• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2008

The study was carried out to estimate runoff loads of heavy metals in the valley watershed at the middle of South Korea, during farming season. There were no other pollution sources except agricultural activity. From 27 April 2006 to 31 October 2007, water samples were collected using two methods. The first method was regular sampling wherein water samples were taken every two weeks; and the other method was through regular sampling when water were collected during each rainfall event. Results showed that heavy metals were found in the water from the regular samples, and were highest during May and June. It was presumed that this might have been contributed by farming activities. Heavy metal concentration of the irregular samples was lower than regular samples. The correlation coefficient between each heavy metal of the regular samples were as follows: Fe-Al>Cr-Al>Fe-Cr>Mn-Fe. The correlation coefficient of the irregular samples were the following: Fe-Al>Fe-Cu is positive; and Pb-Cu>Ni-Al is negative. Measured pollutant loads of heavy metals in the valley watershed were : 2.047 kg $day^{-1}$ of Al, 0.008 kg $day^{-1}$ of Cd, 0.034 kg $day^{-1}$ of Cr, 0.311 kg $day^{-1}$ of Cu, 0.601 kg $day^{-1}$ of Fe, and 0.282 kg $day^{-1}$ of Zn in 2006; while in 2007, the following were observed: 2.535 kg $day^{-1}$ of Al, 0.026 kg $day^{-1}$ of Cd, 0.055 kg $day^{-1}$ of Cu, 0.727 kg $day^{-1}$ of Fe, and 0.317 kg $day^{-1}$ of Zn. In the analysis of data gathered, the loading rates of effluents from the valley watershed during the rainy season were : 79.8% of Al, 69.1% of Cu, 82.5% of Fe, and 69.1% of Zn in 2006; while 69.9% of Al, 67.5% of Cu, 70.4% of Fe, and 67.5% of Zn in 2007.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.37 no.5_2
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• pp.1281-1293
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• 2021

The recent launch of the GOCI-II enables South Korea to have the world's first capability in deriving the ocean color data at geostationary satellite orbit for about 20 years. It is necessary to develop a consistent long-term ocean color time-series spanning GOCI to GOCI-II mission and improve the accuracy through validation using in situ data. To assess the GOCI-II's early mission performance, the objective of this study is to compare the GOCI-II Chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a), Colored Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM), and remote sensing reflectances (R_rs) through comparison with the GOCI data. Overall, the distribution of GOCI-II Chl-a corresponds with that of the GOCI over the Yellow Sea, Korea Strait, and the Ulleung Basin. In particular, a smaller RMSE value (0.07) between GOCI and GOCI-II over the summer Ulleung Basin confirms the GOCI-II data's reliability. However, despite the excellent correlation, the GOCI-II tends to overestimate Chl-a than the GOCI over the Yellow Sea and Korea Strait. The similar over-estimation bias of the GOCI-II is also notable in CDOM. Whereas no significant bias or error is found for R_rs at 490 nm and 550 nm (RMSE~0), the underestimation of R_rs at 443 nm contributes to the overestimation of GOCI-II Chl-a and CDOM over the Yellow Sea and the Korea Strait. Also, we show over-estimation of GOCI-II R_rs at 660 nm relative to GOCI to cause a possible bias in Total suspended sediment. In conclusion, this study confirms the initial reliability of the GOCI-II ocean color products, and upcoming update of GOCI-II radiometric calibration will lessen the inconsistency between GOCI and GOCI-II ocean color products.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.50-64
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• 2019

Recently, quantitative analyses of food web structure based on carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes are widely applied to environmental assessments as well as ecological researches of various ecosystems, particularly rivers and streams. In the present study, we analyzed carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of POM (both planktonic and attached forms), zooplankton, benthic macroinvertebrates and fish collected from 6 sites located at Nakdong River. Samples were collected from upstream areas of 5 weirs (Sangju, Gangjeong-Goryeong, Dalseong, Hapcheon-Changnyeong, and Changnyeong-Haman Weirs) and one downstream area of Hapcheon-Changnyeong Weir in dry season (June) and after rainy season (September). We suggested ranges of their carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios and calculated their trophic levels in the food web to compare their temporal and spatial variations. Trophic levels of organisms were relatively higher in Sangju Weir located at upper part of Nakdong River, and decreased thereafter. However, the trophic levels were recovered at the Changnyeong-Haman Weir, the lowest weir in the river. The trophic level calculated by nitrogen stable isotope ratios showed more reliable ranges when they were calculated based on zooplankton than POM used as baseline. The suggested quantitative ecological information of the majority of biological communities in Nakdong River would be helpful to understand the response of river food web to environmental disturbances and can be applied to various further researches regarding the quantitative approaches for the understanding food web structure and function of river ecosystems as well as restoration.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.587-597
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• 2023

