• Title/Summary/Keyword: Concentration variation

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A Comparison Study of Alkalinity and Total Carbon Measurements in $CO_2$-rich Water (탄산수의 알칼리도 및 총 탄소 측정방법 비교 연구)

  • Jo, Min-Ki;Chae, Gi-Tak;Koh, Dong-Chan;Yu, Yong-Jae;Choi, Byoung-Young
    • Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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    • v.14 no.3
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    • pp.1-13
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    • 2009
  • Alkalinity and total carbon contents were measured by acid neutralizing titration (ANT), back titration (BT), gravitational weighing (GW), non-dispersive infrared-total carbon (NDIR-TC) methods for assessing precision and accuracy of alkalinity and total carbon concentration in $CO_2$-rich water. Artificial $CO_2$-rich water(ACW: pH 6.3, alkalinity 68.8 meq/L, $HCO_3^-$ 2,235 mg/L) was used for comparing the measurements. When alkalinity measured in 0 hr, percent errors of all measurement were 0~12% and coefficient of variation were less than 4%. As the result of post-hoc analysis after repeated measure analysis of variance (RM-AMOVA), the differences between the pair of methods were not significant (within confidence level of 95%), which indicates that the alkalinity measured by any method could be accurate and precise when it measured just in time of sampling. In addition, alkalinity measured by ANT and NDIR-TC were not change after 24 and 48 hours open to atmosphere, which can be explained by conservative nature of alkalinity although $CO_2$ degas from ACW. On the other hand, alkalinity measured by BT and GW increased after 24 and 48 hours open to atmosphere, which was caused by relatively high concentration of measured total carbon and increasing pH. The comparison between geochemical modeling of $CO_2$ degassing and observed data showed that pH of observed ACW was higher than calculated pH. This can be happen when degassed $CO_2$ does not come out from the solution and/or exist in solution as $CO_{2(g)}$ bubble. In that case, $CO_{2(g)}$ bubble doesn't affect the pH and alkalinity. Thus alkalinity measured by ANT and NDIR-TC could not detect the $CO_2$ bubble although measured alkalinity was similar to the calculated alkalinity. Moreover, total carbon measured by ANT and NDIR-TC could be underestimated. Consequently, it is necessary to compare the alkalinity and total carbon data from various kind of methods and interpret very carefully. This study provide technical information of measurement of dissolve $CO_2$ from $CO_2$-rich water which could be natural analogue of geologic sequestration of $CO_2$.

Monthly HPLC Measurements of Pigments from an Intertidal Sediment of Geunso Bay Highlighting Variations of Biomass, Community Composition and Photo-physiology of Microphytobenthos (HPLC를 이용한 근소만 조간대 퇴적물내의 저서미세조류 현존량, 군집 및 광생리의 월 변화 분석)

