• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.145-156
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• 2012

Seafloor hydrothermal system occurs along the volcanic mid-ocean ridge, back-arc spreading center, and other submarine volcanic regions. The hydrothermal system is one of the fundamental processes controlling the transfer of energy and matter between crust/mantle and ocean; it forms hydrothermal vents where various deepsea biological communities are inhabited and precipitates metal sulfide deposits. Hydrothermal systems at convergence plate boundaries show diverse geochemical properties due to recycle of subducted material compared to simple systems at mid-ocean ridges. Sulfur isotopes can be used to evaluate such diversity in generation and evolution of hydrothermal system. In this paper, we review the sulfur isotope composition and geochemistry of hydrothermal precipitates sampled from several hydrothermal vents in the divergent plate boundaries in the western Pacific region. Both sulfide and sulfate minerals of the hydrothermal vents in the arc and backarc tectonic settings commonly show low sulfur isotope compositions, which can be attributed to input of magmatic $SO_2$ gas. Diversity in geochemistry of hydrothermal system suggests an active role of magma in the formation of seafloor hydrothermal system.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2004

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, as defined by the ATP III report, in some Korean adults and use the Asian-Pacific proposed waist circumference to investigate waist circumference in some Korean adults using ROC curves. Methods : Study subjects were seventy-five thousands and ninety one persons(47,979 men and 27,111 women) who were selected among the patients who visited hospital for health evaluation from January 2000 to December 2001. All subjects were measured by height, weight, waist and hip circumferences, blood pressure and blood chemistry(lipid profile). Results : The mean age was $41.6{\pm}8.5$ years in men, $41.1{\pm}10.4$ years in women(p<0.05). Body mass index was in the normal range in 35.3% of men, and 55.9% of women. In both men and women, blood pressure, blood sugar, total cholesterol and triglyceride were positively correlated with BMI. waist circumference, and Broca's index(p<0.01). However HDL. choloesterol was correlated negatively (p< 0.01). Using ROC curve, the calculated waist circumferences were 84 cm in men(sensitivity 61.4% and specificity 64.1%) and 74 cm in women(sensitivity 65.0% and specificity 73.2%). The age adjusted prevalences of the metabolic syndrome as defined by NCEP ATP III were different for men(6.4%) and women(14.6%). The prevalence increased from 1.2% among participants aged 20 through 29years to 15.0% among participants aged over 60years in men(p<0.05) and from 1.6% to 27.4% respectively, in women. The age adjusted prevalences, as defined by using the waist circumference that was recommended by WHO's regional office for the western Pacific, were 10.6% in men and 18.5% in women. The age adjusted prevalences, as defined by using the waist circumference that was calculated by the ROC curves, were 17.1% in men and 22.4% in women. And All prevalences were increased following increased BMI and Broca's index. Conculsions : The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in some Korean adults was lower than that in western adults. Nevertheless because waist circumference was differed among race and region, application of the same criteria was not proper. Morcover, a higher awareness was required in women, because the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was rapidly increased with increment of age.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.581-588
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• 2023

This study reports depth-dependent elemental distribution and mineral abundance of the oceanic sediment sample (WP21GPC04) near the Mariana Trench collected during the WP21 expedition in 2021. The elemental distribution determined by μ-XRF shows no significant differences with varying depth, with an average SiO₂ 53.91 wt%, FeO 4.48 wt%, Al₂O₃ 16.56 wt%, MgO 2.56 wt%, CaO 4.79 wt%, Na₂O 3.52 wt%, K₂O 5.48 wt%, similar to the average chemical composition of global subducting sediments (GLOSS). The mineral abundances analyzed using synchrotron XRD, however, vary with depth. While quartz, mica, and plagioclase were identified at all depths, chlorite was found at shallow depths, and zeolite group minerals, phillipsite and heulandite, showed a gradual change in phase fraction with depth. This suggests a change in sedimentation and alteration environments in the region, or the potential for coexistence emerges due to similar sediment stability. Overall, this study will provide a basis for the future investigations on the evolution of sedimentary environment near the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean and the phase distribution and the behavior of subducting oceanic sediments, which will affect the lithological and geochemical characteristics of the Mariana susduction system.

