• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.287-293
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• 1998

Hantaan virus are widely distributed in rodents populations in Korea. Two antigenically distinct hantaviruses have been isolated from Apodemus agrarius in 1976 and Rattus norvegicus in 1980 in Korea. This study was designed to find the serological evidence of hantavirus infection among indigenous wild rodents captured in 7 Mountains located in Kangwon province of south Korea. A total 191 wild rodents of 3 species were trapped in Chumbong mountain, Kali mountain, Hansuk mounatin, Chachil peak, Bukam ridge, Kyebang mountain and Odae mountain in 1997. Serologic evidence for hantavirus infection were tested using hantavirus antigens by indirect immunofluorescent antibody technique (IFA). Among 85 Apodemus agrarius, 77 Apodemus peninsulae and 29 Eothenomys regulus; 8 A. agrarius (9.4%), 11 A. peninsulae (14.3%) and 4 E. regulus (13.8%) were immunofluorescent antibody positive against hantaan virus. IF antibody titers against Puumala virus of 3 E. regulus sera were higher than against hantaan virus. This data suggest that several antigenically distinct hantaviruses have been circulated in rodent populations in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 1991

The distribution of cryophilous arctic-alpine and alpine plants in Korea is reviewed in connection with palaeoenvironment, along with a discussion to their origins, patterns of migration, and their refugia. At present, the estimated number of Korean arctic-alpine and alpine species is 419, and this includes 75 arctic-alpine species, 239 alpine species and 105 Korean endemic alpine species. The disjunctive distribution of cryophilous arctic-alpine and alpine plants is likely to be due to first, the downslope and southward expansion of those species towards the Korean peninsula as a primary refugia from the arctic region as the Pleistocene glacial phases approached, and then their subsequent isolation upslope in mountain areas toward a secondary refugia as the interglacial and post-glacial climatic ameliorations followed; secondly, the expansion of forest tree communities on lowland and montane areas subsequent to the end of the Pleistocene has had the effect of dividing formerly high mountains as a result of the increased competition; and thirdly, the general disapperance or restriction of available habitats for arctic-alpine and alpine species because of post-glacial climatic amelioration. The existence of 139 alpine species exclusively in the north of Korea may be due to the following reasons; first, frequent exchanges of alpine floras with other neighbouring East Asian regions would have been facilitated; secondly, there are numerous high mountains available for the alpine plants to survive and prosper during the post-glacial period; thirdly, the existence of easy accesses between mountains within the north, which has enabled alpine floras to migrate when necessary; and finally, the availability of diverse environments and habitats for the alpine flora of the north. However, the continued survival of those species in Korea at the world's or East Asia's southernmost limits of their distribution for many species is in danger if global warming associated with the greenhouse effect takes place.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2013

Korea's traditional Sokgasans(a artificial rock mountain) are elements of our excellent rock garden culture that have been inherited from Goryeo Era to Chosun Era. This study is to analyze how the culture of Sokgasans in the Goryeo and the Chosun Eras has been has been representated the implications and inherited in terms of historical aspects. Korea's traditional Sokgasans, which were created in the Goryeo Era by imitating the landscape of mountain ranges, created a small artificial mountain made of oddly shaped stones, imitating a real mountain. People in those days would reproduce mountain landscapes through a miniaturization technique, enjoying the pleasure of deep mountains and valleys as they lay on their gardens at home while having an aesthetic experience of the landscape that supported their emotional stability and healing. The inner side of these Sokgasan was intended to represent the world of the Taoist hermit with miraculous powers in terms of utopia, expressing 5 Ak mountains(Song Shan, Taishan, Huashan, Heng Shan and Hyeong Shan) where the mountain of 3 Gods(Youngju, Bongrae and Bangjang) wishing for 'No aging and living long' and idea of the Taoist hermit with miraculous powers are concentrated beyond the beauty of form in the landscape itself. In addition, people could refine their minds by practicing the Confucianist lesson of loving the mountain and water by watching the Sokgasan and imitating 'Famous mountains and lakes" from China and they had been changed and advanced embracing various implications in inner side of Sokgasans. Korea's traditional Sokgasans not only made it possible for people to experience aesthetic landscapes as a practical element of the scenery but also had deep symbolic implications that go beyond their formal beauty and were sublimated as an ideational space of unlimited imagination.

