• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.181-187
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• 2008

Purpose : Asthma is characterized by reversible airway obstruction and bronchial hyperresponsiveness result from airway inflammation. Fraction of nitric oxide in expired air (FeNO) has recently been investigated as a noninvasive measure of airway inflammation. FeNO has been reported to correlate with induced sputum eosinophilia and methacholine challenge test that it is represent severity of asthma. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship of FeNO with pulmonary function tests in patients with intermittent asthma. Methods : Eighty children included in this study were diagnosed as asthma from April through August, 2005 in Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Kyunghee University. They aged from 4 to 15 years who were able to conduct spirometry and FeNO monitoring. They did not have upper respiratory tract infection and did not use an asthma controller which contain corticosteroids within 4 weeks. Pulmonary function test was done and FeNO was measured with online tidal breathing method using a chemiluminescence NO analyzer (CLD 88 sp, Eco Medics, Duernten, Switzerland). The correlations between pulmonary function test and FeNO were analyzed using Spearman correlation coefficient method. Results : The mean of FeNO of subject was 16.88 parts per billion (ppb). The mean of forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$) was $0.890{\pm}0.455L$ and forced vital capacity (FVC) was $1.071{\pm}0.630L$. The mean of predicted $FEV_1%$ ($FEV_1%pred$) was $98.39{\pm}34.27%$ and $FEV_1/FVC$ was $88.53{\pm}19.49$. FeNO was significantly correlate with $FEV_1$ (r=0.345, P<0.01) and FVC (r=0.244, P<0.05). FeNO did not correlate with $FEV_1%pred$ or $FEV_1/FVC$. Conclusion : The measurement of FeNO could be a useful marker in the management of childhood asthma and it is evolving to provide a complementary role alongside existing pulmonary function test. We propose that measuring technique and establishment of normal reference range are important area for future research.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.521-529
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• 2008

This research conducted a survey on waterbirds visiting this area four times by season from February to October in 2007 to look into the habitat use of waterbirds, to do a value and grade testing of the tidal flat by dividing the foreshore on Muan Bay located in Jeollanam-do into four areas (Dongam, Guro, Bokryong and Wangsan tidal flats). The survey results revealed that there existed a total of 15,755 individuals of 54 species including 2 species of grebes, 7 species of herons, 7 species of dabbling ducks, 6 species of diving ducks, 20 species of waders, 3 species of gulls and 9 other species and this survey also observed 9,291 individuals of the wading birds as a dominant group on Muan Bay. In these classified groups, the gulls and waders were observed to mostly use Dongam tidal flat as their habitat, while the group using Guro tidal flat as their habitat was mostly grebes, dabbling and diving ducks. As a result of UPGMA clustering analysis in consideration of the species and number of individuals, there appear the close similarities between Dongam and Bokryong tidal flats and so do Guro and Wangsan tidal flats. Taking a look at the grading of tidal flats by setting up ecological indexes, such as diversity index, abundance index, and dominance index, etc. legally reserved species and maximum number of individuals as a standard, the rank for the value and importance degree of Bokryong tidal flat appeared higher than that of the other three tidal flats. Like this, the gradation of tidal flats according to waterbirds are judged to able to suggest objective data on the issue of proper judgment and designation of valuable tidal flat areas and its subsequent effective preservation and management.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.448-464
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to optimize the parameters related to consensus coherency within the PCL 1300, the operating program of wind profiler, from a validation of wind data between rawinsonde and wind profiler at Chupungryeong ($36^{\circ}13^{\prime}$, $127^{\circ}59^{\prime}$) site in Korea. It is then to analyze the diurnal and seasonal characteristics of the turbulence energy dissipation rate (${\varepsilon}$) in clear and rainy days from March 2009 to February 2010. In comparison of the wind data between wind profiler and rawinsonde during April 22-23, 2010, it was shown in a big error more than $10ms^{-1}$ over the height of 3,000 meters in the zonal (u) and meridional (v) wind components. When removing more than $10ms^{-1}$ in each wind speed difference of u an v components between the two instruments, the correlation coefficients of these wind components were 0.92 and 0.88, respectively, and the root mean square errors were 3.07 and $1.06ms^{-1}$. Based on these results, when the data processing time and the minimum available data within the PCL 1300 program were adjusted as 30 minutes and 60%, respectively, the bias errors were small. In addition, as a result of an analysis of sensitivity to consensus coherency of u and v components within the PCL1300 program, u components were underestimated in radial coherency, instantaneous and winbarbs coherency, whereas v components were overestimated. Finally by optimizing parameters of the PCL1300 program, the diurnal and seasonal means of ${\varepsilon}$ at each height were higher in rainy days than those in clear days because of increasing in the vertical wind speed due to upward and downward motions. The mean ${\varepsilon}$ for clear and rainy days in winter was lower than those of other seasons, due to stronger horizontal wind speed in winter than those in other seasons. Consequently, when the turbulence energy dissipation rates in the vertical wind speed of more than ${\pm}10cm\;s^{-1}$ were excluded for clear and rainy days, the mean ${\varepsilon}$ in rainy days was 6-7 times higher than that in clear days, but when considering them, it was 4-5 times higher.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.434-447
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• 2016

