• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.149-159
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• 2017

We investigated the mineralogical and chemical characteristics of oyster shell as the possible substitute for the limestone used as an absorbent of $SO_2$ gas. The oyster shells from Taean and Tongyeong were used for the comparison with limestone and those from Boyreong and Yeosu were additionally investigated. XRD results show that all shells are composed of calcite with the exception of the myostracum layer attached to adductor muscle and ligament, which is composed of aragonite. The marine sediments as impurities exist on the surface of shells or as inclusions in the shells. Calcite is the main mineral composition of the shell of barnacle which is also one of the impurities. The oyster shell is composed of three main layers; prismatic, foliated, and chalk. The oyster shell from Tongyeong with the largest shell size, has the smallest thickness of prismatic and foliated layers which contain protein called conchiolin, whereas that from Taean with the smallest shell size has the largest prismatic and foliated layers. The sizes of those two layers of the shells from Boryeong and Yeosu are larger than that from Tongyeong but smaller than Taean. Those differences are supposed to be due to the different growth environments because the oysters from Tongyeong are cultured under the sea while those from Taean are in the tidal zone. The oyster shells generally show higher amount of sulfur and phosphorus than limestone, mainly due to the composition of protein. Some elements such as Mg show significant variations in different layers. As for trace elements, Li shows much higher amount in oyster shells than limestone, suggesting the influence of the composition of the sea water on the formation of the oyster shells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.201-211
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• 2022

At the center of the Noryang waterway, the Gwangyang bay area (including the Yeosu Strait) is located at the west, and the Jinju bay area (including Gangjin bay and Sacheon bay) is located at the east. Freshwater from several rivers is flowing into the study area. In particula,r the event of flood, great quantities freshwater flow from Seomjingang (Seomjin river) into the Gwangyang bay area and from Gahwacheon (discharge from Namgang Dam) into the Jinju bay. The Gwangyang and Jinju bay are connected to the Noryang waterway. In addition, freshwater from Seomjingang and Gahwacheon also affect through the Noryang waterway. In this study, we elucidated the characteristics of the tidal exchange rate and residence time for dry season and flood season on 50 frequency, considering freshwater from 51 rivers, including Seomjingang and Gahwacheon, using a particle tracking method. We conducted additional experiments to determine the effect of freshwater from Seomjingang and Gahwacheon during flooding. In both the dry season and flood season, the result showed that the particles released from the Gwangyang bay moved to the Jinju bay through the Noryang waterway. However, comparatively small amount of particles moved from the Jinju bay to the Gwangyang bay. Each experimental case, the sea exchange rate was 44.40~67.21% in the Gwangyang bay and 50.37~73.10% in the Jinju bay, and the average residence time was 7.07~15.36days in the Gwangyang bay and 6.45~12.75days in the Jinju bay. Consequently the sea exchange rate increased and the residence time decreased during flooding. A calculation of cross-section water flux over 30 days for 7 internal and 5 external areas, indicated that the main essential flow direction of the water flux was the river outflow water from Seomjingang flow through the Yeosu strait to the outer sea and from Gahwacheon flow through Sacheon bay, Jinju bay and the Daebang waterway to the outer sea.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.671-687
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• 2022

