• Title/Summary/Keyword: Polar regions

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Connection between the Amplitude Variations of the GPS Radio Occultation Signals and Solar Activity

  • Pavelyev, A.G.;Liou, Y.A.;Wickert, J.;Pavelyev, A.A.
    • Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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    • 2008.10a
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    • pp.348-357
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    • 2008
  • The classification of the effect of ionospheric disturbances on the radio occultation signal amplitude has been introduced based on an analysis of more than 2000 seances of radio occultation measurements per formed with the help of the CHAMP German satellite. The dependence of the histograms of variations in the radio occultation signal amplitude on the IMF variation index has been revealed. It has been indicated that it is possible to introduce the radio occultation index characterizing the relation between ionospheric disturbances and solar activity. An amplitude radio occultation (RO) method is proposed to study connection between the ionospheric and solar activity on a global scale. Sporadic amplitude scintillation observed in RO experiments contain important information concerning the seasonal, geographical, and temporal distributions of the ionospheric disturbances and depend on solar activity. The probability of strong RO amplitude variations (RO $S_4$ index greater than 0.2) in the CHAMP RO signals diminishes sharply with the weakening of solar activity from 2001 to 2008. The general number of RO events with strong amplitude variations can be used as an indicator of the ionospheric activity. We found that during 2001-2008 the daily globally averaged RO $S_{4a}$ index depends essentially on solar activity. The maximum occurred in January 2002, minimum has been observed in summer 2008. Different temporal behavoir of $S_{4a}$ index has been detected for polar (with latitude greater than $60^{\circ}$) and low latitude (moderate and equatorial) regions. For polar regions $S_{4a}$ index is slowly decreasing with solar activity. In the low latitude areas $S_{4a}$ index is sharply oscillating, depending on the solar ultraviolet emission variations. The different geographical behavoir of $S_{4a}$ index indicates different origin of ionospheric plasma disturbances in polar and low latitude areas. Origin of the plasma disturbances in the polar areas may be connected with influence of solar wind, the ultraviolet emission of the Sun may be the main cause of the ionospheric irregularities in the low latitude zone. Therefore, the $S_{4a}$ index of RO signal is important radio physical indicator of solar activity.

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Soil organic carbon characteristics relating to geomorphology near Vestre Lovénbreen moraine in Svalbard

  • Jung, Ji Young;Lee, Kyoo;Lim, Hyoun Soo;Kim, Hyun-Cheol;Lee, Eun Ju;Lee, Yoo Kyung
    • Journal of Ecology and Environment
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    • v.37 no.2
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    • pp.69-79
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    • 2014
  • Soil organic carbon (SOC) in the Arctic is vulnerable to climate change. However, research on SOC stored in the high Arctic regions is currently very limited. Thus, this study was aimed at understanding the distribution and characteristics of SOC with respect to geomorphology and vegetation in Svalbard. In August 2011, soil samples were collected near the Vestre Lov$\acute{e}$nbreen moraine. Sampling sites were chosen according to altitude (High, Mid, and Low) and differences in levels of vegetation establishment. Vegetation coverage, aboveground biomass, and SOC contents were measured, and density-size fractionation of SOC was conducted. The SOC content was the highest in the Mid site ($126.9mg\;g^{-1}$) and the lowest in the High site ($32.1mg\;g^{-1}$), although aboveground biomass and vegetation coverage were not different between these two sites. The low SOC content measured at the High site could be related to a slower soil development following glacial retreat. On the other hand, the Low site contained a high amount of SOC despite having low vegetative cover and a high ratio of sand particles. These incompatible relationships between SOC and vegetation in the Low site might be associated with past site disturbances such as runoff from snow/glacier melting. This study showed that geomorphological features combined with glacier retreat or melting snow/glacier effects could have affected the SOC distribution and vegetation establishment in the high Arctic.

Characteristics of the Polar Ionosphere Based on the Chatanika and Sondrestrom Incoherent Scatter Radars

  • Kwak, Young-Sil;Ahn, Byung-Ho
    • Ocean and Polar Research
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    • v.26 no.3
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    • pp.489-499
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    • 2004
  • The climatological characteristics of the polar ionospheric currents obtained from the simultaneous observations of the ionospheric electric field and conductivity are examined. For this purpose, 43 and 109 days of measurements from the Chatanika and Sondrestrom incoherent scatter radars are utilized respectively. The ionospheric current density is compared with the corresponding ground magnetic disturbance. Several interesting characteristics about the polar ionosphere are apparent from this study: (1) The sun determines largely the conductance over the Sondrestrom radar, while the nighttime conductance distribution over the Chatanika radar is significantly affected by auroral precipitation. (2) The regions of the maximum N-S electric field over the Chatanika radar are located approximately at the dawn and dusk sectors, while they tend to shift towards dayside over the Sondrestrom radar. The N-S component over Son-drestrom is slightly stronger than Chatanika. However, the E-W component over Chatanika is negligible compared to that of Sondrestrom. (3) The E-W ionospheric current flows dominantly in the night hemisphere over Chatanika, while it flows in the sunlit hemisphere over Sondrestrom. The N-S current over Chatanika flows prominently in the dawn and dusk sectors, while a strong southward current flows in the prenoon sector over Sondrestrom. (4) The assumption of infinite sheet current approximation is far from realistic, underestimating the current density by a factor of 2 or more. It is particularly serious for the higher latitude region. (5) The correlation between ${\Delta}H\;and\;J_E$ is higher than the one between ${\Delta}D\;and\;J_N$, indicating that field-aligned current affects ${\Delta}D$significantly.