This study analyzed mass concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5, as measured at Tae-ahn and Gang-nae, Cheongju in central Korea over the period from 2011 to 2015. Higher mass concentrations of PM10, with the exception of dustfall cases during the period of winter and spring, reflected the influence of a prevailing westerly airflow, while the level of PM10 stayed at a low level in summer, reflecting the influence of North Pacific air mass and frequent rainfall. Accordingly, cases where a daily PM10 average of $81{\mu}gm^{-3}$ or over (exceeding the status of fine dust particles being 'a little bit bad') were often observed during the period of winter and spring, with more cases occurring in parts of Tae-ahn that are located close to the sources of pollutant emission in eastern China. Dustfall usually originated from dust storms made up of particles $2.5{\mu}m$ or over in diameter. However, anthropogenic haze displayed a high composition ratio of particulate less than $2.5{\mu}m$ in diameter. Accordingly, brightness temperature difference (BTD) values from the Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite (COMS) were $-0.5^{\circ}K$ or over in haze with fine particulate. PM10 mass concentrations and NOAA 19 satellite BTD for haze cases were analyzed. Though PM10 mass concentrations were found to be lower than $200{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$, the mass concentration ratio of PM2.5/PM10 was measured as higher than 0.4 and BTD was found to be distributed in the range from -0.3 to $0.5^{\circ}K$. However, the BTD of dustfall cases exceeding $190{\mu}g\;m^{-3}$, were found to be less than 0.4 and BTD was found to be distributed in the range less than $-0.7^{\circ}K$. The result of applying BTD threshold values of the large-scale transport of haze proved to fall into line with the range over which aerosols of MODIS AOD and OMI AI were distributed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.1030-1039
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• 1997

Background : Impulse Oscillometry is a noninvasive and effort-independent test used to characterize the mechanical impedance of the respiratory system. The clinical potential of the IOS is rapid and demands only passive cooperation which makes it especially appealing for children, for epidemiologic surveys and for conditions in which quiet breathig instead of forced expiratory maneuvers are preferred. However, several studies have shown conflicting results that the role of IOS about detection of smoking induced small airway diseases or early airway obstruction Methods : Study was to evaluate the clinical ability of the IOS to detect about smoking induced early airway obstruction in persons with normal spirometry test. Respiratory asymptomatic study groups were formed that one is non-smoking group, another is smoking group. Results : The parameters of spirometry were not significantly differences between non-smoking group and smoking group. Among the parameters of IOS, total resistance(non-smoking group : smoking group=$2.22{\pm}1.20$ : $2.58{\pm}1.71$), peripheral resistance($1.25{\pm}0.62$ : $1.47{\pm}0.10$), bronchial compliance($0.44{\pm}0.12$ : $0.47{\pm}0.16$) were not statistically significant different (p<0.05), but central resistance and lung compliance were not statistically significant different (unit ; resistance=hPa/l/s, compliance=l/hPa). Resistance(Rrs) was not statistically significant different with changes of frequences(5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35Hz), but Reactance(Xrs) was statistically significant different with low frequences that X5(non-smoking group : smoking group=$-0.62{\pm}0.28$ : $-0.76{\pm}0.48$, p<0.001) and X10($-0.06{\pm}0.19$ : $-0.15{\pm}0.33$, p<0.013) (unit; hPall/s, $hPa{\cong}cmH_2O$). Conclusion : Impulse oocillometer(IOS) is clinically available method to detect about smoking induced early airway obstruction. And clinically potential parameters of IOS were considers that total resistance, peripheral resistance, bronchial resistance, and reactance of low frequency at 5Hz, 10Hz.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.572-583
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• 2019

