• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
• /
• v.41 no.4 s.115
• /
• pp.435-456
• /
• 2006

This study examines the long-term spatial patterns and recent trends of seasonal onsets and durations defined by daily temperatures in South Korea for the period 1973-2004. Spatially, spring and winter onset dates show approximately 44 day and 63 day maximum difference respectively between south and north (Seongsanpo to Daegwallryeong) attributable to the impacts of latitudes and altitudes. In contrast, summer onset, which is more affected by proximity to oceans and altitudes than by latitudes, begins earlier in interior low elevated areas than in the coastal areas but earliest at higher latitudes than Jeiu Island. Five climatic types regarding the seasonal cycles in South Korea are spatially clustered according to the combination of longer seasonal durations. As a reflection of recent climate changes on seasonal cycles in South Korea, winter duration was shortened by 10 days during the post-1988 period due to a late winter onset of 4 days and an early spring onset of 6 days. The winter reduction began in the southern regions of the Korean Peninsula in the mid-1980s and spread northward during the 1990s period, ultimately appearing everywhere. In urbanized cities, where much of the surface is covered with asphalt or concrete, the winter reduction was intensified and summer duration was locally incremented. The reduced winter duration in recent decades shows significant teleconnections with variations of geopotential height (925hPa) in the eastern Arctic region ($0-90^{\circ}E$, $65-85^{\circ}N$) during the cold season. The reduction in winter duration in South Korea agrees with results in overall global warming trends as a climate change signal.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.499-505
• /
• 2016

The quantitative sudomotor axon reflex testing (QSART) is a classic test of routine postganglionic sudomotor function. We investigated sudomotor function by QSART after summer (July 2012) and winter (January 2013) seasonal acclimation (SA) in the Republic of Korea. QSART with acetylcholine (ACh) iontophoresis were performed to determine directly activated (DIR) and axon reflex-mediated (AXR1, 2) sweating rate. Onset time of axon reflex, activated sweat gland density (ASGD), activated sweat gland output (ASGO), tympanic and skin temperatures ($T_{ty}$, $T_{sk}$), basal metabolic rate (BMR), and evaporative loss volume changes were measured. Tympanic and mean body temperature (${\bar{T}}_b$; calculated from $T_{ty}$, $T_{sk}$) were significantly lower after summer-SA than that of winter-SA. Sweat onset time was delayed during winter-SA compared to that after summer-SA. BMR, AXR(1), AXR(2), and DIR sweat rates, ASGD and ASGO, and evaporative loss volume were significantly diminished after winter-SA relative to after summer-SA. In conclusion, changes in sweating activity measured by QSART confirmed the involvement of the peripheral nervous system in variation of sudomotor activity in seasonal acclimation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.9-14
• /
• 2015

We investigated the sweating response during passive heating (partial submersion up to the umbilical line in $42{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$ water, 30 min) after summer and winter seasonal acclimatization (SA). Testing was performed in July during the summer, 2011 [summer-SA; temp, $25.6{\pm}1.8^{\circ}C;$ relative humidity (RH), $82.1{\pm}8.2%$] and in January during the winter, 2012 (winter-SA; temp, $-2.7{\pm}2.9^{\circ};$ RH, $65.0{\pm}13.1%$) in Cheonan ($126^{\circ}52^{\prime}N$, 33.38'E), Republic of Korea. All experiments were carried out in an automated climatic chamber (temp, $25.0{\pm}0.5^{\circ}C$: RH, $60.0{\pm}3.0%$). Fifteen healthy men (age, $23.4{\pm}2.5$ years; height, $175.0{\pm}5.9cm;$ weight, $65.3{\pm}6.1kg$) participated in the study. Local sweat onset time was delayed during winter-SA compared to that after summer-SA (p<0.001). Local sweat volume, whole body sweat volume, and evaporative loss volume decreased significantly after winter-SA compared to those after summer-SA (p<0.001). Changes in basal metabolic rate increased significantly after winter-SA (p<0.001), and tympanic temperature and mean body temperature were significantly lower after summer-SA (p<0.05). In conclusion, central sudomotor acitivity becomes sensitive to summer-SA and blunt to winter-SA in Rebubic of Korea. These results suggest that the body adjusts its temperature by economically controlling the sweating rate but does not lower the thermal dissipation rate through a more effective evaporation scheme after summer-SA than that after winter-SA.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.178-186
• /
• 2003

