• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.65-70
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• 2003

Shihwa tidal freshwater marsh was constructed recently to treat pollutants entering Shihwa lake. In this study, we examined the spatial and temporal patterns of heavy metal accumulation in soils of Shihwa marsh and sought correlations between several soil variables (pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, and acid ammonium oxalate-extractable Fe and Al contents) and the heavy metal concentration of soils. Surface soil samples (0∼20 cm) were collected in June 2000, November 2000, and July 2001, and were analyzed for heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, As, and Hg) and soil chemical properties. The neutral pH and water-saturated conditions of Shihwa marsh appeared to favor immobilization of heavy metal through adsorption onto soils. The concentrations of heavy metal (especially Zn, Cu, and Cr) in soils of Shihwa marsh increased along the sampling occasions, suggesting that soils of Shihwa marsh serve as a sink of heavy metal. Among the sub-marshes, metal concentrations were highest in Banweol high marshes and lowest in Samhwa marshes. The temporal and spatial variations in the heavy metal concentrations of soils were correlated positively with organic matter and oxalate extractable Fe and Al contents, but negatively with electrical conductivity. These results suggest that organic matter and hydrous oxide of Fe/Al may playa key role in removing heavy metals in soils of Shihwa marsh, and that heavy metal removing capacity would increase with desalinization. However, the removal patterns of heavy metal by reeds warrant further studies to evaluate the total removal capacity of heavy metals by Shihwa marsh.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.14-20
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: Contamination of source water by odorous compounds are one of the problems related to the water quality management, especially in Korea where surface water is used as drinking water. Geosmin (1, 10-trans-dimethyl-trans-9-decalol) and 2-MIB (2-methyl isoborneol : 1,2,7,7-tetramethyl-exo-bicycloheptan-2-ol) are commonly recognized earthy-musty odor compounds produced by algae causing serious problems to the drinking water purification facilities. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, spatial and temporal distribution of the odor compounds, geosmin and 2-MIB were investigated along with the development of phytoplankton in the Daechung reservoir from July 2012 to October 2013. CONCLUSION: Concentrations and frequencys of detection of both compounds increased from April to October which were related to cyanobacterial bloom periods. However, concentrations of odor compounds were not related to the number of cyanobacteria. Concentrations of both cyanobacteria and geosmin showed similar trends with depth. Pearson correlation analyses showed that geosmin concentration exhibited significant correlation with the count of Anabaena macrospora and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. On the other hand, 2-MIB concentration showed a significant correlation with the count of Anabaena smithii.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.37 no.6_2
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• pp.1891-1900
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• 2021

Fine particulate matter (FPM; diameter ≤ 2.5 ㎛) is frequently found in metropolitan areas due to activities associated with rapid urbanization and population growth. Many adolescents spend a substantial amount of time at school where, for various reasons, FPM generated outdoors may flow into indoor areas. The aims of this study were to estimate FPM concentrations and categorize types of FPM in schools. Meteorological and chemical variables as well as satellite-based aerosol optical depth were analyzed as input data in a random forest model, which applied 10-fold cross validation and a grid-search method, to estimate school FPM concentrations, with four statistical indicators used to evaluate accuracy. Loose and strict standards were established to categorize types of FPM in schools. Under the former classification scheme, FPM in most schools was classified as type 2 or 3, whereas under strict standards, school FPM was mostly classified as type 3 or 4.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.973-987
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• 2016

