• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.269-297
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• 2021

Bioplastics are attracting attention as a substitute for conventional petroleum-based plastics because they are carbon neutral and can be biodegradable. This study estimated economic and environmental impact of regulating the petroleum-based plastics industry and fostering the bioplastics industry using a Recursive Dynamic CGE Model of the Korean Economy. Results show that the regulation of the conventional plastics industry exhibits a positive environmental impact by reducing greenhouse gases and plastic waste and a negative economic impact with a decrease in GDP. Meanwhile, fostering the bioplastics industry with regulation on conventional plastics industry has similar levels of greenhouse gas and waste reduction effects when there is only regulation on the conventional plastics industry. It is also shown that expanding the production of bioplastics industry offsets existing economic losses as a form of increased GDP. If petroleum-based plastics are replaced through the expansion of bioplastics production, it can contribute to the decoupling of greenhouse gas emissions and plastic waste from economic growth.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.263-277
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• 2011

Global atmospheric $CO_2$ distributions were simulated with a chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem) and compared with space-borne observations of $CO_2$ column density by GOSAT from April 2009 to January 2010. The GEOS-Chem model simulated 3-D global atmospheric $CO_2$ at $2^{\circ}{\times}2.5^{\circ}$ horizontal resolution using global $CO_2$ surface sources/sinks as well as 3-D emissions from aviation and the atmospheric oxidation of other carbon species. The seasonal cycle and spatial distribution of GEOS-Chem $CO_2$ columns were generally comparable with GOSAT columns over each continent with a systematic positive bias of ~1.0%. Data from the World Data Center for Greenhouse Gases (WDCGG) from twelve ground stations spanning $90^{\circ}S-82^{\circ}N$ were also compared with the modeled data for the period of 2004-2009 inclusive. The ground-based data show high correlations with the GEOS-Chem simulation ($0.66{\leq}R^2{\leq}0.99$) but the model data have a negative bias of ~1.0%, which is primarily due to the model initial conditions. Together these two comparisons can be used to infer that GOSAT $CO_2$ retrievals underestimate $CO_2$ column concentration by ~2.0%, as demonstrated in recent validation work using other methods. We further estimated individual source/sink contributions to the global atmospheric $CO_2$ budget and trends through 7 tagged $CO_2$ tracers (fossil fuels, ocean exchanges, biomass burning, biofuel burning, net terrestrial exchange, shipping, aviation, and CO oxidation) over 2004-2009. The global $CO_2$ trend over this period (2.1 ppmv/year) has been mainly driven by fossil fuel combustion and cement production (3.2 ppmv/year), reinforcing the fact that rigorous $CO_2$ reductions from human activities are necessary in order to stabilize atmospheric $CO_2$ levels.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.441-468
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• 2004

We estimate carbon embodied in the export goods of Korea. A commodity-by-industry IO model ($CO_2$ hybrid IO model) is constructed for the estimation. In the model, all monetary units of energy commodities are converted to physical unit, carbon tons. Results show that total $CO_2$ embodied in the exports of non-energy goods of Korea equals 51.18 million carbon ton or 44% of total $CO_2$ emissions in Korea in 2000. Overall carbon intensity of export goods is estimated as 0.227 carbon ton per million Won. These findings suggest Korea's responsibility on global warming may be imputed to the countries who import and consume Korean goods. It is in accordance with the user pay principle. It is also argued that if UNFCCC impose the burden of $CO_2$ mitigation on importing countries rather than exporting countries, we can prevent '$CO_2$ emission leakages' effectively.

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.11-20
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• 2010

In situation that carbon dioxide emissions are being increased as urbanization, urban green space is being promoted as an alternative to find solution for these problems. In urban areas, trees have the ability to reduce carbon dioxide as well as to be aesthetic effect. In this study, we proposed the methodology which uses only LIDAR data in order to extract these trees information effectively. To improve the operational efficiency according to the extraction of trees, the proposed methodology was carried out using multiple data processing such as point, polygon and raster. Because the existing NDSM(Normalized Digital Surface Model) contains both the building and tree information, it has the problems of high complexity of data processing for extracting trees. Therefore, in order to improve these problems, this study used modified NDSM which was removed estimate regions of building. To evaluate the performance of the proposed methodology, three different zones which coexist buildings and trees within urban areas were selected and the accuracy of extracted trees was compared with the image taken by digital camera.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.627-633
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• 2003

The PM$_{10}$ concentration and chemical composition in an western area of Busan were surveyed between March, 2001 and February, 2002. The mean concentration was 98.2 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥ with a range of 18.1 to 330.6 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎥. The magnitude of metallic elements in PM$_{10}$ is as follows in decreasing order: K>Ca>Na>Al>Fe. The mean values of crustal enrichment factors for four elements (Cd, Ni, Pb and Zn) were all higher than 10, which presumably resulted from the effect of anthropogenic origin. Moreover, the wintertime values were higher than springtime and summertime values, possibly due to emissions westerly transported from industries around this area. The contribution of soil particle to airborne particle in the study area was estimated to be 9.5%.

