• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.6 s.169
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• pp.647-655
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• 2004

To identify the influential factors and their relative significance on spatial distribution of $NO_3-N$ in urban ground water, spatial analysis was conducted using GIS and statistical approaches in the Seongnae-Koduk watersheds, where rapid urbanization has been proceeded. Several factors were considered including land-use type, distance to sewage lines, the ratio of impervious surface, and the ratio of green area. The spatial distribution of $NO_3-N$ in the land-use types shows differences between urban and crop field possibly due to the sewage networks in urban areas and the agrochemical uses in crop field. Nitrate concentrations in ground water were decreased with the distance to sewage lines to approximately 60-75 m. Concentrations of nitrate and distances to sewage lines showed negative correlation, indicating that the nitrate contamination was induced from the sewage system and specially significant in urban areas. The negative correlation of the ratio of impervious surface to the nitrate concentration in urban areas also suggested that the source materials of nitrate are introduced from the surface. Consequently, in areas of urbanization processes, systematic management of past-and-present land-use types and sewage systems are the most significant factors in preventing ground water from nitrate contamination.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.379-399
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• 2008

Spatial-temporal variations in physiochemical water qualities (temperature, salinity, DO, SPM, POC and nutrients) of surface and bottom waters were investigated along the mid-western coastal area (Taean Peninsula to Gomso Bay) of Korea. Spatial distribution patterns of temperature and salinity were mostly controlled by the physical mixing process of freshwater from Geum River and/or Gyunggi Bay with nearby coastal water. A strong tidal front is formed off Taean Peninsula during spring and summer. Seasonal variations in nutrient concentrations, lower in spring and summer and higher in fall and winter, are primarily regulated by magnitude of phytoplankton occurrence rather than freshwater loadings into the bay. Based on seasonal and spatial variability of physicochemical parameters, water quality of the study area can be divided into four water masses; Gyunggi Bay-influenced Water Mass (GBWM), Geum River-influenced Water Mass (GRWM), Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water Mass (YSBCWM) and Cheonsu Bay Water Mass (CBWM). Water quality of the GBWM (Taean Peninsula coastal area), which has relatively low salinity and high concentrations of nutrients, is strongly controlled by the Gyunggi Bay coastal water, which is under influence of the Han River freshwater. In this water mass, the mixed layer is always developed by strong tidal mixing. As a result, a tidal front is formed along the offshore boundary of the mixed layer. Such tidal fronts probably play an important role in the distribution of phytoplankton communities, SPM and nutrients. The GRWM, with low salinity and high nutrients, especially during the flood summer season, is closely related to physiochemical properties of the Geum River. During the flood season, nutrient-enriched Geum River water mass extends up to 60 km away from the river mouth, potentially causing serious environmental problems such as eutrophication and unusual and/or noxious algal blooms. Offshore (<$30{\sim}40m$ in water depth) of the study area, YSBCWM coupled with a strong thermocline can be identified in spring-summer periods, exhibiting abundant nutrients in association with low temperature and limited biological activity. During spring and summer, a tidal front is formed in a transition zone between the coastal water mass and bottom cold water mass in the Yellow Sea, resulting in intensified upwelling and thereby supplying abundant nutrients to the GBWM and GRWM. Such cold bottom water mass and tidal front formation seems to play an important role in controlling water quality and further regulating physical ecosystem processes along mid-western Korean coastal area.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.314-322
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• 2012

In order to elucidate temporal variations of temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), suspended particulate matter (SPM), dissolved inorganic nutrients, and chlorophyll a, we performed 25-hour continuous monitoring in the Seomjin River Estuary in March (dry season) and July (rainy season) 2006. We also investigated spatial variations of marine environmental parameters across a saline gradient. In the Seomjin River Estuary, continuous monitoring results revealed that salinity variations were mainly affected by tidal cycle in the dry season and by river discharge in the rainy season. In the dry season, the spatio-temporal distribution of dissolved inorganic nutrient (nitrate, nitrite, and silicate) concentrations showed a good correlation with tidal cycle. While nutrient concentrations in rainy season showed not much variance in time. There were 6 and 4 times higher dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the rainy season than those in the dry season, respectively. Silicate concentration was 43 times higher in the rainy season than that in the dry season. Chlorophyll a concentration was higher in the dry season than that in the rainy season showing high nutrient concentrations. The results of this study, spatio-temporal variations of marine environmental factors are determined by both tidal cycle and river discharge. It seems that chlorophyll a concentration is related to the river discharge than dissolved inorganic nutrient distribution.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.216-232
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• 2016

