• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.207-215
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• 2009

Greenbelts were designated by the Korean government in 1971 in 14 large cities to prevent uncontrolled urban expansion. Recently, deregulation of the greenbelt system has resulted in further development, but the ecological role of greenbelts has not been fully considered when decisions about urban management are being made. We examined the ecological roles of the greenbelt system in the Seoul metropolitan area and prepared sustainable management and improvement plans based on our analysis of landscape characteristics using satellite images covering a ${\sim}30$-year period. The loss of forest cover during this period in the greenbelt areas was lower than that in the areas outside and inside of the greenbelt. Fragmentation of forest cover was correlated with the pattern of loss of forest cover. The NDVI of the greenbelt remained steady at 90% of that in outside of the GB for three decades. This suggests that the greenbelt system has performed its primary roles well. However, the remaining green space was not adequate to provide a sink for air pollutants even when the greenbelt area was included. We discuss how the negative effects of urbanization can be reduced through sustainable management and restoration to promote ecological functioning in greenbelts and urban landscapes.

• Journal of Urban Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.17-31
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• 2020

This study aims to analyze the relations among greenbelt, urban land surface temperature empirically in order to assess the environmental effects of the greenbelt in the Seoul metropolitan area, objectively. For this purpose, this study conducts an empirical analysis of impacts of greenbelt on urban land surface temperature using a multiple-regression model. The main data employed in the analysis include real-time air pollution data, Landsat 8-OLI Landsat imagery data, KLIS data and Jip-gye-gu data. The major findings are summarized as follows. NDVI has a negative (-) correlation with the land surface temperature, and the urban temperature is high in areas with poor vegetation. The land surface temperature is low in residential or commercial areas, while the temperature is high in industrial areas. The temperature is low in green fields, open spaces, and river areas. it is found that the urban land surface temperature is low in the greenbelt zone. In the greenbelt zone, there is an effect that reduces the land surface temperature by 1% on average, as compared to that at the center of the Seoul metropolitan area. Especially, the center of the Seoul metropolitan area, in a range from 0.6% to 1.9% of the average temperature, the temperature gets lower up to approximately 3km from the greenbelt boundary.

• Journal of Urban Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.31-44
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• 2020

This study aims to analyze the relations among greenbelt, air pollution empirically in order to assess the environmental effects of the greenbelt in the Seoul metropolitan area, objectively. For this purpose, this study conducts an empirical analysis of impacts of greenbelt on urban air pollution using a multiple-regression model. The major findings are summarized as follows. As a result of an empirical analysis of the impacts of greenbelt on air pollution, it is found that the characteristics of the city have impacts on air pollution concentration. It is found that the population and employment are the causes of increases in CO and NO2 concentrations, and the number of employees in the manufacturers has impacts on increases of O3 and SO2, while power plants have impacts on PM10, CO and NO2. Intersections have impacts on O3 and SO2, while the areas of the roads have impacts on CO and NO2. In addition, as for the spatial distribution of air pollutants, it is found that CO and NO2 concentrations are relatively higher in the center of the Seoul metropolitan area, while PM10, O3 and SO2 concentrations are relatively higher in the suburbs. It is found that air pollution concentration is low in greenbelt zone. In the greenbelt zone, PM10, CO and SO2 concentrations are low.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.385-394
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• 2001

An attempt to clarify the landscape structure of urban areas was carried out in the greenbelt around Seoul, Korea's metropolis. By means of aerial photographs and a field survey, a vegetation map including land-use pattern was made. Landscape structure was described by analyzing this vegetation map and the results of phytosociological survey. Landscape element types identified were (1) secondary forest, (2) plantation, (3) cultivated field, (4) urbanized area, (5) graveyard, and (6) bare rock. Vegetation units, resulting from the phytosociological analysis, included Quercus mongolica, Q. variabilis, Q. acutissima, Pinus densiflora, Q. aliena, and Alnus japonica communities. Plantations were composed of Robinia pseudoacacia, Populus tomentiglandulosa, P. rigida, Larix leptolepis, P. koraiensis, and Castanea crenata stands. Patches near to human settlements in the lower zones of the mountains were fragmented and small but they became larger towards the higher mountain zones. On the other hand, the number of patches was fewer and their size was larger in Mt. Cheonggye more distant from the principal residential area, larger in size, and higher in elevation compared with the other 2 mountains, Mt. Daemo and Mt. Acha. Floristic composition of Mongolian oak(Q. mongolica) stand distributing in the upper part of each mountain, in which artificial interference is rare, showed a difference among those study areas different in parent rock and disturbance regime. But that of black locust(R. pseudoacacia) stand located in lowland of mountainous area, in which artificial interference is frequent was similar to each other. As the results of analyses on the frequency distribution of diameter classes of major species, dominant landscape elements, Mongolian oak forest showed different responses depending on artificial interference as continuous maintenance and retrogressive succession in the sites far from and near to the residential areas, respectively. On the other hand, black locust stands showed a probability to be restore to the native oak forest through progressive succession.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Biology Conference
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• 2005.12a
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• pp.132-133
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• 2005