• Atmosphere
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.159-183
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• 2016

On 31 July 2014, there was a localized torrential rainfall ($58.5mm\;hr^{-1}$) caused by a strong convective cell with thunder showers over Daegwallyeong. In the surface synoptic chart, a typhoon was positioned in the East China Sea and the subtropical high was expanded to the Korean peninsula. A WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) numerical simulation with a resolution of 1 km was performed for a detailed analysis. The simulation result showed a similar pattern in a reflectivity distribution particularly over the Gangwon-do region, compared with the radar reflectivity. According to the results of the WRF simulation, the process and mechanism of the localized heavy rainfall over Daegwallyeong are as follows: (1) a convective instability over the middle part of the Korean peninsula was enhanced due to the low level advection of warm and humid air from the North Pacific high. (2) There was easterly flow from the coast to the mountainous regions around Daegwallyeong, which was generated by the differential heating of the insolation among Daegwallyeong and the Yeongdong coastal plain, and nearby coastal waters. (3) In addition, westerly flow from the western part of Daegwallyeong caused a strong convergence in this region, generating a strong upward motion combined by an orographic effect. (4) This brought about a new convective cell over Daegwallyeong. And this cell was more developed by the outflow from another thunderstorm cell to the south, and finally these two cells were merged to develop as a strong convective cell with thunder showers, leading to the record breaking maximum rainfall per hour ($58.5mm\;hr^{-1}$) in July.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.264-271
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to redefine the location of acupoints in the lower abdomen by taking actual thoracic and abdominal measurements. Methods: Measurements of the length and height of the thorax, and both the upper and lower abdominal area were compared to standard values defined by the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region (WHO/WPRO), and medical text books such as Miraculous Pivot, and A-B Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. These measurements were used to redefine the standard of 1 cun, and the cun value of the lower abdomen. Results: Of the 60 studies screened, all studies used the cun measurement system. Considerable variation in the localization of acupoints in the lower abdominal area were detected. The average measurement of a typical male lower abdomen was within 6.33 cun to 6.34 cun. From this data, 6.5 cun appears to be more accurate than the current standardized length of 5 cun. The standardized index values of the width of the 4 fingers, and the distance from the lateral prominence from the greater trochanter to the popliteal crease (Fm), appeared to apply to only males, as defined by the WHO/WPRO. Conclusion: Further studies on standardizing the index measurements for the lower abdominal area are necessary. For males, the more accurate standardized length of the lower abdomen was 6.5 cun, whereas for females, the measurement would typically be longer than 6.5 cun.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.188-193
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• 2021

On March 13, 2018 two postflexion larval specimens (18.28 mm and 16.80 mm in standard length) belonging to the family Cryptacanthodidae, suborder Zoarcoidei were collected from Sokcho and Gangneung in Gangwon Province. The family Cryptacanthodidae comprises 4 species worldwide: 3 in the North Pacific Ocean and 1 in the western North Atlantic Ocean. As a result of analyzing 620 bp of the mtDNA COI region, the two postflexion larvae collected in this study were identified as Cryptacanthodes bergi by 99.5% agreement with C. bergi adult registered in NCBI. Postflexion larvae of C. bergi are compressed with large eyes and radial pectoral fins and the anus located in front of the center of the body. Melanophores were intensively distributed along the dorsal midline, except for caudal peduncle, and sporadically distributed on the back of the anus. In addition, there were limited star-like melanophores on the back of the gut. This species showed 0.058 genetic distance when compared mtDNA COI region of C. aleutensis, and it was well distinguished in the distribution pattern of black vesicles of the head, count and measurement traits. Considering the morphological and ecological characteristics of this species, we suggest a new Korean name, " Gwisin-jang-gaeng-i ".

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.79-91
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• 2019

Long-term trends and recent variations of upwelling index (UI), which affects significantly ecosystem in southwestern part of the East Sea, were investigated. The UI was calculated with the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data from January 1948 to September 2018. The mean UI has positive value that causes upwelling in April to August with a peak in July. The long-term reducing trend of UI was in statistically significant in June and July, and the sum of UI in May, June and July also showed same result. Through the atmospheric pressure analysis around the Korean peninsula, it was found that the trend of the UI was the influence of the pressure change trend in the northwestern region ($35-50^{\circ}N$, $114-129^{\circ}E$) of the southwestern part of the East Sea. Investigating UI in recent 7 years from 2012 to 2018, it was revealed that the UI was bigger than 3 times of standard deviation in July 2013. This was result from the sea level pressure difference became larger in the southwestern part of the East Sea than normal year due to the lowered air pressure in the northeastern region of China and the strengthened high air pressure of western peripheral of the North Pacific High. On the other hand, the UI in July 2018 was negative when the impact of the North Pacific High and the low air pressure in the northeastern China was weak. Due to the decreasing trend of UI and its large year-to-year variation in southwestern part of the East Sea, continuous monitoring is necessary to know the influence of coastal upwelling on the ecosystem.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.24 no.1 s.61
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• pp.67-80
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• 2006