• Journal of Korean Society for Geospatial Information Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.77-87
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• 2012

Discussion on North Korea as UN-REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation in developing countries) project target continues with a view to preventing deforestation and to securing CER(certified emission reduction) for South Korea. However, due to North Korea's political shutdown, it is hard to acquire information required for the REDD project registration. This research intends to acquire objective data using satellite images in the Mt. Geumgang. More than 20% of entire forested area were disappeared during the past two decades mainly due to conversion into agricultural farming land. Further, it is expected that persistent deforestation will go on. The reduction potential of the carbon emission is estimated as approximately 617,000 tCO2/year~663.000 tCO2/year. Thus, Mt. Geumgang is considered as realistic REDD target, which is attractive to South Korea, given that the obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emission is likely to be imposed upon the country. Further, political and social benefits due to reduced military conflict make Mt. Geumgang as UN-REDD project target invaluable.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.32 no.2D
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• pp.103-110
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• 2012

This study presents O/D based emission estimation model and methodology under cold- and hot-start conditions. Contrasting with existing link-based model, new model is able to estimate cold-start emissions with actual traffic characteristics. The results of the case study with new model show similar amount of emission with existing model under hot-start conditions, but five times much more than existing model under cold-start conditions. The annual social benefit estimated by this model is 56.2 hundred million won, which is 48% higher than the result from existing model. It means current green transportation policies are undervalued in terms of air quality improvement. Therefore, New model is expected to improve the objectivity of air quality evaluation results regarding green transportation policies and be applied in various transportation-environment policies.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.33-36
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• 2017

China is suffering from severe air pollution especially fine $PM_{2.5}$ pollution. In 2015, the annual average $PM_{2.5}$ concentration of the 338 municipal cities was $50{\mu}g/m^3$, 78% cities at or above the prefectural level failed to comply with the $PM_{2.5}$ concentration standards. The $13^{th}$ Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development set the goal that the annual average concentration of $PM_{2.5}$ in the municipal cities which failed to attain the ambient air quality standards shall be decreased by 18% by 2020 (CCCPC, 2016). In this study, an air pollution control scenario during the $13^{th}$ Five-Year Plan period was proposed and the $SO_2$, $NO_x$ and PM emission reductions in response to different measures in 31 provincial-level regions mainland China by 2020 were estimated. The air quality in the target year (2020) was simulated using the WRF-CMAQ model. The results showed that by 2020, the emissions of $SO_2$, $NO_x$ and primary PM in mainland China will be reduced by 4.19 million tons, 3.94 million tons and 4.41 million tons, a drop of 23%, 21% and 25% respectively compared with that in 2015, and the annual average concentration of $PM_{2.5}$ will decrease by 19%. Coal-fired power plant contributes the most pollutant emission reduction.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2014

In winter 2013, extreme air pollution by fine particulate matter ($PM_{2.5}$) in China attracted much public attention. In order to simulate the $PM_{2.5}$ pollution, the Community Multiscale Air Quality model driven by the Weather Research and Forecasting model was applied to East Asia in a period from 1 January 2013 to 5 February 2013. The model generally reproduced $PM_{2.5}$ concentration in China with emission data in the year 2006. Therefore, the extreme $PM_{2.5}$ pollution seems to be mainly attributed to meteorological (weak wind and stable) conditions rather than emission increases in the past several years. The model well simulated temporal and spatial variations in $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations in Japan as well as China, indicating that the model well captured characteristics of the $PM_{2.5}$ pollutions in both areas on the windward and leeward sides in East Asia in the study period. In addition, contribution rates of four anthropogenic emission sectors (power generation, industrial, residential and transportation) in China to $PM_{2.5}$ concentration were estimated by conducting zero-out emission sensitivity runs. Among the four sectors, the residential sector had the highest contribution to $PM_{2.5}$ concentration. Therefore, the extreme $PM_{2.5}$ pollution may be also attributed to large emissions from combustion for heating in cold regions in China.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.217-226
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• 2015

To investigate the distributions of BVOCs (Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds) from mountain near mega city and their role in forest atmospheric, BVOCs and their oxidized species were measured at a 41 m tower in Mt. Taehwa during May, June and August 2013. A proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometer (PTR-MS) was used to quantify isoprene and monoterpenes. In conjunction with BVOCs, $O_3$, meteorological parameters, PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) and LAI (Leaf Area Index) were measured. The average concentrations of isoprene and monoterpenes were 0.71 ppbv and 0.17 ppbv, respectively. BVOCs showed higher concentrations in the early summer (June) compared to the late summer (August). Isoprene started increasing at 2 PM and reached the maximum concentration around 5 PM. In contrast, monoterpenes concentrations began to increase 4 PM and stayed high at night. The $O_3$ maximum was generally found at 3 PM and remained high until 5 PM or later, which was concurrent with the enhancement of $O_3$. The concentrations of BVOCs were higher below canopy (18 m) than above canopy, which indicated these species were produced by trees. At night, monoterpenes concentrations were negatively correlated with these of $O_3$ below canopy. Using MEGAN (Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature), the emissions of isoprene and monoterpenes were estimated at 1.1 ton/year and 0.9 ton/year, respectively at Mt. Taehwa.