We evaluated the eutrophication of Saemangeum Lake, which causes abnormal growth of algae, using the Carlson index. Eutrophication characteristics of Saemangeum Lake were analyzed. For the study, water quality surveys were conducted at 7 stations in Saemangeum Lake every month in 2021. The concentration of Chl.a was slightly higher in the Mankyeong water system in winter, and slightly higher in the Dongjin water system in spring and summer, but overall, except for some periods, the concentration was similar to or lower than the lake water quality environmental standard of class 3. COD showed water quality similar to or above the lake quality environmental standard of grade 4 in both the Mankyeong and Dongjin water systems in the summer and Autumn. TOC concentrations were within lake water quality standard 3 at all sites. Total phosphorus concentrations exceeded the lake water quality standard of Class 4 and were higher in January and August after rainfall. In the correlation analysis between water quality factors, the correlation of organic matter, total phosphorus, and total nitrogen to salinity was relatively high. This reflected the water quality characteristics of freshwater, brackish water, and seawater areas due to seawater inflow through the drainage gate and freshwater inflow through upstream rivers. According to the characteristics of eutrophication fluctuations in Saemangeum Lake by trophic state index, the indices of Chl.a, SD, and TN showed water quality in the early stage of eutrophication, while the TP index showed a severe eutrophication state. The magnitude of the eutrophication index among water quality components was TSI(TP) > TSI(TN) > TSI(SD) > TSI(CHL) in all water systems. Quadrant analysis of the deviation of TSI(CHL) from TSI(TP) and TSI(SD) on a two-dimensional plane showed that there was no limiting effect of total phosphorus on algal growth in all water systems. In addition, the factors af ecting light attenuation appeared to be dominated by small particulate matter from outside sources.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.301-306
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• 2005

Asian dust was collected in Korea and soils in the arid area of northern China were analysed for its physical and chemical properties, and mineral compositions for in order to interpret the origin of Aeolian soils and estimate the effect of dust wind on the soil environment in Korea. Asian dust was collected at Suwon in Korea from 2002 to 2004. Soil samples were collected from the desert and Loess plateaus around Gobi desert in China. As a result of analysis of desert soil distributed on northern region and Loess soils in China, it was observed that soil pH was about 9, organic matter 11 to $23g\;kg^{-1}$, and CEC 7.1 to $18.4cmolc\;kg^{-1}$, showing a high spatial variation among different sampling locations. About 62 to 80% of particles were composed of quartz and feldspars, 2 to 14% calcite ($CaCO_3$) and dolomite [$Ca{\cdot}Mg(CO_3)_2$], and trace other clay minerals. All the dust particles in Korea were below 50 m in diameter, and the mineral compositions were quartz, mica, feldspar and some clay minerals. Major components of clay mineral of Asian dust was mainly illite as compared to the kaolin of soils in Korea. The base saturation of exchangeable Ca, Mg, K and Na in the Asian dust was above 250% due to the high content calcite. Most of upland soil in Suwon was thin and sharp type, but Asian dust in Korea was the spherical shape. Asian dusts in Suwon, Korea, did not show a definite mineralogical variation of the dust during the collection period. Difference between the Asian dust collected in Korea and the soils in arid area of China was observed in the physical and chemical properties, especially for particle size distribution, cations such as Ca, Mg, K and Na. However, some similarities were found on the mineral compositions and chemical properties between Asian dust collected in Korea and the loess of China.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.143-150
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• 2003

