• Acta Via Serica
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.23-48
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• 2018

The Silk Road usually implies a network of trade and communications that stretched from east to west and connected China and the countries of the Far East via Central Asia and the Middle East to the eastern Mediterranean, or through the northern coast of the Caspian Sea and the Volga basin to the Black Sea coast. However, at certain historical stages, a network of maritime and overland routes stretching from north to south, commonly called the Volga-Caspian trade route, also played a significant role in international trade and cultural contacts. The geopolitical realities of the early Middle Ages relating to the relationship of Byzantium, the Sassanid Empire, and the West Turkic Khaganate, the advance of the Arab Caliphate to the north, the spread of Islam in the Volga region, the glories and fall of the Khazar State, and the Scandinavian campaigns in the Caucasus, closely intertwined with the history of transport and communications connecting the north and south through the Volga-Caspian route. In a later era, the interests of the Mongolian Uluses, and then the political and economic aspirations of the Ottoman Empire, the Safavid State, and Russia, collided or combined on these routes. The article discusses trade contacts existing between the north and the south in the 15th and first half of the 17th century along the routes on the western coast of the Caspian Sea.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.893-905
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• 2015

This study analyzes the correlation between Western Pacific (WP) teleconnection pattern index (WPI) in April during 1954-2008 and rainfall amounts in the same month. Based on the results, it is identified that there have been strong positive correlations between central China, Korea and the southwestern part of Japan in the East Asian region. Through differences between 10 positive WP years and 10 negative WP years selected from the April WPI excluding ENSO years, it is found that rainfall amounts increase in April of positive WP years due to the following characteristics. Increases in rainfall amounts are evident in the East Asian middle latitudinal region where the positive correlation between the two variables is the highest and this is because anomalous southwesterlies are strengthened in the East Asian middle latitudinal region due to the spatial pattern of a south-low-north-high anomalous pressure system centered on this region that is made by anomalous anticyclones centered on the southeastern side of the region and other anomalous anticyclones centered on the northeastern side of the region. In addition, anomalous westerlies (jet) are strengthen in the upper troposphere of the East Asian middle latitudinal region and as a result, anomalous upward flows are strengthened in this region and thus anomalous warm air temperatures are formed in the entire level of the troposphere in the region. In addition to atmospheric environments, anomalous warm sea surface temperatures are formed in the seas in the East Asian middle latitudinal region to help the rainfall amount increases in the East Asian middle latitudinal region.

• Atmosphere
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.439-446
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• 2011

NCEP reanalysis data were analyzed in order to provide distribution of global wind resource and wind speed in the surface layer for the years 2000-2009. Wind speed at 10 m above ground level (AGL) was converted to wind speed at 80 m above the ground level using the power law. The global average 80 m wind speed shows a maximum value of $13ms^{-1}$ at the storm track region. High wind speed over the land exists in Tibet, Mongolia, Central North America, South Africa, Australia, and Argentina. Wind speed over the ocean increased with a large value in the South China Sea, Southeast Asia, East Sea of the Korea. Sea surface wind in Western Europe and Scandinavia are suitable for wind farm with a value of $7-8ms^{-1}$. Areas with great potential for wind farm are also found in Eastern and Western coastal region of North America. Sea surface wind in Southern Hemisphere shows larger values in the high latitude of South America, South Africa and Australia. The distribution of low-resolution reanalysis data represents general potential areas for wind power and can be used to provide information for high-resolution wind resource mapping.

• Atmosphere
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.67-78
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• 2009

A strong negative correlation has been detected between the North Pacific Oscillation Index (NPI) and the Effective Drought Index (EDI) in May over Korea. In May of positive NPI year, anomalous patterns caused a drought in Korea as follows: the anomalous south-low, north-high low-level pressure patterns in the northeast and southeast of Korea have strengthened the anomalous northerlies to Korea. In addition, these anomalous northerlies have prevented western North Pacific (WNP) high from moving northward. As a result, anomalous descending flows have strengthened in the mid-latitude region in East Asia. In the WNP, the anomalous south-high, north-low sea surface temperature (SST) has been widely distributed, which has strengthened anomalous south-low, north-high low-level pressure patterns. These anomalous characteristics of pressure and SST patterns observed in May of positive NPI years have already been detected in previous winter (December-February) and early spring (March, April). In addition, the anomalous negative sea ice concentration in the North Pacific during two seasons has strengthened the anomalous anticyclonic circulation in the same region and in turn made a contribution to formation of anomalous south-low, north-high pressure patterns in May.