It has been reported that about 47% of groundwater wells within 10 km from the coastline in the western/southern coastal areas of Korea were affected by seawater. It has been interpreted that the cause of groundwater salinization is seawater intrusion. The Gilsan stream in the Seocheon area was a tidal stream until the Geumgang estuary dam was constructed and operated. Therefore, it is likely that the Gilsan stream catchment was deposited with sediments containing high-saline formation water prior to the use of landfill farmland at this catchment area. The groundwater in this study area showed EC values ranging from 111 to 21,000 µS/cm, and the water quality types were diverse including Ca(or Na)-HCO₃, Ca(or Na)-HCO₃(Cl), Na-Cl(HCO₃), Na-Cl types. It is believed that this diversity of water quality is due to the mixing of seawater and fresh groundwater generated by infiltration of precipitation and surface water through soil and weathered part. In this study, we discussed whether this water quality diversity and the presence of saline groundwater are due to present seawater intrusion or to remnant high-saline pore water in sediments during flushing out process. For this, rain water, surface water, seawater, and groundwater were compared regarding the water quality characteristics, tritium content, oxygen/hydrogen stable isotopic composition, and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio. The oxygen/hydrogen stable isotopic compositions indicated that water composition of saline groundwaters with large EC values are composed of a mixture of those of fresh groundwater and surface water. Also, the young groundwater estimated by tritium content has generally higher NO₃ content. All these characteristics showed that fresh groundwater and surface water have continued to affect the high-saline groundwater quality in the study area. In addition, considering the deviation pattern in the diagrams of Na/Cl ratio versus Cl content and SAR (sodium adsorption ratio) versus Cl content, in which two end members of fresh surface-ground water and seawater are assumed, it is interpreted that the groundwater in the study area is not experiencing present seawater intrusion, but flush out and retreating from ancient saline formation water.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.26-37
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• 2015

Halophyte distribution pattern and area in the Suncheon-bay and Beolgyo estuary coastal wetlands were analyzed using KOMPSAT-2 landsat images were taken in 2008 and 2009, and field investigations were fulfilled for confirming the precise boundaries of individual halophyte areas. The salt-marsh vegetation in those areas can be classified mainly into two dominant communities: Suaeda japonica-dominant and Phragmites communis-dominant communities. In order to identify sedimentary characteristics, tidal-flat surface leveling and sedimentary facies analysis had been conducted. The sedimentary facies of marsh area are mostly silty clayey and clay facies with a little seasonal change and its slope is very gentle (0.0007~0.002 in gradient). Phragmites communis and Suaeda japonica communities were distributed in the mud-flat zone between 0.7 m and 1.8 m higher than MSL (mean sea level): zone of 1.1~1.8 m in the former and zone of 0.7~1.3 m in the latter. In the Suncheon-bay estuarine wetland, on the basis of 2009 distribution, Phragmites communis-dominant and Suaeda japonica-dominant communities are about $0.79km^2$ and $0.22km^2$ in distribution area, respectively. On the other hand, Bulgyo estuarine marsh shows that the distribution areas of Phragmites communis-dominant and Suaeda japonica-dominant communities are about $0.31km^2$ and 0.031km2 in distribution area, respectively. Individual 105 and 60 dominant community areas and their distribution patterns can be well defined and indicated in the Suncheon-bay and Bulgyo estuarine marshes, respectively. The distribution pattern and area of hylophyte communities analyzed in this study based on 2008/2009 satellite images would be valuable as a base of future monitoring of salt-marsh related studies in the study area which is the most important salt-marsh research site in Korea.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.417-432
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• 2016

It was firstly revealed in this research that the marine terrace of the Ijin-ri (Bukpyung-myeon, Haenam-gun) was formed during the last interglacial (Marine Isotope Stage 5e; MIS 5e). The marine terrace totally ranging from 4.8 m (asl) to 8.8 m (asl) is subdivided into 4 units; Unit I ranges 4.8-5.3 m, unit II ranges 5.3-6.9 m, unit III ranges 6.9-8.3 m, and unit IV ranges 8.3-8.8 m. Strong evidences that units II and III were formed during MIS5e were obtained based on OSL dating, the physical characterizations such as particle size distribution, magnetic susceptibility and water content, principal element and trace element analyses, and quantitative clay mineral analysis for samples at the 30 cm intervals. The rounded gravels on the marine terrace are regarded to be originated from the clastic materials transported directly from the surrounding mountains toward the marine and abraded in the coastal area, without any fluvial processes. During the warmest period (125k, unit II), the increase in rainfall, along with the rapid rise in sea level, was likely caused the high amount of clastic materials transported to the upper part of the beach. As a result of comparing clay mineral ratios of study site with those derived from sediments of either tidal flats, or the Yellow Sea, it is interpreted that the sediments of study site were influenced from the marine. The results will be used to investigate the hydrological activity and sedimentary environment during the high sea level in the past.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.81-92
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• 2001