The spatial and temporal variations of $CO_2$ concentrations and radiative forcing (RF) due to $CO_2$ were examined at urban center (Yeon-dong) during 2010-2015 and background sites (Gosan) during 2010-2014 on Jeju Island. The RF at the two sites was estimated based on a simplified expression for calculating RF for the study period. Overall, annual mean $CO_2$ concentrations at the Yeon-dong and Gosan sites have gradually increased, and the concentrations were higher at Yeon-dong (401-422 ppm) than at Gosan (398-404 ppm). The maximum $CO_2$ concentrations at the two sites were observed in winter or spring, followed by fall and summer, with higher concentrations at Yeon-dong. The RF at Yeon-dong (annual mean of up to $0.70W/m^2$ in 2015) was higher than that at Gosan (up to $0.46W/m^2$ in 2014), possibly because of higher $CO_2$ concentrations at Yeon-dong resulting from population growth and human activities (e.g., fossil fuel combustion). The highest monthly mean RFs at Yeon-dong (approximately $0.92W/m^2$) and Gosan ($0.52W/m^2$) were observed in spring 2015 (Yeon-dong) and spring 2013 (Gosan), whereas the lowest RFs (0.17 and $0.31W/m^2$, respectively) in fall 2011 (Yeon-dong) and summer in 2012 (Gosan).

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.289-298
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• 2010

A number of characteristics of the Lake H$\ddot{o}$vsg$\ddot{o}$l watershed, such as the lake's location at the edge of the Central Asian continuous permafrost zone, provide a unique opportunity to evaluate possible anthropogenic impacts in this remote area in northern Mongolia. In this study, we compared stream solute concentrations in six sub-watersheds in the Lake H$\ddot{o}$vsg$\ddot{o}$l watershed. Water samples were collected during the summer months between 2003 and 2005. Concentrations of $Cl^-$ ranged from 9.8 to $51.3\;{\mu}mol/L$; average nitrate concentrations were very low and ranged from undetectable to $1.1\;{\mu}mol/L$ and average ${SO_4}^{2-}$ concentration at sampling stations with minimal animal grazing ranged from 66 to $294\;{\mu}mol/L$. Average dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations ranged from 642 to $1,180\;{\mu}mol$ C/L. We did not find statistically significant differences in DOC concentrations among the six streams, although DOC concentrations tended to be higher in the two northernmost streams, possibly related to differences in the active layer above the permafrost. Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) concentrations were correlated with DOC concentration, and followed the same spatial pattern as those for DOC. In streams in this remote watershed, total dissolved nitrogen was made up of mostly organic N, as has been found for other regions distant from anthropogenic N sources. Overall, these results suggest that future research on the dynamics of DOC and DON in this watershed will be especially insightful in helping to understand how changes in climate and land use patterns will affect transformations, retention, and export of dissolved organic matter within these sub-watersheds in the Lake H$\ddot{o}$vsg$\ddot{o}$l region.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.64-68
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: Heavy metals (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Li, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were analyzed to elucidate the impact of weir construction on their concentrations in sediments of Geum River, Korea. We also attempted to investigate the source of the heavy metals in sediments. METHODS AND RESULTS: For this study, sediments were collected from May through June in 2012. The concentrations of heavy metals except Hg were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer, and Hg was measured by automatic mercury analyzer. More clay were accumulated in the furthest stations in the upstream direction starting from the weirs. Most of the heavy metals showed higher concentrations in the most upstream located station of Geumnam Weir. However, high concentrations were not observed in the most upstream stations of the other weirs. The concentrations of Hg and As were much higher in sediments of Gap Stream. CONCLUSION: Gap Stream may be a potential source for high deposits of As and Hg. Presence of the dams may not play an important role in controlling heavy metal concentrations in sediments. It is necessary to monitor heavy metal concentrations for a longer time period to study the effect of environmental changes on heavy metal distribution in Geum River.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.699-709
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• 2011

The uses of multi-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality models are increasing to support a sustainable management of large dam reservoirs in Korea. Any modeling study requires selection of a proper spatial dimension of the model based on the characteristics of spatial variability of concerned simulation variables. For example, a laterally averaged two-dimensional (2D) model, which has been widely used in many large dam reservoirs in Korea, assumes that the lateral variations of hydrodynamic and water quality variables are negligible. However, there has been limited studies to give a justification of the assumption. The objectives of this study were to present the characteristics of spatial variations of water quality variables through intensive field monitoring in Daechung Reservoir, and provide information on a proper spatial dimension for different water quality parameters. The monitoring results showed that the lateral variations of water temperature are marginal, but those of DO, pH, and conductivity could be significant depending on the hydrological conditions and local algal biomass. In particular, the phytoplankton (Chl-a) and nutrient concentrations showed a significant lateral variation at R2 (Daejeongri) during low flow periods in 2008 possibly because of slow lateral mixing of tributary inflow from So-oak Stream and wind driven patchiness.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.186-198
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• 2013

