• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2019.05a
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• pp.145-145
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• 2019

Groundwater and rainwater are the only sources of freshwater in small islands as many islands lack surface water sources. Groundwater occurring in the form of freshwater lens floating on denser seawater is highly dependent on natural recharge from rainfall. A sharp interface numerical model for regional and well scale modeling is selected to assess the sustainability of freshwater lens in the island of Tongatapu. In this study, 29 downscaled General Circulation Model(GCM) predictions are input to the recharge model based on water balance modelling. Three GCM predictions which represent wet, dry and medium conditions are selected for use in the groundwater flow model. Total freshwater volume and number of saltwater intruded wells are simulated under various climate scenarios with GCM predicted rainfall pattern, sea level rise and pumping. Simulations indicate that the sustainability of the freshwater lens is threatened by the frequent droughts which are predicted under all scenarios of recharge. The natural depletion of the lens during droughts and increase in water demands, leads to saltwater upconing under the pumping wells. Implementation of drought management measures is of utmost importance to ensure sustainability of freshwater lens in future.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2017.05a
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• pp.182-182
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• 2017

Many small island nations rely on groundwater as their only other source of freshwater in addition to rainwater harvesting. The volume of groundwater resource of small island nations are further limited by their smaller surface area and specific hydrogeology. The rapid growth of population and tourism has led to increasing water demands and pollution of available groundwater resources. The predicted climate change effects pose significant threats to the already vulnerable freshwater lens of small islands in the form of rise in sea level, coastal inundation, saltwater intrusion, varied pattern of precipitation leading to droughts and storm surges. The effects of climate change are further aggravated by manmade stresses like increased pumping. Thus small island water resources are highly threatened under the effects of climate change. But due to the limited technical and financial capacity most of the small island developing states were unable to conduct detailed technical investigations on the effects of climate change on their water resources. In this study, we investigate how well small island countries are preparing for climate change. The current state of freshwater resources, impacts of predicted climate change along with adaptation and management strategies planned and implemented by small island countries are reviewed. Proper assessment and management practices can aid in sustaining the groundwater resources of small islands under climate change.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.26 no.3B
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• pp.263-269
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• 2006

An optimization model was developed for groundwater development and management in coastal areas. The optimization model consists of coastal groundwater flow model and optimization techniques. The objective of this work is to validate sharp-interface model which is one of major components of the optimization model. A laboratory experimental model is built to simulate freshwater lens, i.e., layer of freshwater floating on top of saltwater, phenomena. Experimental results for the position of fresh-saltwater sharp-interface and the salinity in well are compared with numerical results. Average ratio of relative error is estimated approximately between 2.91% and 4.39%. And the numerical results are in good agreement with the laboratory results of water quality in well in addition to the position of sharp-interface. Accordingly the evaluation of coastal groundwater flow using sharp-interface model can produce reasonable results.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.324-327
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• 2012

Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba that causes human infections, and recently the incidence of amoebic keratitis has increased among contact lens wearers. In order to investigate Acanthamoeba contamination of contact lens storage cases, a short survey was performed on 57 contact lens wearers, and Acanthamoeba was found in one contact lens storage case. To diagnose Acanthamoeba, the 18s small subunit ribosomal DNA (18s rDNA) gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and subsequently, the isolate was identified as A. lugdunensis. This species was originally isolated from a freshwater pool in France, and was reported recently to be a cause of amoebic keratitis. This observation indicates the need for a large survey to investigate the extent of Acanthamoeba contamination, and suggests that contact lens wearers be aware of the importance of hygiene and of the implications of Acanthamoeba infection.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2018.05a
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• pp.145-145
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• 2018

Small islands rely heavily on groundwater resources in addition to rainwater as the source of freshwater since surface water bodies are often absent. The groundwater resources are vulnerable to sea level rise, coastal flooding, saltwater intrusion, irregular pattern of precipitation resulting in long droughts and flash floods. Increase in population increases the demand for the limited groundwater resources, thus aggravating the problem. In this study, the effects of climate change on Tongatapu Island, Kingdom of Tonga, a small island in Pacific Ocean, are investigated using a sharp interface transient groundwater flow model. Twenty nine downscaled General Circulation Model(GCM) predictions are input to a water balance model to estimate the groundwater recharge. The temporal variation in recharge is predicted over the period of 2010 to 2099. A set of GCM models are selected to represent the ensemble of 29 models based on cumulative recharge at the end of the century. This set of GCM model predictions are then used to simulate a total of six climate scenarios, three each (2010-2039, 2040-2069, and 2070-2099) under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. The impacts of predicted climate change on groundwater resources is evaluated in terms of freshwater volume changes and saltwater ratios in pumping wells compared to present conditions. Though the cumulative recharge at the end of the century indicates a wetter climate compared to the present conditions the large variability in rainfall pattern results in frequent periods of groundwater drought leading to saltwater intrusion in pumping wells. Thus for sustaining the limited groundwater resources in small islands, implementation of timely assessment and management practices are of utmost importance.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2009

In this work applicability of a sharp-interface model to well-scale problems is examined. In coastal areas one of the main concerns in groundwater development is saltwater intrusion. To determine the saltwater intrusion at a well one needs to evaluate the saltwater content from a pumping well. We conducted laboratory sand-tank experiments to determine if a sharp-interface model can simulate the saltwater content of a pumping well. Lateral saltwater intrusion experiments and freshwater lens experiments are conducted. A partially penetrating well and a fully penetrating well are used. Comparison between numerical results and observation results indicates that the sharp-interface model can determine saltwater contents reasonably well. We conclude that a sharp-interface model can be applied to well-scale groundwater flow problems in coastal areas.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.218-223
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• 2017

Using both light and scanning electron microscopies, it was investigated on the visual cells as well as the eyes of Macropodus ocellatus (Pisces, Osphronemidae). This species had a circular lens and yellowish cornea. The eyes had $3.5{\pm}0.2mm$ which is $31.1{\pm}3.0%$ in a percentage of eye diameter relative to head length. The retina ($158.2{\pm}10.6{\mu}m$) was built of several layers, including the visual cell layer which consists of three types of cells: single cons ($27.8{\pm}1.6{\mu}m$) and equal double cone ($33.9{\pm}3.7{\mu}m$), and large rods ($57.3{\pm}1.3{\mu}m$). The visual cell layer then was classified into the correct pattern. All visual cells were clearly distinguished from two parts (inner and outer segments). The elongated rod cells were extend to the bottom of the retinal pigment epithelium. In scanning electron microscopy, the outer segment links to inner segment by so-called calyceal piles. The M. ocellatus single and double cones appearance form a flower-petal arrangement, which is a regular mosaic pattern that contains quadrilateral units by four double cones surrounding a single cone.