According to analyses of high-resolution seismic profiles (air gun, sparker, and SBP) and a deep-drill core(YSDP 105) in the mid-eastern Yellow Sea, stratigraphic and geoacoustic models have been established and seismo-acoustic modeling has been fulfilled using ray tracing of finite element method. Stratigraphic model reflects seismo-, litho-, and chrono-stratigraphic sequences formed under a significant influence of Quaternary glacio-eustatic sea-level fluctuations. Each sequence consists of terrestrial to very-shallow-marine coarse-grained lowstand systems tract and tidal fine-grained transgressive to highstand systems tract. Based on mean grain-size data (121 samples) of the drill core, bulk density and P-wave velocity of depositional units have been inferred and extrapolated down to a depth of the recovery using the Hamilton's regression equations. As goo-acoustic parameters, the 121 pairs of bulk density and P-wave velocity have been averaged on each unit of the stratigraphic model. As a result of computer ray-tracing simulation of the subsurface strata, we have found that there are complex ray paths and many acoustic-shadow zones owing to the presence of irregular layer boundaries and low-velocity layers.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.30-37
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• 2013

This study was carried out to assess the spatial and tidal effects on the water quality in the lower reaches of Taewha River, Ulsan, Korea and to understand the environmental factors affecting winter algal bloom in the river. From May, 2010 to January, 2011, water samples were collected at five locations (New Samho Bridge, Old Samho Bridge, Mungjung Stream, Taewha Bridge, and Mungchon Bridge) along the river at high and low tides of spring tide. We measured environmental parameters including salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), chlorophyll a (Chl a) and various nutrient concentrations. Salinity increased towards the downstream direction. Average values of Chl a concentrations ranged $10-26mg/m^3$ at high tide and $11-53mg/m^3$ at low tide depending on sampling locations. It was noteworthy that there were strong increases in Chl a concentrations during the November 21 to December 22 sampling period especially at the Taewha Bridge. At the location, Chl a concentrations were measured as $138-296mg/m^3$ for the period; Rhodomonas lacustris of class Cryptophyceae was the dominant algal species. Chl a concentrations at the Taewha Bridge were positively correlated with such parameters as salinity, BOD, DO, COD, pH, and T-N, and negatively correlated with temperature and $NO_3{^-}$-N. On the other hand, at the Mungchon Bridge the highest concentration of Chl a was $55mg/m^3$ on August 25, and Chl a concentrations were positively correlated with $NH_3$-N, T-N, $PO_4{^{3-}}$-P, T-P, and heterotrophic plate counts. The results suggested that water quality in the lower Taewha River fluctuated a lot with the sampling locations and the patterns of algal blooms were different between Taewha Bridge and Mungchon Bridge sampling locations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.731-737
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• 2016

