_{eff}$), and activation energy ($E_a$) for all drying conditions. Methods: A domestic microwave oven was modified for microwave drying and equipped with a small fan installed on the left upper side for removing water vapor during the drying process. Radishes were cut into two fixed-size strip shapes (6 and 9 mm in thickness). For drying experiments, the applied microwave power intensities ranged from 180 to 630 W at intervals of 90 W. Six drying models were evaluated to delineate the experimental drying curves of both radish strip samples. The effective moisture diffusivity ($D_{eff}$) was determined from Fick's diffusion method, and the Arrhenius equation was applied to calculate the activation energy ($E_a$). Results: The drying time was profoundly decreased as the microwave power intensity was increased regardless of the thickness of the radish strips; however, the drying rate of thicker strips was faster than that of the thinner strips up to a certain moisture content of the strip samples. The majority of the applied drying models were suitable to describe the drying characteristics of the radish strips for all drying conditions. Among the drying models, based on the model indices, the best model was the Page model. The range of estimated $D_{eff}$ for both strip samples was from $2.907{\times}10^{-9}$ to $1.215{\times}10^{-8}m^2/s$. $E_a$ for the 6- and 9-mm strips was 3.537 and 3.179 W/g, respectively. Conclusions: The microwave drying characteristics varied depending on the microwave power intensity and the thickness of the strips. In order to produce high-quality dried radish strips, the microwave power intensity should be lower than 180 W.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.126-137
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• 2021

Recently, the number of damages on social infrastructure has increased due to natural disasters and the frequency of earthquake events that are higher than magnitude 3 has increased in South Korea. Liquefaction was found near the epicenter of a 5.4 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Pohang, South Korea, in 2017. To explore increases in soil moisture index due to soil liquefaction, changes in the remote exploration index by the land cover before and post-earthquake occurrence were analyzed using liquefaction feasibility index and multi-cyclical Landsat-8 satellite images. We found that the soil moisture index(SMI) in the liquefaction region immediately after the earthquake event increased significantly using the Normal Vegetation Index(NDVI) and Surface Temperature(LST).

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.56 no.11
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• pp.721-728
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• 2023

Agricultural drought is triggered by a depletion of moisture content in the soil, which hinders photosynthesis and thus increases carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations in the atmosphere. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between soil moisture (SM) and vegetation activity toward quantifying CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere. To this end, the MODerate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS), an optical multispectral sensor, was used to evaluate two regions in South Korea for validation. Vegetation activity was analyzed through MOD13A1 vegetation indices products, and MODIS gross primary productivity (GPP) product was used to calculate the CO₂ flux based on its relationship with respiration. In the case of SM, it was calculated through the method of applying apparent thermal inertia (ATI) in combination with land surface temperature and albedo. To validate the SM and CO₂ flux, flux tower data was used which are the observed measurement values for the extreme drought period of 2014 and 2015 in South Korea. These two variables were analyzed for temporal variation on flux tower data as daily time scale, and the relationship with vegetation index (VI) was synthesized and analyzed on a monthly scale. The highest correlation between SM and VI (correlation coefficient (r) = 0.82) was observed at a time lag of one month, and that between VI and CO₂ (r = 0.81) at half month. This regional study suggests a potential capability of MODIS-based SM, VI, and CO₂ flux, which can be applied to an assessment of the global view of the agricultural drought by using available satellite remote sensing products.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.75-86
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• 2002

This study was conducted to analyze the change of soil characteristics effect on the condition of urban forest in Sasang parti located near Sasang Industrial Complex. The results of this study are as follows; 1. Soil hardness is increasing from the area of forest, to the entrance, to facilities in that order. Soil acidity pH4.19∼4.23 in Sasang park indicated a high acidity condition. High levers of K, Na, Mg, Ca are shown in the areas composed of high soil hardness. 2. Pinus thunbergii in the overstory tree layer, Alnus japonica in the understory tree layer, and Rhus sylvestris in the shurb layer are shown respectively as dominant species based on the ground survey and the compution of important value. Pinus thunbergii is decreasing, while Alnus japonica and increasing. 3. Oplismenus undulatifolius which has a strong tolerance for air pollution, is shown as a dominant species of herbaceous plants in Sasang park. There are 10 species of Harbaceous in Sasang park compared to 20 species in Molundae park. This shows that deversity in herbaceous plants are imported by air pollution. 4. Species diversity indices of Sasang park is 0.8738∼0.9700 compared to 1.0817∼ 1.233 in Molundae park is due to the good condition of soil environment in addition to air pollution effects. 5. The vitality of Pinus thunbergii is 16.41∼20.42ER in Sasang park, and 12.42∼ 16.81ER, in Molundae park. This shows that tree vitality are impacted by soil characteristics. The regression analysis between tree vitality and soil environment shows the effects of is soil hardness, soil moisture, soil acidity, K, Na, Mg, Ca.