  • KIM, EUN YOUNG;AN, SUNG MIN;CHOI, DONG HAN;LEE, HOWON;NOH, JAE HOON
    • The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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    • v.24 no.1
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    • pp.1-17
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    • 2019
  • In this study, the surveys were carried out from October (2016) to October (2017) along the tidal flat of Geunso Bay, Taean Peninsula of the western edge of Korea. The sampling trips were carried out for a total of 16 times, once or twice a month. In order to investigate the monthly variation of the microphytobenthos (MPB) biomass, community composition and photo-physiology were analyzed by HPLC (High performance liquid chromatography). The total chlorophyll a (TChl a) concentrations used as an indicator of biomass of MPB in the upper 1 cm sediment layer ranged from 40.4 to $218.9mg\;m^{-2}$ throughout the sampling period. TChl a concentrations showed the maximum level on $24^{th}$ of February and remained high throughout March after which it started to declined. The biomass of MPB showed high values in winter and low values in summer. The monthly variations of Phaeophorbide a concentrations suggested that the low grazing intensity of the predator in the winter may have partly attributed to the MPB winter blooming. As a result of monthly variations of the MPB community composition using the major marker pigments, the concentrations of fucoxanthin, the marker pigment of benthic diatoms, were the highest throughout the year. The concentrations of most of the marker pigments except for chlorophyll b (chlorophytes) and peridinin (dinoflagellates) increased in winter. However, the concentrations of fucoxanthin increased the highest, and the relative ratios of the major marker pigments to TChl a except fucoxanthin decreased during the same period. The vertical distribution of Chl a and oxygen concentrations in the sediments using a fluorometer and an oxygen micro-optode Chl a concentrations decreased with oxygen concentrations with increasing depth of the sediment layers. Moreover, this tendency became more apparent in winter. The Chl a was uniformly vertical down to 12 mm from May to July, but the oxygen concentration distribution in May decreased sharply below 1 mm. The increase in phaeophorbide a concentration observed at this time is likely to be caused by increased oxygen consumption of zoobenthic grazing activities. This could be presumed that MPB cells are transported downward by bioturbation of zoobenthos. The relative ratios (DT/(DD+DT)) obtained with diadinoxanthin (DD) and diatoxanthin (DT), which are often used as indicators of photo-adaptation of MPB, decreased from October to March and increased in May. This indicated that there were monthly differences in activity of Xanthophyll cycle as well.

Spatial and Temporal Changes in Sediments of Major Tidal Flats in the Western and Southern Korean Coasts: Grain Size, Organic Matter, Trace Metals (한반도 서·남해 주요 갯벌 퇴적물의 시·공간적 변화: 입도, 유기물, 중금속)

  • KIM, EUNYOUNG;RYU, SANG-OK;CHOI, DAE-UP;LEE, JAE-HWAN;OH, HA-NEUL;OH, SUN-KWAN;KHO, BYUNG-SEOL;KIM, YOUNG NAM;YEO, JEONG WON
    • The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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    • v.24 no.1
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    • pp.54-63
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    • 2019
  • As a part of the national marine ecosystem monitoring program, the temporal and spatial variation of sedimentary environment and pollution of organic matters and trace metals from four major tidal flats, i.e., Ganghwa Is., Garolim bay, Jeung Is., Suncheon bay, was investigated for 3 yerars from 2015 to 2017. The mean grain size of the sediment was $5.0-5.3{\varnothing}$ at Ganghwa Is, $4.5-4.8{\varnothing}$ at Garolim bay, $6.1-6.5{\varnothing}$ at Jeung Is, and $8.6-8.7{\varnothing}$ at Suncheon bay. The mean grain size (Mz) tended to decrease from the north (Ganghwa Is.) to the south (Suncheon bay). The ignition loss (IL) was 15.5% in Suncheon bay in 2015, which was relatively high compared to other sites, but gradually decreased over time from 8.3% in 2016 to 7.0% in 2017. In Jeung Is. and Suncheon bay, the concentration of Zn and As exceeded the threshold effect level (TEL) at some stations, but the range of trace metals in the other sites was below the level. In Jeung Is., the Mz and concentration of trace metals except Hg was positively correlated (r= 0.40-0.88, P<0.05). On the other hand, Mz was negatively correlated with trace metals (P<0.05) in Suncheon bay. The geoaccumulation index ($I_{geo}$) to evaluate contamination status of sediments for trace metal was less than 1(not contaminated) for Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Hg, and 2-3 (moderately to strongly polluted) for As at several stations in Suncheon bay and Jeung Is.