• Atmosphere
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.171-182
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• 2008

In this study, we analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution of wind resources over Korea based on hourly observational data recorded over a period of 5 years from 457 stations belonging to Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). The surface and 850 hPa wind data obtained from the Korea Local Analysis and Prediction System (KLAPS) and the Regional Data Assimilation and Prediction System (RDAPS) over a period of 1 year are used as supplementary data sources. Wind speed is generally high over seashores, mountains, and islands. In 62 (13.5%) stations, mean wind speeds for 5 years are greater than $3ms^{-1}$. The effects of seasonal wind, land-sea breeze, and mountain-valley winds on wind resources over Korea are evaluated as follows: First, wind is weak during summer, particularly over the Sobaek Mountains. However, over the coastal region of the Gyeongnam-province, strong southwesterly winds are observed during summer owing to monsoon currents. Second, the wind speed decreases during night-time, particularly over the west coast, where the direction of the land breeze is opposite to that of the large-scale westerlies. Third, winds are not always strong over seashores and highly elevated areas. The wind speed is weaker over the seashore of the Gyeonggi-province than over the other seashores. High wind speed has been observed only at 5 stations out of the 22 high-altitude stations. Detailed information on the wind resources conditions at the 21 stations (15 inland stations and 6 island stations) with high wind speed in Korea, such as the mean wind speed, frequency of wind speed available (WSA) for electricity generation, shape and scale parameters of Weibull distribution, constancy of wind direction, and wind power density (WPD), have also been provided. Among total stations in Korea, the best possible wind resources for electricity generation are available at Gosan in Jeju Island (mean wind speed: $7.77ms^{-1}$, WSA: 92.6%, WPD: $683.9Wm^{-2}$) and at Mt. Gudeok in Busan (mean wind speed: $5.66ms^{-1}$, WSA: 91.0%, WPD: $215.7Wm^{-2}$).

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.323-337
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• 2006

This work discussed the species composition, phylogeny, spatio-temporal distribution, ecology and natural history of North Korean Pinaceae or pine tree family, which seems to be important to maintain nature and ecosystem in the Korean Peninsula. Out of five genera and sixteen species of Pinaceae of the Korean Peninsula, North Korea contains four genera and eleven species of Pinaceae, including Pinus densilflora, P. koraiensis, P. pumila, Picea jezoensis, P. koraiensis, P. koraiensis var. koraiensis, P. pungsanensis, Larix gmelini, L. gmelinii var. olgensis, Abies holophylla and A. nephrolepis. In terms of phylogeny Pinus is closely related to Picea, and followed by Larix. Abies is close to Tsuga which only occur at Ullung Island. Distributional pattern of North Korean Pinaceae can be classified into four types; three species of nation-wide montane type i.e., Pinus densilflora, P. koraiensis and Abies holophylla, four species of central and northern subalpine type, i.e., Pinus pumila, Picea koraiensis, Larix gmelini and Abies nephrolepis, one nation-wide subalpine type, Picea jezoensis, and three species disjunctive to north type, i.e., Picea koraiensis var. koraiensis, P. pungsanensis, and Larix gmelinii var. olgensis. Pinaceae species occurring on the alpine and subalpine belts of North Korea, such as Pinus koraiensis, P. pumila, Picea jezoensis, P. koraiensis, P. koraiensis var. koraiensis, P. pungsanensis, Larix gmelini, L. gmelinii var. olgensis and A. nephrolepis are considered as the glacial descendant from the boreal region. Those species might have migrated from the north during the Pleistocene glacial epochs in search of favourable condition, and since the Holocene period they survived on the hostile alpine and subalpine environments, in which they are more competitive than warmth-tolerant temperate vegetation. Certain species, such as Picea pungsanensis, is segregated on the isolated mountains since the Pleistocene period, and forced to adapt to local environment, and eventually became an endemic species of North Korea. Recent rapid global warming trend especially in northern high mountains of North Korea could cause an unfavourable environment for the survival of cold-tolerant Pinaceae of the alpine and subalpine belts. Pinus densiflora, which is occurring on the montane belt might faced with difficulties due to both the deforestation and the outbreak of insect-borne disease, such as Bursaphelenchus xylophilus.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.656-674
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to examine the distinctiveness and generality of landforms of the Korean peninsula, and further discover geomorphological principle that can be applied to land and environmental management in Korea. The research targeted East Asia and Korea, with terrain analysis conducted at a continental scale, national scale, and regional scale sequentially. East Asia displays complicated characteristics and evolutionary history of geotectonics, but exhibits distinct northeast-southwest geomorphological structure and connectivity at the continental level. While the Korean peninsula follows this pattern on a continental scale, it also features NNW-SSE direction (Nangrim and Taebaek Mountains) geomorphological connectivity that intersects at a right angle. From a national perspective, the Korean peninsula hosts the most diverse geomorphological features within East Asia. It does not have a high average altitude, but has relatively high slope angle and intricate topographical distribution in comparison to neighboring areas. While the mountains and plains of the Korean peninsula display a smooth connection, geomorphologically similar areas such as Shikhote-Alin, Huanan in China, and Japan have clear characteristics that divide the mountains and plains. Despite the distinctiveness and diversity that appear in East Asian topography on the regional scale, the connectivity that links the top of mountain (hill) to stream is identical among all areas as a general rule. It is collectively considering the connectivity and the geomorphological and ecological processes that arise within this connectivity that will serve as the focal point for sustainable landscape management.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1319-1328
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• 2011