• ALGAE
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.265-279
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• 2022

The primary production (PP) by phytoplankton in marine ecosystems is essential for carbon cycling and fueling food webs. Hence, estimating the PP in the territorial sea of each country is a necessary step to achieving carbon neutrality. To estimate the PP in the territorial sea of the Republic of Korea from 2005 to 2021, we analyzed various physiochemical parameters, such as sea surface temperature (SST), Secchi depth, and concentrations of chlorophyll-a and nutrients in the seas of five regions, including the East Sea, West Sea, western South Sea, eastern South Sea, and the waters off Jeju Island. During the 17-year study period, the SST tended to increase, while the nutrient concentrations declined, except in the Jeju area. Overall, the PP did not show a specific temporal trend, but daily PP in the western South Sea was the highest among the five regions. Moreover, the maximum PP in the Korean territorial waters (76,450 km²) was estimated at 11,227 Gg C y^-1, which accounts for 0.03% of the global PP. The results may give insights into a better understanding of the PP, further resource utilization, and environmental sustainability in the studied region.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.150-166
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• 2011

This study aims to investigate the differences of synoptic characteristics and frontal structures over East Asia according to the main path types of water vapor flux (WVF) of 850hPa surface in cases of the heavy rainfall in the south coastal region of Korea during the Changma season (June and July), In the cases of type A in which the main path of WVF is running from the South china Sea via the South china to the South Sea of Korea, the North Pacific subtropical anticyclone (NPSA) expands to the South China and strong cyclones appear in the Yellow Sea. In cases of type B and C in those the main paths of WVF are running from the South China Sea via the Western Pacific Ocean near Taiwan to the South Sea and from the Western North Pacific Ocean to the South Sea respectively, tropical cyclones appear frequently near Taiwan and the NPSA shifts northward. In the case of type D in which the main path of WVF appear only near the South Sea, strong cyclones appear near the Yellow Sea. In all cases upper jets are intensified in the northern part of the heavy rainfall region and low-level jets appear near the main paths of WVF. In the view of frontal structure, deep active-type of the Changma front is identified in most cases of all types. In this point the Changma season is different from the Baiu season in Western Japan where many cases of shallow active-type of the Baiu front appear.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.28-28
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• 1995

The aim of the present study is to investigate the interannual variabilities of the East Asia monsoon rainfall associated with the global sea surface temperature anomaly(SSTA). For this study, the summer rainfall(from June to August) over the twenty-eight period of 1961-1988 were analyzed with being divided by nine-subregions over East Asia including Korea, China and Japan. From the analysis of the principal modes explaining the interannual variation, the interannual variabilities of summer rainfalls in South Japan and Korea are larger than those of the other subregions of the East Asia. There is a strong negative correlation between the summer rainfalls of south China and Korea. In this study, the relationship between the summer monsoon of each subregion and SSTs of the tropical NINO regions, of western Pacific warm pool, and of the subtropical ocean were investigated. The longitudinal sections of the lagged cross correlations of the summer rainfal1 anomaly in (a) Korea and (b) south China, and the monthly SSTA in the equatorial(averaged from 65 to 6N) Pacific were analyzed. The negative maximum correlation pattems of Korea''s stammer rainfal1 and SSTs over the eastern Pacific is transfered to positive maximum conrlation over central Pacific region with a biennial periodicity. In South China, the significant positive correlations are found at -12 month lag over the eastern Pacific and maximum negative correlation at 16 month lag over the central Pacific with the quasi-biennial oscillation. But the correlation coefficient reverses completely to that in Korea. In order to investigate the most prevailing interannual variability of rainfall related to the favored SSTA region, the lagged cross correlations between East Asia rainfall and SSTs over the moO regions(NINO 1+2(0-105, 90W-80W), NINO 3(5N-5S, 150W-90W), NINO 4(5N-5S, 160E-l50W) and the western Pacific worm pool (5N-5S, 120E-l60E) were analyzed. Among the lagged cross-correlation cycles in NINO regions, the maximum correlations for the negative lagged months prevail in NINO 1+2 and NINO 3, and the cross correlations for the positive lagged months NINO 4. It is noteworthy that correlation between the western Pacific warm pool SSTA and the monsoon rainfall in Korea and South China have the maximum value at negative 4 month lag. The evolution of the correlation between the East Asia monsoon rainfall and SSTA is linked to the equatorial convective cluster and related to northward propagating situation, and raising the possibility that the East Asia monsoon precipitation may be more fundamentally related to the interaction of intraseasonal oscillations and the sub-regional characteristics including the surface boundary conditions and the behavior of climatological air mass.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.413-426
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• 1995