Seasonal variation of phytoplankton was investigated with surface mixed layer ecosystem model in the East Sea. The model consisted of four compartments (phytoplankton, zooplankton, nutrient, detritus) forced by mixed layer depths, photosynthetically available radiation and nutrient concentrations. From model results we estimated entrainment rate $2.5-4.0\;m{\cdot}day^{-1}$ to reproduce the two annual blooms, and reproduced seasonal variation of phytoplankton at southern and northern regions by the difference of surface winter mixed layer depth (MLD) using the entrainment rate value $3.0\;m{\cdot}day^{-1}$. The spring blooms in the southern and northern regions closely related to deepening of a winter surface MLD. In the southern region where MLD was shallow and phytoplankton spring bloom occurs one month in advance to the northern region where MLD was deep. The amount of light increases within the MLD during the onset of stratification and water temperature increases faster in spring in the southern region than the northern region. Decrease of phytoplankton was mainly affected by zooplankton grazing in the southern region and by nutrient exhaustion in the northern region. The fall bloom in the two regions was caused by the nutrient availability and entrainment on the phytoplankton.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2008

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the seasonal variation in stroke types, ischemic stroke subtypes, stroke risk factors and Sasang constitutions. Methods: 226 patients with acute stroke within 14 days onset were included, who were admitted to Kyunghee Oriental Medical Center from November 2005 to October 2006. The year was subdivided into four parts: spring (March-May); summer (June-August); fall (September-November); and winter (December-February). Stroke types, ischemic stroke subtypes, stroke risk factors and Sasang constitutions in the four groups were examined. Results: Ischemic stroke was most frequent in summer, whereas hemorrhagic stroke was most frequent in winter. There was no significant difference in seasonal variation of stroke. The frequency of ischemic heart disease among stroke risk factors was significantly high in spring (p=0.031). The frequency of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, and hyperlipidemia did not differ among seasons. There was no significant difference in Sasang constitution among seasons. Frequency of small vessel occlusion was highest in summer. Large artery atherosclerosis was frequent in spring and summer,but seasonal variation of ischemic stroke subtypes did not show statistical difference. Conclusion: Acute stroke demonstrates seasonal characteristics according to stroke types, ischemic stroke subtypes, risk factors for stroke, and Sasang constitutions. These results have important clinical implications in stroke prevention.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.202-209
• /
• 1998

Authors report the findings of nocturnal polysomnography and multiple sleep latency test(MSLT) before and after morning light treatment in a winter depressive patient with hypersomnia. On polysomnographic recordings, the sleep pattern of this case before light treatment was similar to that of narcolepsy exhibited, sleep onset REM period(SOREMP). After treatment, the shortened REM latency changed to normal condition, but, deep sleep percentage did not changed, and stage 4 sleep percentage was decreased. Depressive symptoms were improved on clinical interview with Hamilton Depressive Rating Scale. Sleep log showed shortened sleep latency and reduced sleep duration. These findings suggest that although light treatment could alter the sleep structure in seasonal affective disorder with hypersomnia, it does not necessarily imply that antidepressant response of light treatment is result of change of sleep structure.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
• /
• 2020.06a
• /
• pp.231-231
• /
• 2020