• Mycobiology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.151-158
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• 2012

Very few studies have addressed the phylogenetic diversity of fungi from Northeast India under the Eastern Himalayan range. In the present study, an attempt has been made to study the phylogenetic diversity of culturable soil fungi along the altitudinal gradients of eastern Himalayas. Soil samples from 24 m above sea level to 2,000 m above sea level altitudes of North-East India were collected to investigate soil micro-fungal community structure and diversity. Molecular characterization of the isolates was done by PCR amplification of 18S rDNA using universal primers. Phylogenetic analysis using BLAST revealed variation in the distribution and richness of different fungal biodiversity over a wide range of altitudes. A total of 107 isolates were characterized belonging to the phyla Ascomycota and Zygomycota, corresponding to seven orders (Eurotiales, Hypocreales, Calosphaeriales, Capnodiales, Pleosporales, Mucorales, and Mortierellales) and Incertae sedis. The characterized isolates were analysed for richness, evenness and diversity indices. Fungal diversity had significant correlation with soil physico-chemical parameters and the altitude. Eurotiales and Hypocreales were most diverse and abundant group of fungi along the entire altitudinal stretch. Species of Penicillium (D=1.44) and Aspergillus (D=1.288) were found to have highest diversity index followed by Talaromyces (D=1.26) and Fusarium (D=1.26). Fungal distribution showed negative correlation with altitude and soil moisture content. Soil temperature, pH, humidity and ambient temperature showed positive correlation with fungal distribution.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.127-136
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• 2017

The object of this study was to assess availability of meteorological drought index for agricultural dorught estimation in ungauged area of agricultural drought parameters which are reservoir water level and soil moisture. The IADI (Integrated Agricultural Drought Index) and the SPI (Standard Precipitation Index), which are the criteria for determining agricultural drought and meteorological drought, were calculated and compared. For this purpose, the droughts that occurred in the Baeksan reservoir in Gimje and the Edong reservoir in Suwon were evaluated by using the IADI and SPI drought indecies. In addition, we compared and analyzed the depth of drought based on the two drought indices. Evaluations derived form the IADI and SPI showed that the standard precipitation index tended to indicate the occurrence of drought earlier than the integrated agricultural drought index. However, the integrated agricultural drought index was better than the standard precipitation index at evaluating the severity of drought during the period of irrigation. The relationship between these two drought indices seems to be useful for decision making in the case of drought, and it is considered that more studies are needed to examine the applicability of these drought indexes.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.227-236
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• 2020

Expansive soils are renowned for their swelling-shrinkage property and these volumetric changes resultantly cause huge damage to civil infrastructures. Likewise, subgrades consisting of expansive soils instigate serviceability failures in pavements across various regions of Pakistan and worldwide. This study presents the use of polypropylene fibers to improve the engineering properties of a local swelling soil. The moisture-density relationship, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and elastic modulus (E₅₀), California bearing ratio (CBR) and one-dimensional consolidation behavior of the soil treated with 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8% fibers have been investigated in this study. It is found that the maximum dry density of reinforced soil slightly decreased by 2.8% due to replacement of heavier soil particles by light-weight fibers and the optimum moisture content remained almost unaffected due to non-absorbent nature of the fibers. A significant improvement has been observed in UCS (an increase of 279%), E₅₀ (an increase of 113.6%) and CBR value (an increase of 94.4% under unsoaked and an increase of 55.6% under soaked conditions) of the soil reinforced with 0.4% fibers, thereby providing a better quality subgrade for the construction of pavements on such soils. Free swell and swell pressure of the soil also significantly reduced (94.4% and 87.9%, respectively) with the addition of 0.8% fibers and eventually converting the medium swelling soil to a low swelling class. Similarly, the compression and rebound indices also reduced by 69.9% and 88%, respectively with fiber inclusion of 0.8%. From the experimental evaluations, it emerges that polypropylene fiber has great potential as a low cost and sustainable stabilizing material for widespread swelling soils.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether nutrient intakes and serum biochemical indices are associated with the skin condition of humans. Anthropometric data, skin surface hydration, ceramide content, dietary intake of nutrients and serum lipids (total cholesterol, HDL-, LDL-cholesterol, TG, MDA: malondialdehyde, TAS: total antioxidant status) were obtained from 36 healthy young women. Subjects were classified into 2 groups {LM: Low Moisture Group (n = 20) , HM: High Moisture Group (n = 16)} by forehead skin hydration. The results of this study were as follows: The average age, BMI, total body water, LBM, body fat$\%$, WHR, forehead hydration, ceramide content were 20.2 yrs, 20.7, 28.81, 39.2 kg, $28.0\%$, 0.8, $44.3\%$, and 1.05 $\mu$g/$\mu$g protein, repectively. The intakes of SF A (saturated fatty acid) , MUFA (monounsaturated fatty acid) in the HM group were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in the LM group, but zinc intakes in the LM group were higher than in the HM group. Serum levels of TAS in the LM group (1.27 mmol/l) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of in the HM group (1.20 mmol/l). Whereas other lipid levels were not significantly different, intakes of vitamin $B_{6}$ and folate showed significant positive correlation with the forehead hydration (r = 0.447, r = 0.377). Intakes of calcium and phosphorus showed significant negative correlation with forearm ceramide content (r = -0.496, r = -0.485). Several associations between nutrient intakes and skin conditions were observed, indicating that changes in baseline nutritional status may affect skin health.