Air-staging Effect for NOx Reduction in Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion of Domestic Unused Biomass (국내 미이용 바이오매스 순환유동층 연소에서 NOx 저감을 위한 air-staging 효과)

  • Yoon, Sang-Hee;Beak, Geon-Uk;Moon, Ji-Hong;Jo, Sung-Ho;Park, Sung-Jin;Kim, Jae-Young;Seo, Myung-Won;Yoon, Sang-Jun;Yoon, Sung-Min;Lee, Jae-Goo;Kim, Joo-Sik;Mun, Tae-Young
    • Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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    • v.59 no.1
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    • pp.127-137
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    • 2021
  • Air emission charge for nitrogen oxide as a precursor of fine dust has been introduced and implemented within the country from 2020. Therefore, the development of economical combustion technology for NOx reduction has got more needed urgently. This study investigated the air-staging effect as a way to reduce the NOx during combustion of domestic unused forest biomass, recently possible to secure REC (Renewable Energy Certification) as a substitute for overseas wood pellets in a 0.1 MWth circulating fluidized bed combustion test-rig. Operating conditions were comparison with and without air-staging, the supply position of tertiary air (6.4 m, 8.1 m, 9.4 m in the combustor) and variation of air-staging ratio (Primary air:Secondary air:Tertiary air=91%:9%:0%, 82%:9%:9%, 73%:9%:18%). NO and CO concentrations in flue gas, profiles of temperature and pressure at the height of the combustion, unburned carbon in sampled fly ash and combustion efficiency on operating conditions were evaluated. As notable results, NO concentration with air-staging application under tertiary air supply at 9.4 m in the combustor reduced 100.7 ppm compared to 148.8 ppm without air-staging while, CO concentration increased from 52.2 ppm without air-staging to 99.8 ppm with air-staging. However, among air-staging runs, when tertiary air supply amount at 6.4 m in the combustor increased by air-staging ratio (Primary air:Secondary air:Tertiary air=73%:9%:18%), NO and CO concentrations decreased the lowest 90.8 ppm and 66.1 ppm, respectively. Furthermore, combustion efficiency at this condition was improved to 99.3%, higher than that (98.3%) of run without air-staging.

Nutritional Studies for Improvement of Feeding on Korean Native Goat - Absorption of Nutrients in Rumen - (한국재래산양(韓國在來山羊)의 사양개선(飼養改善)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究) - 제일위((第一胃)에서의 영양소(營養素) 흡수(吸收)에 대(對)하여 -)

  • Kwon, Soon Ki
    • Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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    • v.9 no.1
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    • pp.284-302
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    • 1982
  • Development of protein resources as food has been a big issue especially in Southeast Asia region, and intake of protein is also insufficient in Korea. To cope with this shortage of protein resources and its improvement together with increased production of high nutritive animal protein, studies were carried out on feeding of Korean native goats. In the experiments were made absorption of carbohydrate and volatile fatty acid in miniature rumen, and absorption of amino acid in rumen as in vivo were conducted as part of studies on nutritional absorption in rumen. Those nutritional for improvement of feeding and management as described above are summarized as following. 1. According to the result of test on the nutritional absorption of native goat by means of miniature rumen method, absorption ratio of VFA measured at 0.5, 1 and 2 hours after injection of nutrition showed propionic acid 70-86%, acetic acid 74-87%, and lactic acid 76-89%. In the absorption of organic substances, ethyl alcohol of 0.5% showed 29-87% and lactic acid of 0.1M showed 12-27% of absorption ratio. 2. Result of absorption measurement in rumen from L-type free amino acid injection in the content of rumen vein showed lower rate at menthionine-free group compared to whole-egg amino acid injection in the content of rumen vein showed lower rate at methioine-free group compared to whole-egg amino acid group, and high absorption ratio was observed at methionine 3 times group and urea added group. Deficiency of methionine caused no change of the content in mucous membranes. 3. Absorption of amino acid in rumen muscular layer showed equal tendency as in the mucous membrane without exerting any influence of methionine deficiency. At the methionine3-times group, content of methionine and glutamine were increased by 14.7 and 4.4 times as compared to whole-egg amino acid group, an absorption ratio of glutamine, proline and valine were increased at urea added group. 4. In general, concentration of amino acid in rumen vein plasma was lower than in rumen mucous membrane and muscular layer. Absorption ratio of amino acid is decreased due to methionine deficiency, and tripling of methionine or urea adding caused increment of amino acid. Absorption pattern is thus varied depending on the composition of amino acid. 5. At the urea added group, content of ammonia-N, amino-N and urea were increased in rumen muscular layer. As the inside of goat's rumen was unable to clean thoroughly, investigation was made on remaining bacteria, however, variation of ammonia-N was affected by these bacterial content. 6. Variation in rumen structure by differential absorption of amino acid was observed by general microscope and fluorescent microscope. According to the result of observation in the methionine 3 times group, single cylinder epithelium of mucous membrane showed rather thin, and it was thick at urea added group though no significant differences existed among test groups in submucous membrane and muscular layer.