Growth and characterization of periodically polarity-inverted ZnO structures grown on Cr-compound buffer layers

  • Park, J.S.;Goto, T.;Hong, S.K.;Chang, J.H.;Yoon, E.;Yao, T.
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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    • 2010.08a
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    • pp.259-259
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    • 2010
  • Periodically polarity inverted (PPI) ZnO structures on (0001) Al2O3 substrates are demonstrated by plasmas assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The patterning and re-growth methods are used to realize the PPI ZnO by employing the polarity controlling method. For the in-situ polarity controlling of ZnO films, Cr-compound buffer layers are used.[1, 2] The region with the CrN intermediate layer and the region with the Cr2O3 and Al2O3 substrate were used to grow the Zn- and O-polar ZnO films, respectively. The growth behaviors with anisotropic properties of PPI ZnO heterostructures are investigated. The periodical polarity inversion is evaluated by contrast images of piezo-response microscopy. Structural and optical interface properties of PPI ZnO are investigated by the transmission electron microcopy (TEM) and micro photoluminescence ($\mu$-PL). The inversion domain boundaries (IDBs) between the Zn and the O-polar ZnO regions were clearly observed by TEM. Moreover, the investigation of spatially resolved local photoluminescence characteristics of PPI ZnO revealed stronger excitonic emission at the interfacial region with the IDBs compared to the Zn-polar or the O-polar ZnO region. The possible mechanisms will be discussed with the consideration of the atomic configuration, carrier life time, and geometrical effects. The successful realization of PPI structures with nanometer scale period indicates the possibility for the application to the photonic band-gap structures or waveguide fabrication. The details of application and results will be discussed.

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Photoinduction of UV-absorbing Compounds and Photo-protective Pigment in Phaeocystis pouchetii and Porosira glacialis by UV Exposure (실내 자외선 노출 실험을 통한 극지 식물플랑크톤(Phaeocystis pouchetii, Porosira glacialis)의 자외선 흡수물질 생성 연구)

  • Ha, Sun-Yong;Kang, Sung-Won;Park, Mi-Ok;Kim, Young-Nam;Kang, Sung-Ho;Shin, Kyung-Hoon
    • Ocean and Polar Research
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    • v.32 no.4
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    • pp.397-409
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    • 2010
  • Herein, we compared the production rate of UV-absorbing compounds (mycosporine-like amino acids) and carotenoids in two phytoplankton species--Phaeocystis pouchetii and Porosira glacialis--which are the dominant species in Polar Regions under artificial UV radiation conditions. P. pouchetii exposed to UVR and PAR evidenced reductions in the carbon fixation rate, and was not significantly influenced by differing light conditions. However, the concentrations of UV-absorbing compounds and photo-protective pigments of P. pouchetii were increased with increasing exposure time, but P. glacialis maintained constant levels during the UVR exposure experiment. The production rates of MAAs showed a reverse phase between the two phytoplankton species. The carbon fixation rate of P. pouchetii cells was inhibited by exposure to UV radiation, but the production rates of MAAs in P. pouchetii were increased under UV radiation exposure. The carbon fixation rate and production rate of MAAs in P. glacialis were simultaneously inhibited under UV radiation exposure conditions. These results provide us with new information regarding the processes involved in the production of UV-absorbing compounds and photoprotective pigments in two phytoplankton species.

Benthic Pollution Assessment Based on Macrobenthic Community Structure in Gamak Bay, Southern Coast of Korea

  • Koo, Bon-Joo;Je, Jong-Geel;Shin, Sang-Ho
    • Ocean and Polar Research
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    • v.26 no.1
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    • pp.11-22
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    • 2004
  • Benthic pollution assessment based on macrobenthic community structure with environmental variables was carried out at twelve stations during two periods on a presumed pollution gradient in Gamak Bay. Univariate and multivariate methods were applied to investigate structural changes in the benthic communities. A clear gradient of pollution effects on the macrobenthic community was observed from the interior to the exterior of the bay. The community on the northwestern basin was severely disturbed due to a low level of hydrodynamics and a large amount of pollutant input from nearby cities. Exterior regions on the southern basin appeared to have the best benthic environmental characteristics among all stations according to most methods of analysis. Central ridge regions and two stations around the islets in the mouth of the bay exhibited intermediate levels of perturbation when compared to the more disturbed interior and undisturbed exterior regions. Pollution effects on the communities were attenuated at the southern area of the central ridge during spring compared to those of summer, where aquacultural farming was densely distributed. The environmental variables primarily correlated to the macrobenthic community structure were total organic carbon (C), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and tributyltins (TBTs), contents found on the surface sediment, as anthropogenic variables indicating organic materials.