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.471-478
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• 2005

Spectroscopic data obtained by the Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer (IRIS) aboard Voyager 1 and 2 have been re-visited. Using the spectroscopic data and footprints of the IRIS aperture on the planet, we constructed images of the stratosphere of Jupiter at the emission bands of hydrocarbons including $CH_4,\;C_2H_6,\;C_2H_2,\;C_3H_4,\;C_6H_6$, and $C_2H_4$. Thermal emission from the hydrocarbons on Jupiter originates from a broad region of the stratosphere extending from 1 to 10 millibars. We averaged the data using a bin of 20 degrees of longitude and latitudes in order to increase signal-to-noise ratios. The resultant images show interesting wave structure in Jupiter's stratosphere. Fourier transform analyses of these images yield wavenumbers 5 - 7 at mid-Northern and mid-Southern latitudes, and these results are different from those resulted from previous ground-based observations and recent Cassini CIRS, suggesting temporal variations on the stratospheric infrared pattern. The comparisons of the Voyager 1 and 2 spectra also show evidence of temporal intensity variations not only on the infrared hydrocarbon polar brightenings of hydrocarbon emissions but also on the stratospheric infrared structure in the temperate regions of Jupiter over the 4 month period between the two Voyager encounters. Short running title: Stratospheric Images of Jupiter derived from Voyager IRIS Spectra.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.384-397
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• 2021

Background: With volatile organic compounds (VOCs) containing aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and xylene that can adversely affect the respiratory and cardiovascular systems when a certain concentration is reached, it is important to accurately evaluate the source and the corresponding health risk effects. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to provide scientific evidence for the city of Seoul's VOC reduction measures by confirming the risk of each VOC emission source. Methods: In 2020, 56 VOCs were measured and analyzed at one-hour intervals using an online flame ionization detector system (GC-FID) at two measuring stations in Seoul (Gangseo: GS, Bukhansan: BHS). The dominant emission source was identified using the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model, and health risk assessment was performed on the main components of VOCs related to the emission source. Results: Gasoline vapor and vehicle combustion gas are the main sources of emissions in GS, a residential area in the city center, and the main sources are solvent usage and aged VOCs in BHS, a greenbelt area. The risk index ranged from 0.01 to 0.02, which is lower than the standard of 1 for both GS and BHS, and was an acceptable level of 5.71×10^-7 to 2.58×10^-6 for carcinogenic risk. Conclusions: In order to reduce the level of carcinogenic risk to an acceptable safe level, it is necessary to improve and reduce the emission sources of vehicle combustion and solvent usage, and eco-car policies are judged to contribute to the reduction of combustion gas as well as providing a response to climate change.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.100 no.4
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• pp.698-707
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• 2011

Over the past 10 years, South Korea has implemented various plantation projects including the Pine Restoration Project in Tujiin Nars and the desertification prevention forestation in Lun soum. This study has evaluated the implementation feasibility on the small-scale A/R CDM projects in Mongolia through which carbon emission credits can be secured. Characteristics, pros and cons, economic feasibility, and project execution feasibility were compared among three possible sites, Khyalganat, Tujiin Nars, and Lun soum. Among the three evaluated sites, Tujiin Nars has the better condition in tree growth, economic feasibility, and the applicability of experience than the other two sites. A/R CDM project in Mongolia, which has a great environmental benefit of combating desertification, is expected to have some effectiveness such as lowering costs from credit benefit, sustainable management by villagers, contribution to communities, investor's contribution to society and achievement of green image, and strengthening forestry cooperation between Korea and Mongolia.