In this study, the atmospheric vertical structure (AVS) associated with summertime (June, July, and August) heavy rainfall in Seoul was classified into three patterns (Loaded Gun: L, Inverted V: IV, and Thin Tube: TT) using rawinsonde soundings launched at Osan from 2009 to 2018. The characteristics of classified AVS and precipitation property were analyzed. Occurrence frequencies in each type were 34.7% (TT-type), 20.4% (IV-type), 20.4% (LG-type), and 24.5% (Other-type), respectively. The mean value of Convective Available Potential Energy (1131.1 J kg^-1) for LG-types and Storm Relative Helicity (357.6 ㎡s^-2) for TT-types was about 2 times higher than that of other types, which seems to be the difference in the mechanism of convection at the low level atmosphere. The composited synoptic fields in all cases showed a pattern that warm and humid southwesterly wind flows into the Korean Peninsula. In the cases of TT-type, the low pressure center (at 850 hPa) was followed by the trough in upper-level (at 500 hPa) as the typical pattern of a low pressure deepening. The TT-type was strongly influenced by the low level jet (at 850 hPa), showing a pattern of connecting the upper- and low-level jets. The result of analysis indicated that precipitation was intensified in the first half of all types. IV-type precipitation induced by thermal instability tended to last for a short term period with strong precipitation intensity, while TT-type by mechanical instability showed weak precipitation over a long term period.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.196-205
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• 2008

Variability in vertical ozone and meteorological profiles was measured by 2Z electrochemical concentration cells (ECC) ozonesonde at Bangyi in Seoul ($37.52^{\circ}N$, $127.13^{\circ}E$) during June $6{\sim}9$, 2003 in odor to identify the vertical distribution of ozone and its relationship with the lower-atmospheric structure resulted in the high ozone concentrations near the surface. The eight profiles obtained in the early morning and the late afternoon during the study period clearly showed that the substantial change of ozone concentrations in lower atmosphere(${\sim}5\;km$), indicating that it is tightly coupled to the variation of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) structure as well as the background synoptic flow. All profiles observed early in the morning showed very low ozone concentrations near the surface with strong vertical gradients in the nocturnal stable boundary layer due to the photochemical ozone loss caused by surface NO titration under very weak vertical mixing. On the other hand, relatively uniform ozone profiles in the developed mixing layer and the ozone peaks in the upper PBL, were observed in the late afternoon. It was noted that a significant increase in ozone concentrations in the lower atmosphere occurred with the corresponding decrease of the mixing height in the late afternoon on June 8. Ozone in upper layer did not vertically vary much compared to that in PBL but changed significantly on June 6 that was closely associated with the variation of synoptic flows. Interestingly, heavily polluted ozone layers aloft (a maximum value of 115 ppb around 2 km) were formed early in the morning on 6 through 7 June under dominant westerly synoptic flows. This indicates the effects of the transport of pollutants on regional scale and consequently can give a rise to increase the surface ozone concentration by downward mixing processes enhanced in the afternoon.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.269-279
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• 2012