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Seasonal Variations of Water Quality in the Lower Part of the Nagdong River (낙동강 하류수질의 계절적 변화)

  • KIM Yong-Gwan;SHIM Hye-Kung;CHO Hak-Rae;YOU Sun-Jae
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.17 no.6
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    • pp.511-522
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    • 1984
  • The Nagdong is one of the biggest rivers in Korea, which is very important water source not only for tap water of Pusan city but also for the industrial water. Therefore, authors tried to check the water quality year by year. In this experiment one hundred and twenty water samples collected from August 1983 to July 1984 were analyzed bacteriologically and physiologically. Fifteen sampling stations were established between near Samrangjin and estuary of the river. To evaluate the water quality, temperature, pH, chloride ion, salinity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), electrical conductivity, nutrients, total coliform, fecal coliform, fecal streptococcus, viable cell count and bacterial flora were observed. The variation of water temperature was ranged $-1.5{\sim}29.0^{\circ}C$ (Mean value $13.9{\sim}16.5^{\circ}C$), it in spring was higher as $10{\sim}15^{\circ}C$ about $10^{\circ}C$ than in winter and it in autumm was very stabilized as about $20^{\circ}C$ at each station. The pH variation of the samples was ranged $6.68{\sim}9.15$. The range of concentration of chloride ion and salinity varied $7.4{\sim}l,020.5$ mg/l and $1.05{\sim}33.0\%0$, respectively. Especially, salinity of the 3rd water war was the higher than others as $25.76{\sim}31.58\%0$. COD was ranged $1.45{\sim}14.94$ mg/l and the lower part of the Nagdong River was heavily contaminated by domesitc sewage and waste water from the adjacent factor area. The range of electrical conductivity was $1.360{\times}10^2{\sim}5.650{\times}10^4{\mu}{\mho}/cm$ and that was by far higher the estuary than the upper. Concentration of nutrients were $0.008{\sim}0.040$ mg/l (Mean value $0.019{\sim}0.068$ mg/l) for $NO_2-N,\;0.038{\sim}5.253$ mg/l ($0.351{\sim}2.347$ mg/l) for $NO_3-N,\;0.100{\sim}2.685$ mg/l($0.117{\sim}1.380$ mg/l) for $NH_4-N,\;0.003{\sim}0.084$ mg/l($0.014{\sim}0.065$ mg/l) for $PO_4-P$ and $0.154{\sim}6.123$ mg/l ($1.165{\sim}3.972$ mg/l) for $SiO_2-Si$, respectively. Usually nutrients contents of the water in the upper part(included station 1 to 5) were higher than those of the estuarine area. The bacterial density of the samples ranged 7.3 to 460,000/100 ml for total coliforms, 3.6 to 460,000/100 ml for fecal coliform, $0{\sim}46,000/100ml$ for fecal streptococcus and $<30{\sim}1.2{\times}10^5/ml$ for viable cell count. Composition of coliform was $28\%$ Escherichia coli group, $18\%$ Citrobacter freundii group, $31\%$ Enterobacter aerogenes group and $22\%$ others. Predominant species among the 659 strains isolated from the samples were Pseudomonas spp. ($42\%$), Flavobacterium spp. ($20\%$) and Moraxella spp. ($12\%$).

