• Title/Summary/Keyword: Polar environment

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Atmospheric Chemistry of Mercury in the Polar Regions and its Environmental Implications (극지환경 수은의 대기화학과 환경학적 의미)

  • Schroeder, WH;Kim, Min-Young;Hong, Sung-Min;Shon, Zang-Ho;Kim, Ki-Hyun
    • Journal of the Korean earth science society
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    • v.24 no.5
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    • pp.420-427
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    • 2003
  • The results of recent studies indicate that atmospheric distribution of Hg in the arctic environment is unique enough to show strong depletion during spring followed by notable increases during summer. The observations of this abnormal trend contrast quite sharply with what had been recognized as Hg geochemical behavior in air over the past decades. Using the long-term measurement data of Hg obtained from both the Arctic and Korea, we attempted to provide valuable insights into the unique mercury depletion phenomenon (MDP) in the polar regions of the globe.

A Study on the Effect of Ice Impact Forces on an Ice-Strengthened Polar Class Ship After a Collision with an Iceberg (빙산과의 충돌 시 충격 하중이 극지운항선박의 내빙 구조에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Sunghyug;Luo, Yu;Shi, Chu;Lee, Chang-Hyun
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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    • v.23 no.1
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    • pp.40-46
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    • 2017
  • Shipping activities have become possible in the Arctic Ocean due to melting ice by global warming. An increasing number of vessels are passing through the Arctic Ocean consequently bringing concerns of ship-iceberg collisions. Thus, most classification societies have implemented regulations to determine requirements for ice strengthening in ship structures. This paper presents the simulation results of an ice-strengthened polar class ship after an iceberg collision. The ice-strengthened polar class ship was created in accordance with the Unified Requirements for a Polar-Ship (IACS URI). An elastic-perfect plastic ice model was adopted for this simulation with a spherical shape. A Tsai-Wu yield surface was also used for the ice model. Collision simulations were conducted under the commercial code LS-DYNA 971. Hull deformations on the ice-strengthened foreship structure and collision interaction forces have been analysed in this paper. A normal-strength ship structure in an iceberg collision was also simulated to present comparison results. Distinct differences in structural strength against ice impact forces were shown between the ice-strengthened and normal-strength ship structures in the simulation results. About 1.8 m depth of hull deformation was found on the normal ship, whereas 1.0 m depth of hull deformation was left on the ice-strengthened polar class ship.

Relationship between the variation of the Tsushima Warm Current and current circulation in the East Sea (동해에서 potential vorticity와 해류순환과의 관계)

  • Lee Chung Il;Cho Kyu Dae;Yun Jong-Hwui
    • Proceedings of KOSOMES biannual meeting
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    • 2004.05b
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    • pp.89-92
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    • 2004
  • Potential vorticity is useful to illustrate mechanism and distribution pattern of current circulation the upper layer in the East Sea is divided into three part following like surface layer, Tsushima Warm Current(TWC) layer. Potential vorticity shows well the meandering of the TWC and polar front and circulation cell ill the northern part of polar front.

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Some Ecological and Physiological Features of the Antarctic Clam, Laternula elliptica (King and Broderip) in a Nearshore Habitat on King George Island

  • Ahn, In-Young;Chung, Ho-Sung;Choi, Kwang-Sik
    • Ocean and Polar Research
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.419-424
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    • 2001
  • The Antarctic clam Laternula elliptica, is one of the most representative benthic invertebrates in the Antarctic nearshore waters. Endemic to the Antarctic, L. elliptica is widely distributed around the Antarctica occurring as dense patches in shallow sheltered areas and exhibits high biomass. Despite its apparent ecological importance, L. elliptica has rarely been studied until recently probably due to difficulties in sampling in the ice-impacted waters. Recent studies have revealed various aspects of its ecology and physiology. In this review, some physiological and ecological characteristics of this species are discussed in relation to some prevailing features of its habitat environment, in particular physical instability of habitat substrates and extreme seasonality of food availability.