In present, the Seoul City is undergoing traffic congestion problems caused by rapid urbanization and population growth. Thus the City government has reorganized the mass transportation system since 2004 and the subway has become a very important means for public transit. Since the subway system is typically a closed environment, the indoor air quality issues have often raised by the public. Especially since a huge amount of PM (particulate matter) is emitted from ground tunnels passing through the subway train, it is now necessary to assess the characteristics and behaviors of fine PM inside the tunnel. In this study, the concentration patterns of $PM_1$, $PM_{2.5}$, and $PM_{10}$ in the Seoul subway line-2 were analyzed by real-time measurement during winter (Jan 13, 2015) and summer (Aug 7, 2015). The line-2 consisting of 51 stations is the most busy circular line in Seoul having the railway of 60.2 km length. The the one-day average $PM_{10}$ concentrations were $148{\mu}g/m^3$ in winter and $66.3{\mu}g/m^3$ in summer and $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations were $118{\mu}g/m^3$ and $58.5{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. The $PM_{2.5}/PM_{10}$ ratio in the underground tunnel was lower than the outdoor ratio and also the ratio in summer is higher than in winter. Further the study examined structural types of underground subsections to explain the patterns of elevated PM concentrations in the line-2. The subsections showing high PM concentration have longer track, shorter curvature radius, and farther from the outdoor stations. We also estimated the outdoor PM concentrations near each station by a spatial statistical analysis using the $PM_{10}$ data obtained from the 40 Seoul Monitoring Sites, and further we calculated $PM_{2.5}/PM_{10}$ and $PM_1/PM_{10}$ mass ratios near the outdoor subway stations by using our observed outdoor $PM_1$, $PM_{2.5}$, and $PM_{10}$ data. Finally, we could develop pollution maps for outdoor $PM_1$ and $PM_{2.5}$ near the line-2 by using the kriging method in spatial analysis. This methodology may help to utilize existing $PM_{10}$ database when managing and control fine particle problems in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.209-220
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• 2006

In this study, the distribution patterns of major odorous compounds in ambient air were investigated in the areas surrounding the Ban-Wall industrial complex of Ansan, Korea (Aug. 2004 to Sep. 2005). The results indicated the environmental significance of several major odorous compounds which include carbonyl compounds, reduced sulfur compounds (RSC), and volatile organic compounds (VOC). When the results were compared on a diurnal basis, the afternoon time concentration of most odorous compounds were notably higher than their morning time counterparts. It also indicated that the odor concentrations differed greatly, in terms of spatial grouping scheme of data sets, such as between industrial area and non-industrial area. The comparison of spatial patterns indicated that the concentrations of most of the compounds at the industrial area were maintained at high concentration levels, compared to the surrounding areas. The overall results of this study thus suggest that the distribution of odorous compounds in a large industrial complex can exhibit a unique pattern of their own.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.347-354
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• 2015

Excess manganese (Mn) is neurotoxic. Increased manganese stores in the brain are associated with a number of behavioral problems, including motor dysfunction, memory loss and psychiatric disorders. We previously showed that the transport and neurotoxicity of manganese after intranasal instillation of the metal are altered in Hfe-deficient mice, a mouse model of the iron overload disorder hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). However, it is not fully understood whether loss of Hfe function modifies Mn neurotoxicity after ingestion. To investigate the role of Hfe in oral Mn toxicity, we exposed Hfe-knockout ($Hfe^{-/-}$) and their control wild-type ($Hfe^{+/+}$) mice to $MnCl_2$ in drinking water (5 mg/mL) for 5 weeks. Motor coordination and spatial memory capacity were determined by the rotarod test and the Barnes maze test, respectively. Brain and liver metal levels were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Compared with the water-drinking group, mice drinking Mn significantly increased Mn concentrations in the liver and brain of both genotypes. Mn exposure decreased iron levels in the liver, but not in the brain. Neither Mn nor Hfe deficiency altered tissue concentrations of copper or zinc. The rotarod test showed that Mn exposure decreased motor skills in $Hfe^{+/+}$ mice, but not in $Hfe^{-/-}$ mice (p = 0.023). In the Barns maze test, latency to find the target hole was not altered in Mn-exposed $Hfe^{+/+}$ compared with water-drinking $Hfe^{+/+}$ mice. However, Mn-exposed $Hfe^{-/-}$ mice spent more time to find the target hole than Mn-drinking $Hfe^{+/+}$ mice (p = 0.028). These data indicate that loss of Hfe function impairs spatial memory upon Mn exposure in drinking water. Our results suggest that individuals with hemochromatosis could be more vulnerable to memory deficits induced by Mn ingestion from our environment. The pathophysiological role of HFE in manganese neurotoxicity should be carefully examined in patients with HFE-associated hemochromatosis and other iron overload disorders.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.104-110
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• 2010