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Studies on Dry Matter Yields , Chemical Composition and Net Energy Accumulation in Three Leading Temperate Grass Species I. Influence of meteorolgical factors on the dry matter productivity and net energy value under different cutting management (주요 북방형목초의 건물수량 , 화학성분 및 Net Energy 축적에 관한 연구 I. 기상환경 및 예취관리에 따른 건물 및 에너지 생산성 변화)

  • F. Muhlschlegel;G. Voigtlander
    • Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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    • v.6 no.2
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    • pp.103-110
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    • 1986
  • The experiments were carried out to study the influence of meteorological factors and cutting management on dry matter accumulation and net energy value in orchardgrass (Dactlylis glomerata L.) cv. Potomac and Baraula, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cv. Reveille and Semperweide and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.) cv. Cosmos 11 and N.F.G.. The field trials were designed as a split plot design with three cutting regimes of 6-7 cuts at grazing stage, 4-5 cuts at silage stage and 3 cuts at hat stage in Korea and West Germany from 1975 to 1979. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. Productivity of orchardgrass, perennial ryegrass and meadow fescue were mainly affected by cutting systems and meteorological factors, especially air temperature, rainfalls, solar radiation and their interactions. In West Germany, cutting frequency was to be found asan most important factor influenced to dry matter yield and net energy value. 2. Orchardgrass, taken as average of all experimental sites in Korea, produced high yield of 875 kg/10 a in dry matter, which was as much as 32% and 27% higher than those of perennial ryegrass and meadow fescue, respectively. The annual dry matter yields of orchardgrass from 1976 to 1977 were shown a little variation. Dry matter yields in Freising and Braunschweig in West Germany were increased in all grass species continuously. 3. Orchardgrass, perennial ryegrass and meadow fescue showed different response to cutting frequency. The highest dry matter yields were found under 3 cuts at hay stage for orchardgrass and 4-5 cuts at silage stage for perennial ryegrass and meadow fescue. In West Germany, dry matter yields, as average of all grass species under different cutting systems, were 1326 kg, 1175 kg and 1098 kg/10a for 3 cuts, 4-5 cuts and 6-7 cuts, respectively. 4. Chemical composition and net energy concentration of temperate grasses were influenced by cutting managements. The highest yields of digestible crude protein were obtained under 6-7 cuts at grazing stage both in Korea and West Germany. In net energy yields, 3 cutting system produced the highest yield with 694 (orchardgrass), 665 (perennial ryegrass) an 623 kStE/10 a (meadow fescue). However, frequent cutting at grazing and silage stage produced higher yields than 3 cuts at hay stage in Cheju, Suweon and Taekwalyong.

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The Changes of Plasma Catecholamines Concentration during Waking and Sleep in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Patients with Systemic Hypertension (전신성 고혈압을 동반한 폐쇄성 수면 무호흡증후군 환자에서 각성시와 수면중의 혈장 Catecholamines 농도 변화)

  • Moon, Hwa Sik;Lo, Dae Guen;Choi, Young Mee;Kim, Young Kyoon;Kim, Kwan Hyoung;Song, Jeong Sup;Park, Sung Hak
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.43 no.4
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    • pp.600-612
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    • 1996
  • Background : Recent studies deported that untreated patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome had high long-term mortality rates, and cardiovascular complications of these patients clad a major effect on mortality. Several data indicates that obstructive sheep apnea syndrome contributes to the development of diurnal systemic hypertension. But the pathophysiological mechanism of the development of systemic hypertension in these patients is still uncertain. This study was performed to evaluate the possible role of sympathetic nervous system activity for the development of systemic hypertension in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Method : 35 patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS) and 13 Control subjects(control) were included in this study. 21 patients of OSAS were normotensives(OSAS-NBP), and 14 patients of OSAS were hypertensives(OSAS-HBP). Full night polysomnography was undertaken to all subjects. We measured plasma norepinephrine(NE) and epinephrine(EP) concentrations during waking and sleep, using high performance liquid chromatography, in all patients and control subjects. Results : In OSAS, OSAS-NBP and control, plasma NE and EP concentrations during sleep were lowed than during waking(p<0.01). But, in OSAS-HBP, these was no difference between during waking and sleep. Plasma NE concentrations during sleep of OSAS, OSAS-NBP and OSAS-HBP were higher than Control(p<0.05). In OSAS-HBP, daytime systolic blood pressure correlated with plasma NE concentration during sleep(r=0.7415, p<0.01), arid correlated inversely with mean arterial oxygen saturation(r=-0.6465, p<0.05) or arterial oxygen saturation nadir(r=-0.6) 14, p<0.05) during sleep. Conclusion : The sympathetic activity during sleep of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients was higher than control subjects. In obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients with systemic hypertension, there was no diurnal variation of sympathetic activity, and there was correlation between daytime systolic blood pressure and sympathetic activity during sleep. These data suggests that chronic hyperactivity of sympathetic nervous system may contribute to the development of diurnal systemic hypertension in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