Unlike conventional treatment technologies, the performance of nature-based facilities were susceptible to seasonal changes and climatological variabilities. This study evaluated the effects of seasonal variables on the treatment performance of constructed wetlands (CWs). Two CWs treating runoff and discharge from agricultural and livestock areas were monitored to determine the efficiency of the systems in reducing particulates, organics, and nutrients in the influent. For all four seasons, the mean effluent suspended solids concentration in the agricultural CW (ACW) increased by -2% to -39%. The occurrence of algal blooms in the system during summer and fall seasons resulted to the greatest increase in the amount of suspended materials in the overlying water. unlike ACW, the livestock CW (LCW) performed efficiently throughout the year, with mean suspended solids removal amounting to 61% to 68%. Algal blooms were still present in LCW seasonally; however, the constant inflow in the system limited the proliferation of phytoplankton through continuous flushing. The total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiencies in ACW were higher during the summer (21% to 25%) and fall (8% to 21%) seasons since phytoplankton utilize nitrogen and phosphorus during the early stages of phytoplankton blooms. In the case of LCW, the most efficient reduction in TN (24%) and TP (54%) concentrations were also noted in summer, which can be attributed to the favorable environmental conditions for microbial activities. The mean removal of organics in ACW was lowest during summer season (-52% to 35%), wherein the onset of algal decay triggered a relative increase in organic matter and stimulate bacterial growth. The removal of organics in LCW was highest (54 % to 55%) during the fall and winter seasons since low water temperatures may limit the persistence of various algal species. Variations in environmental conditions due to seasonal changes can greatly affect the performance of CW systems. This study effectively established the contributory factors affecting the feasibility of utilizing CW systems for treating agricultural and livestock discharges and runoff.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
• /
• 1999.11a
• /
• pp.325-329
• /
• 1999

The characteristic of East Asian summer monsoon is investigated using 8-year (March 1987-February 1995) - averaged monthly and 5-day mean 1 degree latitude-longitude gridded GMS high-cloud-amount data (HCA). An analysis of these data shows the convective zone (ITCZ) clouds which defined as the percentage of the total grid area covered by clouds with a cloud-top temperature below the 400 hPa-level climatological temperature. The HCA increased clearly over equatorial zone during December and January and 30-40 $^{\circ}$N during May and June. These HCA patterns are coincided with seasonal cycles of summer monsoon which is introduced in historical references. The relationship with the summer monsoon winds as climatological changing of wind direction is analyzed by ECMWF re-analysis 2.5-degree latitude-longitude grid surface data which is calculated with 8-year averaged from January 1987 to January 1995. In addition, the monsoon winds are showed by separated U, V-wind components far manifestation a tendency of onset and retreat data of seasonal monsoon.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.93-102
• /
• 1992

The epidemic of tsutsugamushi disease, along with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome(HFRS) and leptospirosis, has been ingrowing concern as it occupies a considerable proportion of the so-called seasonal febrile illnesses in autumn in Korea. This study was conducted to describe certain epidemiologic characteristics of the reported cases of the tsutsugamushi epidemic in Chollanamdo province in 1991. The findings could be summarized as follows: 1. Among three seasonal febrile illnesses in Autumn, tsutsugamushi disease occupied 91.9 percent of whole serologically confirmed cases. 2. Male-female sex ratio was 1 : 1.8. Majority of cases (77.4% in men, 65.1% in female) were in older age group (>=50 year of age). 3. Date of disease onset were distributed between late September and November. The 67.4% of cases were developed from October 21 to November 10, 1991. 4. The 41.5% of cases were reported from southern maritime districts. Reported dates of index cases and median cases were earliest in inland districts followed by southern maritime and latest in western maritime districts. 5. Most frequently reported clinical symptoms were chill (100%), high fever (100%), headache (81.7%), and skin eruption (70.4%).

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.58-72
• /
• 2023

Objectives The purpose of this study is to analyze the latest clinical trends in peripheral facial nerve palsy pediatric and adolescent patients who treated in Korean medicine hospital. Methods The study was conducted based on 185 cases of pediatric and adolescent patients with peripheral facial nerve paralysis who visited Korean medicine hospital from January 2017 to June 2022. Results The mean age of onset of facial nerve paralysis in children and adolescents was 11.7 years, and the incidence rate was higher in boys than in girls. The seasonal distribution was the most common in autumn, and 91.4% were diagnosed with Bell's palsy. The recurrence rate was 7.6%. The severity was evaluated on the House-Brackmann Grading System (HBGS) scale, and the most common was Grade III. It took an average of 6.5 days from the date of onset to visit the hospital, and 75.7% visited the hospital within a week from the date of onset. Hospitalized treatment was 69.2%. The higher the HBGS grade, the more hospitalized treatment was, and the total number of treatments and the duration of treatment tended to increase. The average treatment period from the first visit date was 119.6 days. 17.8% received only Korean medicine treatment, and 69.2% took Western medicine with herbal medicine. Conclusions In this study, there was a difference in the average treatment period from previous studies according to the study period setting. Long-term studies on the recovery rate and prognosis of pediatric facial paralysis are needed.