Korea has plentiful precipitation but rainfall events concentrate on several months of rainy season in her weather condition. Korea, therefore, experiences drought for a given period every year. Moreover the soil has usually low water holding capacity, as it is composed coarse particles originated from the granite. Response of several oaks and the Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora) on water stress showed that water budget was significant factor determining vegetation distribution. In addition, dehydration level due to cold resistance mechanism of several evergreen plants during the winter season was closely related to their distribution in natural condition. Experimental result under water stress showed that the Korean red pine was very tolerant to desiccation but the seedlings showed high mortality during the dry season. The mortality tended to proportionate to soil moisture content of each site. A comparison between soil moisture content during June when it is severe dry season and moisture content of the culture soil when the pine seedlings reached the permanent wilting point due to water withheld proved that high mortality during the dry season was due to water deficit. Water potential of sample plants measured during the exposure experiment to the air pollutant showed a probability that water related factors would dominate the occurrence of visible damage and the tolerance level of sample plants. In both field survey and laboratory experiment, plants exposed to air pollution showed more rapid transpiration than those grown in the unpolluted condition. The result would due to injury of leaf surface by air pollutants. Aluminum (Al/sup 3+/) increased in the acid soil not only inhibits root growth but also leads to abnormal distribution of root system and thereby caused water stress. The water stresses due to air pollution and soil acidification showed a possibility that they play dominating roles in inducing forest decline additionally to the existing water deficit due to weather and soil conditions in Korea. Sludge, which can contribute to improve field capacity, as it is almost composed of organic matter, showed an effect ameliorating the retarded growth of plant in the acidified soil. The effect was not less than that of dolomite known in widely as such a soil ameliorator. Litter extract contributed also to mitigate the water stress due to toxic Al/sup 3+/. We prepared a model showing the potential interaction of multiple stresses, which can cause forest decline in Korea by synthesizing those results. Furthermore, we suggested restoration plans, which can mitigate such forest decline in terms of soil amelioration and vegetation restoration.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.53-68
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• 2020

The concentrations of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and fine dust were measured in the compost facility of a full-time Hanwoo breeding farms. The experiments were conducted in stack type composting facility(T1) and mechanical-stirred composting facilities(T2, T3). In the stack type composting facility, the highest temperature of compost pile was 46℃, and in the two mechanical-stirred composting facilities, it rose to 63℃ and 68℃, respectively. The concentrations of PM2.5 at T1, T2 were 15 ㎍/㎥ and 5~10 ㎍/㎥, respectively. And the concentration of PM2.5 at T3 was below 10 ㎍/㎥. The highest concentration of ammonia generated at T1 was 4 ppm, but no hydrogen sulfide was detected. The ammonia concentrations at T2 and T3 were 3 ppm and 4 ppm, respectively. However, hydrogen sulfide was not detected in both facilities. At T3, the ammonia concentration increased to 65 ppm at the point where the compost was stirred with a mechanical agitator. During composting period, the pH of the compost pile decreased from 9.06 to 8.94 and then increased to 9.14 as the composting period elapsed. The NaCl content of compost was 0.09% after composting process was complete. Moisture content of compost decreased from 65.9% to 62% as composting progressed. As composting proceeded, the content of volatile solids decreased from 65.6% to 64.7% and the content of TKN decreased from 1.327% to 1.095%.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.418-428
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• 2007

Physical and chemical properties of the aggregate by-products including sludge and crushed dust samples collected from the 21 private companies throughout the country were analyzed to evaluate possible usage of the by-products as artificial soil materials for plantation. The pH of the materials ranged from 8.0 to 11.0. The organic matter content was $2.85g\;kg^{-1}$, and the total nitrogen content and available phosphate content were low as 0.7 percents and $12.98mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. Exchangeable $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$, $K^+$, and $Na^+$ were 2.29, 0.47, 0.02 and $0.05cmol\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. Heavy metal contents were lower than the limits regulated by environmental law of Korea. Textural analysis showed that most of the materials were silt loam with low water holding capacity ranged from 0.67 to 7.41 percents, and with low hydraulic conductivity ranged from 0.4 to $2.8m\;s^{-1}$. Mineralogical analysis showed that the aggregate by product materials were mostly composed of silicate, alumina and ferric oxides except calcium oxide dominant materials derived from limestones. The primary minerals were quartz, feldspars and dolomites derived from granite and granitic gneiss materials. Some samples derived from limestone material showed calcite and graphite together with the above minerals. According to the result, it can be concluded that the materials could be used as the artificial soil material for plantation after proper improvement of the physico-chemical properties and fertility.