Rhododendron brachycarpum is a evergreen broad-leaved shrub and belongs to the Ericaceae family and the Rhododendron genus. It is well known for its beautiful leaves and flowers. There are 11 species of the Rhododendron genus in Korea. It includes 3 species - Rhododendron brachycarpum, Rhododendron aureum Georgi and Rhododendron brachycarpum var. roseum Koidz. They grow naturally over 1,000 meters above sea level of the Baekdu Mountain Range in Korea. These habitats, according to investigations of 9 Rhododendron brachycarpum natural habitats, are mostly located on the slope of mountains facing north at an altitude of 1,200 m to 1,526 m above sea level with angle of inclination from 30 degrees to 45 degrees. Based on the result of vegetation analysis of dominance species in the quadrates, there are Quercus aliena, Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb, Abies holophylla in species of upper trees, and so on. Dominant species of woody plants in tree layer are Quercus aliena, Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb, Abies holophylla, Betula platyphylla and Veeatrum patulum Loes. fil, Erythronium japonicum, Dryopteris crassirhizoma, Paeonia japonica var. glabra Makino are founded in herbaceous plants. And we can see another result of the investigation that the flowering rates of the plants with the buds are highly ranked mountains such as Mt. Hambaek 68%, Mt. Gyebang 40%, Mt. Yagksu 9%, Mt. Gaein 7% and Mt. Seolag 0%. The results show that there are 24 over 15-year-old Rhododendron brachycarpums in Mt. Odae and are 56 under 15-year-old trees in Mt. Hambaek and are no trees in Mt. Gyebang and are 9 over 30-year-dead trees only in Mt. Taebaeg. Out of found trees, the highest tree is 7 m in height and 0.6 m in diameter. Also this result shows what are the vulnerability factors of the natural habitats. They are as follows: indiscriminate trails in mountains, damages by mountain climbers, uncareful plant collecting, the fierce competitions with other plants such as Acer pseudosieboldianum var. ishidoyanum Uyeki, Quercus aliena, Celastrus orbiculatus and damages by disease and insect, unusual temperature in natural habitats, etc. Rhododendron brachycarpums have high ornamental value and excellent pharmaceutical effect. But the areas of its habitats decrease dramatically. So we need measures to protect and their natural habitats. It is necessary that we conductfurther investigations to designate conservation area for Rhododendron brachycarpums.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.385-394
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• 2001