The present work is an attempt to improve the performance of a regional air quality model by means of liking it with a global chemistry transport model. The global chemical transport model of GEOS-Chem is used to provide BC (Boundary Condition)s which reflect temporal and spatial variations at boundaries of regional chemical transport model of CMAQ over East Asia. First, GEOS-Chem outputs are evaluated by comparing predicted concentrations with observed monthly data of gas phase species and secondary inorganic aerosols from EANET (Acid Deposition Monitoring Network in East Asia) sites. The results show that predicted PM10 concentrations are in good agreement with the observations. This implies that GEOS-Chem outputs could be used to provide BCs to CMAQ. Simulated daily and monthly mean PM10 concentrations of CMAQ with the linkage of GEOS-Chem's BCs and constant BCs are then evaluated by comparing predicted concentrations with observations at API (Air Pollution Index) sites in China as well as EANET sites in Korea. CMAQ with the GEOS-Chem outputs improves model simulation in depicting observed PM10 concentrations comparing with those with constant BCs. It is also found that influence of aerosol species are largely dependent on the BCs over East Asia and Korea. Mean biases between simulated versus observed daily and monthly mean concentrations of PM10 with the GEOS-chem were improved by 1~8 ${\mu}g/m^3$ in China region, 3.26 ${\mu}g/m^3$ in Korea.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.121-132
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• 2004

Concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn were determined in four arctic brown algae (Laminaria saccharina, L. digitata, Alaria esculenta, Desmarestia aculeata) in an attempt to examine for their metal accumulation capacity and also to assess their contamination levels. Macroalgae were collected from shallow subtidal waters (<20m) of Kongsfjorden (Kings Bay) on Spitsbergen during the period of the late July to early August 2003. Metal concentrations highly varied between sampling sites, species and tissue parts. Input of melt-water laden with terrigenous sediment particles seemed to have a large influence on baseline accumulations of some metals (Al, Fe, Mn, Pb etc.) in the macroalgae, causing a significant spatial variation. There were also significant concentration differences between the young and old tissue parts in L. saccharina, L. digitata and A. esculenta. While Al, Fe, Mn, Pb were higher in the perennial parts (stipes and holdfast below meristematic region), Cd and As concentrations were significantly higher in the young blades above the meristematic region. Zn and Cr, on the other hand, showed little differences between the tissue parts. The highest metal concentrations were found in D. aculeata, which seems to be due to its filamentous fine branches leading to high surface/volume ratios. The lowest concentrations were found in the two Laminaria spp., the blades of which are thicker than D. aculeata and A. esculenta. No distinct signs of contamination were detected in the brown algal species analyzed. Added to this, the results of the present studies suggest the potential utility of L. saccharina, L. digitata and A. esculenta as biomonitors for metal pollution monitoring in this area.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.789-797
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• 2015

The concentrations of trace metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, and Zn) were determined in 49 surface sediment samples collected in Yeoja and Gangjin Bays on the south coast of Korea, which contain many shellfish farms, in order to assess the contamination level and to understand the spatial distribution of trace metals. The average metal concentrations in the surface sediments of both bays decreased in the order Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr > Pb > Cu > As > Cd > Hg. There were no differences in metal concentrations between shellfish farms and reference sites. The metal concentrations were significantly higher in Gangjin Bay than in Yeoja Bay. Notably, the Cu, Cd, and Hg concentrations were nearly twice as high in Gangjin Bay as in Yeoja Bay. A multivariate analysis showed a strong correlation among Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, and Cr in the sediments of both bays, implying that the metal concentrations in the sediments in the study area were mainly dependent on natural processes, such as crustal components and diagenesis. Based on the geoaccumulation index and marine sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), the surface sediments in Yeoja and Gangjin Bays are not polluted by trace metals.