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Diversity and Physiological Characteristics of Culturable Bacteria from Marine Sediments of Ross Sea, Antarctica (남극 로스해 퇴적물로부터 분리된 세균의 다양성 및 생리학적 특성)

  • Lee, Yung Mi;Jung, You-Jung;Hong, Soon Gyu;Kim, Ji Hee;Lee, Hong Kum
    • Korean Journal of Microbiology
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    • v.50 no.2
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    • pp.119-127
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    • 2014
  • The affiliations and physiological characteristics of culturable bacteria isolated from the sediments of Ross Sea, Antarctica were investigated. Sixty-three isolates obtained by cultivation were grouped into 21 phylotypes affiliated with the phyla Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes and with the classes Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria by phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. Based on phylogenetic analysis (<98.65% sequence similarity), approximately 49% of total isolates represented potentially novel species or genus. Among them, extracellular protease, lipase, and exopolysaccharide activities at $10^{\circ}C$ or $20^{\circ}C$ were detected in approximately 46%, 25%, and 32% of the strains, respectively. Forty-three isolates produced at least one type of extracellular material and 21 of them produced at least two extracellular protease, lipase, and/or exopolysaccharides. Our findings indicate that culturable bacterial diversity present within the marine sediments of Ross Sea, Antarctica may contribute to the hydrolysis of the major organic constituents which is closely related with carbon and nitrogen cycling in this environment.

Importance of Polar Phytoplankton for the Global Environmental Change (전 지구 환경변화에 대한 극지 식물플랑크톤의 중요성)

  • 강성호;강재신;이상훈;김동선;김동엽
    • Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.1-20
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    • 2000
  • There are increasing evidences of climate change in the Antarctic and Arctic Oceans, especially elevated temperature due to the continuous burning of the fossil fuels and ultraviolet B(UV-B) flux within the ozone hole. Light-dependent, temperature-sensitive, and fast-growing organisms respond to these physical and biogeochemical changes. Polar marine phytoplankton, which are pioneer endemic species and important carbon contributors in the polar waters, are therefore highly suitable biological indicators of such changes. By virtue of light requirement, the primary producers are exposed to extreme seasonal fluctuations in temperature, photosynthetically active radiation, and UV radiation. Local environmental warming and increased UV-B radiation during ozone depletion may have profound effects on the primary producers that are primary carbon producers in the polar water. Small changes in climate temperature and solar radiation may have profound effects on the activity threshold of the polar phytoplanktion. To demonstrate biological response to the environmental changes, standardized representative natural and biological parameters are needed so that replicate samples (including controls) can be taken over extended periods of time. In this paper, we review general characteristics of polar phytoplankton, their environment, environmental changes in the polar waters, the effects on the environmental changes to the polar phytoplankton, and the importance of the polar phytoplankton to understand the global environmental changes. [Biological indicators, Global environmental change, Polar phytoplankton, UV].

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Detection of Long Period Seismic Events by Using a Portable Gravity Meter, gPhone (이동식 중력계(gPhone)를 활용한 장주기 지진 이벤트 관측)

  • Lee, Won Sang;Seo, Ki-Weon;Eom, Jooyoung;Sheen, Dong-Hoon;Lee, Choon-Ki;Park, Yongcheol;Yun, Sukyoung;Yoo, Hyun Jae
    • Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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    • v.18 no.1
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    • pp.31-34
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    • 2015
  • A gravity meter has been used for exploring subsurface mineral resources and monitoring long-period events such as Earth tides. Recently, researchers found several other intriguing features that we could even detect large teleseismic earthquakes and monitor seismic ambient noise using gravimeters. The zero-length spring suspension technology gives the gPhone (Micro-g LaCoste) excellent low frequency sensitivity, which may have implications for investigating much longer-period natural events (e.g., Earth's hum, tsunami waves, etc.). In this study, we present preliminary results through temporary operation of the gPhone at Geumsan in South Korea for 9 months (Nov. 2008-Jul. 2009). The gPhone successfully recorded large teleseismic events and showed a clear seasonal variation of the Double frequency microseisms during its operation period.

Study of Alternative Fuel Suitability for Special Antarctic Blend Diesel (남극유 대체연료 적합성 연구)

  • Lim, Young-Kwan;Kim, Ji-Yeon;Kim, Jong-Ryeol;Ha, Jong-Han
    • Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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    • v.28 no.4
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    • pp.460-466
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    • 2017
  • The common petroleum can make precipitation such as a wax in a polar region due to severely cold weather condition, which can cause problems to fuel supply system. The petroleum product used in the polar region has thus been manufactured and sold suitable for the cold environment. However it is difficult to supply such petroleum products on time since these were mainly supplied abroad. In this article, the original fuel properties were first analyzed in order to find alternative fuel products for polar region. Jet fuel which is excellent cold characteristics was chosen and the fuel properties was tested by adding a constant concentration of lubricant additives to the jet fuel. As a result, the lubricant additive R621 showed the best lubricity, and adding 1000 mg/L of R621 content to the jet fuel was sufficient to enhance the lubricity. We envision that the jet fuel added 1000 mg/L of R621A can be suitable for alternative special antarctic blend diesel (SAB) in an severe polar environment.