An attempt to clarify the landscape structure of urban areas was carried out in the greenbelt around Seoul, Korea's metropolis. By means of aerial photographs and a field survey, a vegetation map including land-use pattern was made. Landscape structure was described by analyzing this vegetation map and the results of phytosociological survey. Landscape element types identified were (1) secondary forest, (2) plantation, (3) cultivated field, (4) urbanized area, (5) graveyard, and (6) bare rock. Vegetation units, resulting from the phytosociological analysis, included Quercus mongolica, Q. variabilis, Q. acutissima, Pinus densiflora, Q. aliena, and Alnus japonica communities. Plantations were composed of Robinia pseudoacacia, Populus tomentiglandulosa, P. rigida, Larix leptolepis, P. koraiensis, and Castanea crenata stands. Patches near to human settlements in the lower zones of the mountains were fragmented and small but they became larger towards the higher mountain zones. On the other hand, the number of patches was fewer and their size was larger in Mt. Cheonggye more distant from the principal residential area, larger in size, and higher in elevation compared with the other 2 mountains, Mt. Daemo and Mt. Acha. Floristic composition of Mongolian oak(Q. mongolica) stand distributing in the upper part of each mountain, in which artificial interference is rare, showed a difference among those study areas different in parent rock and disturbance regime. But that of black locust(R. pseudoacacia) stand located in lowland of mountainous area, in which artificial interference is frequent was similar to each other. As the results of analyses on the frequency distribution of diameter classes of major species, dominant landscape elements, Mongolian oak forest showed different responses depending on artificial interference as continuous maintenance and retrogressive succession in the sites far from and near to the residential areas, respectively. On the other hand, black locust stands showed a probability to be restore to the native oak forest through progressive succession.

• Journal of the Speleological Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.35
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• pp.32-42
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• 1993

The Paektu-san mountains are geographically situated in the Korea strait to the north of the main peninsula, coordinated between the longitudes of W(127$^{\circ}$15'~128$^{\circ}$00')and E(128$^{\circ}$15'~129$^{\circ}$00'), and between the latitudes of S(41$^{\circ}$15'~42$^{\circ}$00') and N(42$^{\circ}$10'~42$^{\circ}$40'). The volcanic group of the Paektu-san mountains can be devided into 2 main kinds of volcanos by the method investigation, The ashes are mainly made of tremolite, trachte, basalt and pumice, or, a little quartz, labradorite and volcanic glass. These sorts, ratios and forms of the rocks are respectively similar. The Haeven lake is surrounded by 19 peaks. The central volcanic cone is a secant cone in shape, with an altitude of the 1800m to 2749,2m (Chang-kun-bong), an average diameter of 10km, and a shape of an ellipse seen high from the plane. They say there were several eruptions in 1668, 1700 and 1702 A. D. The crystal structure of the rock sample collected at the cave of Mt. Paektu-san is monoclinic. The quantitative analysis of the rock samples in the cave is done by using XRF this time. The chemical compositions by XRF fundamamental parameter analysis is : SiO$_2$: 50.72Wt%, TiO = 2.422Wt%, $Al_2$O$_3$= 17.65Wt%, Fe$_2$O$_3$= 9.371Wt%, CaO = 8.711Wt%, MgO = 4.l19Wt%, MnO = 0.l15Wt%, $K_2$O = 1.369Wt%, Na$_2$O : 3.028Wt% and P$_2$O$_{5}$ = 0.365Wt%. The K-Ar age of the rock sample is also determined to be 0.16Ma. This paper describes some problems experienced in dating young volcanic rocks, and then discusses chemical compositions, X-ray fluorescence analyses and the age of the formation of a lava tunnel such as in Mt. Paektu-san.n.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.179-188
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• 2011

In this study, the regional factors in Gangwondo were used to analysis the relationship between point precipitation and areal precipitation. The most province area in Gangwondo is consist of mountainous terrain. At the east part of the Taebaek Mountains, the slope is very steep and the coastal plains don't exist. At the west part of the Taebaek Mountains, the slope is mild, there are many rivers, such as South Han-river and North Han-river, and the regions are very complex terrain. The data of 66 stations in Gangwondo and the PRISM (Parameter-elevation Regression on Indepedent Slope Model) were used to estimate the spatial distribution of precipitation. According to the topographic conditions, such as elevation and slope, and the regional conditions, such as Youngdong and Youngseo, the spatial distribution of precipitation is well shown. At the results of cross-validation, the RRBIAS and the RRMSE are under 0.1 and therefore the analysis of the PRISM are well conducted. Consequently the PRISM in this study is a appropriate method to estimate the spatial distribution of precipitation in Gangwondo.