DISCOVERY OF VELOCITY INHOMOGENEITIES IN THE COMA, HYDRA, ABELL 2256 CLUSTER OF GALAXIES

  • Kim, Kwang-Tae
    • Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
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    • v.7 no.1
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    • pp.39-50
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    • 1992
  • A velocity inhomogeneity, which is the regional preponderence of either radial or tangential orbits, is searched with the new technique proposed by Kim (1992) for Coma, Hydra I, and Abell 2256 cluster of galaxies. Conspicuous inhomogeneities are found in the Coma and A2256 which X-ray isophotes are indicative for their underlying potentials being ellipitcal in shape, Even in their central regions, zones that are dominated by radial orbits are clearly distinguishable from that of the tangential orbits, and defining the cluster 'equator' as the direction of maximum elongation of the X-ray isophotes, radial orbits dominate along this direction whereas tangential orbits dominate the 'polar' zones. Merger events that are evidenced in X-ray observations occur in the equatorial zones of Coma and A2256, suggesting preponderence of radial orbits in the zones, which is in good agreement with their velocity structures. On the other hand, the inhomogeneity in Hydra I turns out to be insignificant in the central regions and this is just what is expected from a cluster whose X-ray isophotes is nearly circular. The velocity distribution in regions further out, however, shows significant inhomogeneity and this seems to support the previous results that this cluster is likely to have substructures and velocity anisotropy.

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Numerical Analysis on Freezing in the Ship Voyaging in Polar Regions

  • Kang, Ho-Keun;Kim, Ki-Pyoung;Ahn, Soo-Whan
    • Journal of Power System Engineering
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    • v.17 no.5
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    • pp.30-37
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    • 2013
  • For vessels operating in the cold climate regions, the ballast water inside or hopper tanks above the waterline may be frozen, starting at the top of the tank and at the side walls. Therefore, countermeasures against freeze-up of the ballast tank such as air-bubbling system, hot steam injecting system, heating coil system and water circulating system are taken to prevent freeze-up phenomenon; however, there are no rigorous investigations of anti-freezing to examine the effectiveness and validity of systems against freeze-up of the ballast tank, in which the temperatures are about -$25^{\circ}C$ (ambient air temperature) and $0^{\circ}C$ (sea water), respectively. In this paper, to ensure reasonable specifications for cold regions if the measures from the above-mentioned systems against freeze-up are effective, the phenomenon of ballast tank freeze-up is simulated and discussed in low temperature conditions. With the results using the commercial CFD code, CFX 14, the most cost-effective solution is conducted to prevent being frozen along the outer surface.

Numerical Analysis of Helical Pile Behavior Varying Number and Diameter of Helices (헬릭스 개수 및 직경에 따른 헬리컬 파일 거동의 수치해석적 분석)

  • Bak, Jongho;Lee, Kicheol;Choi, Byeong-Hyun;Kim, Dongwook
    • KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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    • v.39 no.1
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    • pp.211-217
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    • 2019
  • Oil extraction from oil sands, a non-traditional crude oil resource, is attracting attention as the oil price fluctuates due to recent economical and political issues. Many oil sands sites are mainly located in the polar regions. For plant construction to extract crude oil from oil sands in harsh environment of the polar regions, fast and simple installation of plant foundation is necessary. However, typically-used conventional foundations such as drilled shafts and driven piles are not suitable to construct under cold temperature and organic surface layers. In this study, helical piles enabling rapid and simple constructions using small rotary equipment without driving or excavation was considered. The helical pile consists of steel shaft and several helices attached to the steel shaft; therefore, the behavior of the helical pile depends on the number and shape of the helices. The effect of the helices' configuration (number and diameter of helices) on helical pile behavior was analyzed based on the numerical analysis results.

A Study on the Lunar Ground Temperature Profile for Investigation of Possible Condition of the Ice Layer Existence in Sub-surface of the Moon (달 지하 얼음 층 존재 가능조건 검토를 위한 달 지반 온도 프로파일 산정 연구)

  • Go, Gyu-Hyun;Lee, Jangguen;Shin, Hyu-Soung
    • KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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    • v.39 no.6
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    • pp.801-809
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    • 2019
  • NASA's lunar polar exploration mission in 2009 confirmed the presence of ice-layer in the permanently shadowed regions (PSR) of the moon. Since then, studies have been actively conducted to evaluate the ground characteristics for exploring the ice-layer in the polar regions of the Moon. In this study, transient heat transfer analysis for the lunar ground was conducted to predict the ground's temperature that varies with the time and location. As a result of the numerical analysis, it was confirmed that the temperature under the lunar ground converged to below the ice sublimation reference temperature (≒112 K) at above 86° latitude. This model enabled us to identify the regions where there is a high possibility of ice being buried. Besides, we found that the ice-layer in the shallow region, where the temperature deviation is significant, makes ground temperature distribution heterogeneous. Lastly, this study suggested the maximum allowable frictional heat of a drill bit that can preserve the phase of buried ice.