Satellite-retrieved data on Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) and ${\AA}$ngstr$\ddot{o}$m exponent (AE) using a Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) were used to analyze large-scale distributions of atmospheric aerosols in East Asia. AOD was relatively high in March ($0.44{\pm}0.25$) and low in September ($0.24{\pm}0.21$) in the East Asian region in 2009. Sandstorms originating from the deserts and dry areas in Northern China and Mongolia were transported on a massive scale during the springtime, thus contributing to the high AOD in East Asia. Although $PM_{10}$ with diameters ${\leq}10{\mu}m$ was the highest in February at Anmyon, Cheongwon and Ulleung, which is located leeward about half-way through the Korean Peninsula, AOD rose to a high in May. The growth of hygroscopic aerosols moving with increases in relative humidity prior to the Asian monsoon season contributed to a high AOD level in May. AE typically reaches its highest value ($1.30{\pm}0.37$) in August due to anthropogenic aerosols originating from industrial areas in Eastern China, while AOD stays low in summer due to the removal process caused by rainfall. The linear correlation coefficients of the MODIS AOD and ground-based mass concentrations of $PM_{10}$ at Anmyon, Cheongwon and Ulleung were 0.4-0.6. Four cases (six days) of mineral dustfall from sandstorms and six cases (twelve days) of anthropogenically polluted particles were observed in the central area of the Korean Peninsula in 2009. $PM_{10}$ mass concentrations increased at both Anmyon and Cheongwon in the cases of mineral dustfall and anthropogenically polluted particles. Cases of dustfall from sandstorms and anthropogenic polluted particles, with increasing $PM_{10}$ mass concentrations, exhibited higher AOD values in the Yellow Sea region.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.732-743
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• 2005

The characteristics of precipitation over South Korea from 1973 to 2002 were investigated. The synoptic patterns inducing precipitation are classified by 10 categories, according to the associated surface map analysis. The annual mean frequency of the total precipitation, its duration time and amount for 30 years are 179 times, 2.9 hours, and 7.1 mm, respectively. About $59\%$ of the total precipitation events were associated with a synoptic low. The dominant patterns are identified with respect to seasons: A synoptic mobile low pressure pattern is frequent in spring, fall, and winter, whereas low pressure embedded within the Changma and orography induced precipitation are dominant in summer and in winter. For the amount of precipitation, precipitation originated from tropical air associated with typhoon, tropical convergence, and Changma is more significant than that with other pressure patterns. The statistical elapse time reaching to 80 mm, which is the threshold amount of heavy rainfall watch at KMA, takes 12.9 hours after the onset of precipitation. The probability distribution function of the precipitation shows that the maximum probability for heavy rainfall is located at the south-coastal region of the Korean peninsula. It is also shown that the geographical distribution of the Korean peninsula plays an important role in occurrence of heavy rainfall. For example, heavy precipitation is frequently occurred at Youngdong area, when typhoon passes along the coastal region of the back borne mountains in the peninsula. The climatological classification of synoptic patterns associated with heavy rainfall over South Korea can be used to provide a guidance to operational forecast of heavy rainfall in KMA.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.137-158
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• 2000

The correlation and Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analyses over the globe have been applied to intercompare lower-stratospheric (${\sim}$70hPa) temperature obtained from satellite data and two model reanalyses. The data is the19 years (1980-98) Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU) channel 4 (Ch4) brightness temperature, and the reanalyses are GCM (NCEP, 1980-97; GEOS, 1981-94) outputs. In MSU monthly climatological anomaly, the temperature substantially decreases by ${\sim}$21k in winter over southern polar regions, and its annual cycle over tropics is weak. In October the temperature and total ozone over the area south of Australia remarkably increase together. High correlations (r${\ge}$0.95) between MSU and reanalyses occur in most global areas, but they are lower (r${\sim}$O.75) over the 20-3ON latitudes, northern America and southern Andes mountains. The first mode of MSU and reanalyses for monthly-mean Ch4 temperature shows annual cycle, and the lower-stratospheric warming due to volcanic eruptions. The analyses near the Korean peninsula show that lower-stratospheric temperature, out of phase with that for troposphere, increases in winter and decreases in summer. In the first mode for anomaly over the tropical Pacific, MSU and reanalyses indicate lower-stratospheric warming due to volcanic eruptions. In the second mode MSU and GEOS present Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) while NCEP, El Ni${\tilde{n}}$o. Volcanic eruption and QBO have more impact on lower-stratospheric thermal state than El Ni${\tilde{n}}$o. The EOF over the tropical Atlantic is similar to that over the Pacific, except a negligible effect of El Ni${\tilde{n}}$o. This study suggests that intercomparison of satellite data with model reanalyses may estimate relative accuracy of both data.