Eutrophication is a well-known phenomenon in lentic habitats, however it is receiving increasing attention in shallow streams of Korea due to the increase of periphyton to a nuisance level. In this study temporal and spatial variation in periphyton standing crop and nutrient concentrations were surveyed in the upper reach of the Han River (the Inbuk Stream) that used to be a pristine rural stream until 1980s. Chlorophyll-a concentration per unit surface area of bottom substrate was examined monthly for one year period at nine sites along the Inbuk Stream together with environmental factors such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and water velocity. The standing crop of periphytic algae ranged from $4{\sim}242mgChl.a/m^2$ with a median of $55mgChl.a/m^2$, often exceeding the nuisance level criterion. Along the stream periphyton increased significantly from $39{\pm}48mgChl.a/m^2$ to $94{\pm}49mgChl.a/m^2$ after merging of a tributary in an intensive agricultural basin with high phosphorus concentrations. Seasonally periphyton biomass was highest in autumn (median $171{\pm}76mgChl.a/m^2$) from October through December when water flow velocity was low (median $0.4{\pm}0.3m/s$), while it was higher in flood season (median $1.2{\pm}0.4m/s$) and freezing season (median $0.2{\pm}0.3m/s$) was lower. The result shows that this rural stream often shows characteristics of eutrophication according to periphyton standing crop and it may be regulated by phosphorus and water velocity.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.68-79
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• 2003

Although seagrasses are relatively abundant, few studies have been conducted on seagrass physiology and ecology in Korea. Zostera marina is the most abundant seagrass species, widely distributed throughout all coastal areas of the Korean peninsula. To examine seasonal dynamics and spatial variations of eelgrass, Zostera marina distributed on the coast of Korea, morphological characteristics, biomass, tissue nutrient constituents, leaf productivity and environmental factors were monitored monthly from the eelgrass beds in Kabae Bay and Kosung Bay on the south coast of the Korean peninsula from June 2001 to June 2002. Eelgrass density, biomass, morphological characteristics, leaf productivities, and tissue nutrient constituents exhibited clear seasonal variations, and these seasonal trends reflected seasonal changes in water temperature. Eelgrass shoot density and biomass at Kabae Bay site showed more obvious seasonal trends than Kosung Bay. No strong seasonality in Kosung Bay site appeared to be caused by high water temperature ($>30{\circ}C$) during summer months at this site. Despite differences in nutrient availabilities between two study sites, eelgrass biomass and leaf productivities were not significantly different between study sites, and this lack of spatial variations implies that the ambient nutrient availabilities at the present study sites are in excess of seagrass nutrient demand. Eelgrass tissue N content and sediment pore water DIN concentrations exhibited reverse relationship at the present study. This reverse relationship suggests in situ nutrient concentrations are not good indicator of nutrient availabilities, and regeneration and turnover rates of sediment nutrients are also important factors to determine nutrient availabilities at the site.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to determine urban walking tourists' spatiotemporal movement densities and the stopping characteristics by season. With the Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul, as the study site, a GPS-based smartphone application collected spatiotemporal data, and GIS and statistical methods were used to analyze the urban walking tourists' spatiotemporal activities in the spring and summer. The results show that the moving and staying variables of urban walking tourists differ significantly by season. In addition, spatiotemporal movement densities and stopping characteristics using ArcGIS's tools show clear spatial and temporal concentrations along the main access roads and commercial areas of the study site in the spring and summer. Policy-makers and developers of urban walking tours should use these spatiotemporal concentrations of walking tourists to define policies that would control the capacities of urban walking areas and distribute tourists spatially and temporally.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.151-161
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• 2013

The assessment of personal exposure is a critical component in population-based epidemiologic studies of air pollution. This study was conducted to apply and compare the four exposure estimation methods of individual-level to air pollution concentration in a cohort including 2,283 subjects in Gwangyang, Korea. Individual-level exposure of air pollution were estimated using multiple approaches, including average across all monitors, nearest monitor, and spatial interpolation by inverse distance weighting and kriging. The mean concentrations of $PM_{10}$, $NO_2$, $SO_2$, CO, $O_3$ by four exposure estimation methods were slightly different but not significantly different from each other. Cross-validation showed that kriging was more accurate than other exposure estimation methods because kriging has probably predicted individual exposure levels equivalent to residential locations after estimating the parameters of a model according to the spatial surface of air pollution concentration. These data support that spatial interpolation methods may provide better estimates than selecting the value from the nearest monitor and averaging across values from all monitors by reflecting spatial attributes of air pollution on personal level.