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Characteristics of Particulate Carbon in the Ambient Air in the Korean Peninsula (한반도 권역별 대기 중 입자상 탄소 특성 연구)

  • Lee, Yeong-jae;Park, Mi-kyung;Jung, Sun-a;Kim, Sun-jung;Jo, Mi-ra;Song, In-ho;Lyu, Young-sook;Lim, Yong-jae;Kim, Jung-hoon;Jung, Hae-jin;Lee, Sang-uk;Choi, Won-Jun;Ahn, Joon-young;Lee, Min-hee;Kang, Hyun-jung;Park, Seung-myeong;Seo, Seok-jun;Jung, Dong-hee;Hyun, Joo-kyeong;Park, Jong-sung;Hwang, Tae-kyung;Hong, You-deog;Hong, Ji-hyung;Shin, Hye-jung
    • Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.31 no.4
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    • pp.330-344
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    • 2015
  • Semi-continuous measurements of $PM_{2.5}$ mass, organic and elemental carbon were made for the period of January to October 2014, at six national air monitoring stations in Korea. OC and EC concentrations showed a clear seasonal variation with the highest in winter (January) and the lowest in summer (August). In winter, the high carbonaceous concentrations were likely influenced by increased fuel combustion from residential heating. OC and EC concentrations varied by monitoring stations with 5.9 and $1.7{\mu}g/m^3$ in Joongbu area, 4.2 and $1.2{\mu}g/m^3$ in Honam area, 4.0 and $1.3{\mu}g/m^3$ in Yeongnam area, 3.7 and $1.6{\mu}g/m^3$ in Seoul Metropolitan area, 3.0 and $0.8{\mu}g/m^3$ in Jeju Island, 2.9 and $0.7{\mu}g/m^3$ in Baengnyeong Island respectively. The concentrations of OC and EC comprised 9.6~ 15.5% and 2.4~ 4.7% of $PM_{2.5}$. Urban Joongbu area located adjacent to the intersection of several main roads showed the highest carbon concentration among six national air monitoring station. On the other hand, background Baengnyeong Island showed the lowest carbon concentration and the highest OC/EC ratio (4.5). During the haze episode, OC and EC were enhanced with increase in $PM_{2.5}$ about 1.3~ 3 and 1.3~ 4.0 times respectively. The concentrations of OC, EC in the Asian dust case are about 1~ 2.4 times greater than in the nondust case. The origins of air mass pathways arriving at Seoul, using the backward trajectory analysis, can be mostly classified into 6 groups (Sector I Northern Korea including the sea of Okhotsk, Sector II Northern China including Mongolia, Sector III Southern China, Sector IV South Pacific area, Sector V Japan, Sector VI Southern Korea area). When an air mass originating from northern China and Mongolia, the OC concentrations were the most elevated, with a higher OC/EC ratio (2.4~ 3.3), and accounting for 17% of $PM_{2.5}$ mass on average.