The aim of the present study is to investigate the interannual variabilities of the East Asia monsoon rainfall associated with the global sea surface temperature anomaly(SSTA). For this study, the summer rainfall(from June to August) over the twenty-eight period of 1961-1988 were analyzed with being divided by nine-subregions over East Asia including Korea, China and Japan. From the analysis of the principal modes explaining the interannual variation, the interannual variabilities of summer rainfalls in South Japan and Korea are larger than those of the other subregions of the East Asia. There is a strong negative correlation between the summer rainfalls of south China and Korea. In this study, the relationship between the summer monsoon of each subregion and SSTs of the tropical NINO regions, of western Pacific warm pool, and of the subtropical ocean were investigated. The longitudinal sections of the lagged cross correlations of the summer rainfal1 anomaly in (a) Korea and (b) south China, and the monthly SSTA in the equatorial(averaged from 65 to 6N) Pacific were analyzed. The negative maximum correlation pattems of Korea's stammer rainfal1 and SSTs over the eastern Pacific is transfered to positive maximum conrlation over central Pacific region with a biennial periodicity. In South China, the significant positive correlations are found at -12 month lag over the eastern Pacific and maximum negative correlation at 16 month lag over the central Pacific with the quasi-biennial oscillation. But the correlation coefficient reverses completely to that in Korea. In order to investigate the most prevailing interannual variability of rainfall related to the favored SSTA region, the lagged cross correlations between East Asia rainfall and SSTs over the moO regions(NINO 1+2(0-105, 90W-80W), NINO 3(5N-5S, 150W-90W), NINO 4(5N-5S, 160E-l50W) and the western Pacific worm pool (5N-5S, 120E-l60E) were analyzed. Among the lagged cross-correlation cycles in NINO regions, the maximum correlations for the negative lagged months prevail in NINO 1+2 and NINO 3, and the cross correlations for the positive lagged months NINO 4. It is noteworthy that correlation between the western Pacific warm pool SSTA and the monsoon rainfall in Korea and South China have the maximum value at negative 4 month lag. The evolution of the correlation between the East Asia monsoon rainfall and SSTA is linked to the equatorial convective cluster and related to northward propagating situation, and raising the possibility that the East Asia monsoon precipitation may be more fundamentally related to the interaction of intraseasonal oscillations and the sub-regional characteristics including the surface boundary conditions and the behavior of climatological air mass.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.16-28
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• 2015

In order to elucidate the spatiotemporal variations of marine environmental parameters, we collected seawater samples in the south-western region of the East Sea in May, August, and November 2012 and February 2013. The concentrations of dissolved inorganic nutrients (dissolved inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus, and silicate) in surface seawater during the summer season were lower than those during autumn and winter seasons, which the mixed layer is deeper. The low nutrient concentration in spring and summer seasons seems by consumption of dissolved inorganic nutrients by phytoplankon photosynthesis (high chlorophyll a concentration) and the limited supply of dissolved inorganic nutrients from subsurface layer having high nutrients. The low nutrient concentration during spring season seems to be related to the limited supply of dissolved inorganic nutrients from land and subsurface layer because the concentration of chlorophyll a was low. The DIN:DIP ratio was a wide range of average $15.6{\pm}13.6$ in the surface seawater compared to that of average $14.8{\pm}4.2$ in the bottom seawater during sampling periods. The dissolved inorganic nitrogen might act as a limiting factor of the growth of phytoplankton because the DIN:DIP ratio (on average $8.35{\pm}4.67$) was low during the spring season.

• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.133-145
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• 2010

This study examined the characteristics of tropical cyclone(TC) activity over the western North Pacific(WNP) in 2009. Twenty-two TCs formed in 2009, which is slightly below normal(1979~2009 average: 25.8) and most of these occurred during the months of July to October. Most TCs in 2009 was formed over the northern Philippines and the eastern part of the WNP and they moved towards the South China Sea and the east of Japan, resulting in less TC affecting the East China Sea and Korea. The TC activity in 2009 is modulated by the large-scale circulations induced by the El $Ni{\tilde{n}}o$ and vigorous convection activity over the WNP. As the general characteristics of El $Ni{\tilde{n}}o$ year, the difference in sea surface temperature between the central Pacific and the eastern Pacific causes an anomalous westerly winds, expanding the WNP monsoon trough farther eastward. Accordingly, TC formation has relatively increased in the east part of the WNP. Active convection activities over the subtropical western Pacific excite a Rossby wave propagating from the South China Sea to mid-latitudes, resulting in an anomalous easterly steering flow in the South China, anomalous northwesterly over the East China Sea and Korea, and anomalous southwesterly over the east of Japan. Summing up, the TCs cannot enter the East China Sea and Korean region and instead they move towards the South China Sea or south-east of Japan. There were no effects of TCs in Korea in 2009. It is anticipated that this study which analyzed unusual TC activity and large-scale circulations in 2009 would help the predictability of TC effects to increase according to climate change in the East Asia.