To understand the characteristics and strength of the cold water that has caused damage to marine-culturing farms around Guryongpo, in the southwestern part of Korea, surface and water column temperatures were collected from temperature loggers deployed at a sea squirt farm during August-November 2007 and from a Real-time Information System for Aquaculture environment operated by NIFS (National Institute of Fisheries Science) during July-August 2015 and 2016. During the study period, surface temperature at Guryongpo decreased sharply when south/southwestern winds prevailed (the 18-26th of August and 20-22nd of September 2007 and the 13-15th of July 2015) as a result of upwelling. However, the deep-water (20-30m) temperature increased during periods of strong north/northeasterly winds (the 5-7th and 16-18th of September 2007) as a result of downwelling. Among the cold water events that occurred at Guryongpo, the mass death of cultured fish followed strong cold water events (surface temperatures below $10^{\circ}C$) that were caused by more than two days of successive south/southeastern winds with maximum speeds higher than 5 m/s. A Cold Water Index (CWI) was defined and calculated using maximum wind speed and direction as measured daily at Pohang Meteorological Observatory. When the average CWI over two days ($CWI_{2d}$) was higher than 100, mass fish mortality occurred. The four-day average CWI ($CWI_{4d}$) showed a high negative correlation with surface temperature from July-August in the Guryongpo area ($R^2=0.5$), suggesting that CWI is a good index for predicting strong cold water events and massive mortality. In October 2007, the sea temperature at a depth of 30 m showed a high fluctuation that ranged from $7-23^{\circ}C$, with frequency and spectrum coinciding with tidal levels at Ulsan, affected by the North Korean Cold Current. If temperature variations at the depth of fish cages also regularly fluctuate within this range, damage may be caused to the Guryongpo fish industry. More studies are needed to focus on this phenomenon.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.93-108
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• 1992

This study was conducted to understand the variation of suspended matters in coastal waters of Cheju Island. Water sampling was carried out at 22 stations along the coast of this island from March 1988 to November 1989. Analyzed and/or observed items were water temperature, salinity, total solids (TS), total dissolved solids (TDS), volatile suspended solids (VSS), and fixed suspended solids (FSS). Inter-relationships between wind velocity, precipitation and total suspended solids (TSS) were also investigated. More windy days prevail in winter season (December, January and February) in Cheju Island. Thirty-six points seven percent of total windy days of a year appeared in this season. The rate of windy days in spring was $27.3\%$ and those in summer and fall were $17.9{\%}$ each. From February to July, the heaviest precipitation was observed in the southeastern area and that from August to January was observed in the eastern part of this island. TS and TDS were firmly related with the fluctuation of salinity. Therefore, there were higher in spring and lower in summer. The highest TSS (7.73 $mg/{\ell}$) was observed in February and was the lowest (4.73 $mg/{\ell}$) in September. Annual mean value of TSS was 6.3$mg/{\ell}$. The highest VSS (2.03 $mg/{\ell}$) was observed in July and lowest (1.42 $mg/{\ell}$) in September. The percentage of VSS per 755 was $30.6{\%}$ in average that was not much higher level compared to the other polluted areas. This value became higher in summer (av. $34.17{\%}$) and lower in winter (av. $24.2{\%}$). Fluctuation of TSS was mainly related with the freshwate. discharge, tidal action, and re-suspension of bottom sediments by the wind waves. Therefore, TSS concentration was low in summer and hish in winter.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.524-540
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• 2013

After the construction of the Geum River estuary dam, we investigated the ecological property of phytoplankton community with physicochemical property in 9 stations of Geum River estuary 4 times seasonally in 2010 about the environmental changes through the change of phytoplankton. Physicochemical property seems to show eutrophication which developed from the tendency of accruing of the nutrients (those involved in intermittency of freshwater which flows from the dike and the surrounding cities), caused by the changing of tidal flow, the decreasing of the inflow of seawater after the construction of the Geum River estuary dam (dike). A total of 233 species of species composition of phytoplankton emerged, showing a highly increased result compared to that of the former research. The reason for the increase in number is considered as a phenomenon resulting from the mix of blackish and freshwater marine species in the flow of intermittency of freshwater discharge. Also, the standing crops of phytoplankton considerably increased compared to when the dike had not yet been built. Highly affected by the discharge of occasional freshwater, the diatoms of blackish water zone dominated in spring and winter, while freshwater species appeared to dominate in summer and autumn. The species diversity showed over 2.0 except in winter season. After a cluster analysis, the result showed that the Geum River estuary was influenced by runoff from cities like Gunsan, the sewage which flows from Gyeongpo River, and the intermittency of freshwater discharge from the Geum River estuary dam.