Difference in Chemical Composition of PM2.5 and Investigation of its Causing Factors between 2013 and 2015 in Air Pollution Intensive Monitoring Stations (대기오염집중측정소별 2013~2015년 사이의 PM2.5 화학적 특성 차이 및 유발인자 조사)

  • Yu, Geun Hye;Park, Seung Shik;Ghim, Young Sung;Shin, Hye Jung;Lim, Cheol Soo;Ban, Soo Jin;Yu, Jeong Ah;Kang, Hyun Jung;Seo, Young Kyo;Kang, Kyeong Sik;Jo, Mi Ra;Jung, Sun A;Lee, Min Hee;Hwang, Tae Kyung;Kang, Byung Chul;Kim, Hyo Sun
    • Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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    • v.34 no.1
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    • pp.16-37
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    • 2018
  • In this study, difference in chemical composition of $PM_{2.5}$ observed between the year 2013 and 2015 at six air quality intensive monitoring stations (Bangryenogdo (BR), Seoul (SL), Daejeon (DJ), Gwangju (GJ), Ulsan (US), and Jeju (JJ)) was investigated and the possible factors causing their difference were also discussed. $PM_{2.5}$, organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC), and water-soluble ionic species concentrations were observed on a hourly basis in the six stations. The difference in chemical composition by regions was examined based on emissions of gaseous criteria pollutants (CO, $SO_2$, and $NO_2$), meteorological parameters (wind speed, temperature, and relative humidity), and origins and transport pathways of air masses. For the years 2013 and 2014, annual average $PM_{2.5}$ was in the order of SL ($${\sim_=}DJ$$)>GJ>BR>US>JJ, but the highest concentration in 2015 was found at DJ, following by GJ ($${\sim_=}SJ$$)>BR>US>JJ. Similar patterns were found in $SO{_4}^{2-}$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $NH_4{^+}$. Lower $PM_{2.5}$ at SL than at DJ and GJ was resulted from low concentrations of secondary ionic species. Annual average concentrations of OC and EC by regions had no big difference among the years, but their patterns were distinct from the $PM_{2.5}$, $SO{_4}^{2-}$, $NO_3{^-}$, and $NH_4{^+}$ concentrations by regions. 4-day air mass backward trajectory calculations indicated that in the event of daily average $PM_{2.5}$ exceeding the monthly average values, >70% of the air masses reaching the all stations were coming from northeastern Chinese polluted regions, indicating the long-range transportation (LTP) was an important contributor to $PM_{2.5}$ and its chemical composition at the stations. Lower concentrations of secondary ionic species and $PM_{2.5}$ at SL in 2015 than those at DJ and GJ sites were due to the decrease in impact by LTP from polluted Chinese regions, rather than the difference in local emissions of criteria gas pollutants ($SO_2$, $NO_2$, and $NH_3$) among the SL, DJ, and GJ sites. The difference in annual average $SO{_4}^{2-}$ by regions was resulted from combination of the difference in local $SO_2$ emissions and chemical conversion of $SO_2$ to $SO{_4}^{2-}$, and LTP from China. However, the $SO{_4}^{2-}$ at the sites were more influenced by LTP than the formation by chemical transformation of locally emitted $SO_2$. The $NO_3{^-}$ increase was closely associated with the increase in local emissions of nitrogen oxides at four urban sites except for the BR and JJ, as well as the LTP with a small contribution. Among the meterological parameters (wind speed, temperature, and relative humidity), the ambient temperature was most important factor to control the variation of $PM_{2.5}$ and its major chemical components concentrations. In other words, as the average temperature increases, the $PM_{2.5}$, OC, EC, and $NO_3{^-}$ concentrations showed a decreasing tendency, especially with a prominent feature in $NO_3{^-}$. Results from a case study that examined the $PM_{2.5}$ and its major chemical data observed between February 19 and March 2, 2014 at the all stations suggest that ambient $SO{_4}^{2-}$ and $NO_3{^-}$ concentrations are not necessarily proportional to the concentrations of their precursor emissions because the rates at which they form and their gas/particle partitioning may be controlled by factors (e.g., long range transportation) other than the concentration of the precursor gases.