The effect of environmental forcing on picophytoplankton distribution pattern was investigated in the tropical and subtropical western Pacific (TSWP) and the East Sea in September, 2002, and the continental shelf of the East China Sea (C-ECS) in August, 2003. The abundance of picophytoplankton populations, Synechococcus, Prochlorococcus and picoeukaryotes were determined by flow cytometry analyses. Picophytoplankton vertical profiles and integrated abundance $(0\sim100\;m)$ were compared with these three physiochemically different regions. Variation patterns of integrated cell abundance of Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus in these three regions showed contrasting results. Synechococcus showed average abundance of $84.5X10^{10}\;cells\;m^{-2}$, in the TSWP, $305.6X10^{10}\;cells\;m^{-2}$ in the C-ECS, and $125.4X10^{10}\;cells\; m^{-2}$ in the East Sea where increasing cell concentrations were observed in the region with abundant nutrient. On the other hand, Prochlorococcus showed average abundance of $504.5X10^{10}\;cells\;m^{-2}$ in the TSWP, $33.2x10^{10}\;cells\;m^{-2}$ in the C-ECS, and $130.2X10^{10}\;cells\;m^{-2}$ in the East Sea exhibiting a distinctive pattern of increasing cell abundance in oligotrophic warm water. Although picoeukaryotes showed a similar pattern to Synechococcus, the abundance was 1/10 of Synechococcus. Synechococcus and picoeukaryotes showed ubiquitous distribution whereas Prochlorococcus generally did not appear in the C-ECS and the East Sea with low salinity environment. The average depth profiles for Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus displayed uniform abundance in the surface mixed layer with a rapid decrease below the surface mixed layer. for Prochlorococcus, a similar rapid decreasing trend was not observed below the surface mixed layer of the TSWP, but Prochlorococcus continued to show high cell abundance even down to 100 m depth. Picoeukaryotes showed uniform abundance along $0\sim100\;m$ depth in the C-ECS, and abundance maximum layer appeared in the East Sea at $20\sim30\;m$ depth.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1719-1729
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• 2014

This study is carried out in order to bridge the gap to understand the relationships between South Asian and East Asian monsoon systems by comparing the summer (June-September) precipitation of Nepal and South Korea. Summer monsoon precipitation data from Nepal and South Korea during 30 years (1981-2010) are used in this research to investigate the association. NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data are also used to see the nature of large scale phenomena. Statistical applications are used to analyze these data. The analyzed results show that summer monsoon precipitation is higher over Nepal ($1513.98{\pm}159.29mm\;y^{-1}$) than that of South Korea ($907.80{\pm}204.71mm\;y^{-1}$) and the wettest period in both the countries is July. However, the coefficient of variation shows that amplitude of interannual variation of summer monsoon over South Korea (22.55%) is larger in comparison to that of Nepal (10.52%). Summer monsoon precipitation of Nepal is found to be significantly correlated to that of South Korea with a correlation coefficient of 0.52 (99% confidence level). Large-scale circulations are studied to further investigate the relationship between the two countries. wind and specific humidity at 850 hPa show a strong westerly from Arabian Sea to BOB and from BOB, wind moves towards Nepal in a northwestward direction during the positive rainfall years. In case of East Asia, strong northward displacement of wind can be observed from Pacific to South Korea and strong anticyclone over the northwestern Pacific Ocean. However, during the negative rainfall years, in the South Asian region we can find weak westerly from the Arabian Sea to BOB, wind is blowing in a southerly direction from Nepal and Bangladesh to BOB.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.569-578
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• 2009

Aircraft Measurements of gaseous pollutants($SO_2$, NOx and $O_3$) in the Yellow Sea area, were carried out on 1997-2007. Main measurement site in 124$^{\circ}$-127$^{\circ}$E, 35$^{\circ}$-37$^{\circ}$N (in the Yellow Sea), have been done along the paths classified vertically and zonally. To understand how the air stream affects Long-range transboundary pollutants in Northease Asia (LTP), the tracks of pollutants in northeast Asia have been analyzed by dividing into 6 different regions(regions I-V and L). Compared with Korea's local sources and western north Pacific influenced by the Yellow Sea, when the air stream from region II is dominant, the $SO_2$ concentrations are 3-6times higher. In region II and III, $SO_2$ concentrations are represented highest at 25.0 and 14.7 ppb, respectively. However, in other regions, $SO_2$ concentration was recorderd the highest at 1.1-3.8 ppb, which is 7-15% higher then the highest one over the region II and III. During 1997-2007, the mean amount of incoming pollutants is 0.162 $ton/km{\cdot}hr$ exceeding about 5-times mean amount of outgoing pollutants over the West Sea. During the observed period, the amount of incoming and outgoing $SO_2$ over the Yellow Sea is the highest in winter, at 0.224 $ton/(km{\cdot}hr)$ and 0.120 $ton/(km{\cdot}hr)$, respectively.