• Journal of Climate Change Research
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.325-342
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• 2018

The Korea Emissions Trading Scheme ( K-ETS), which manages roughly 70% of the greenhouse gas emissions in South Korea, was initiated in 2015, after implementation of its 1st basic plan and the 1st allocation plan (2014) for the 1st phase (2015-2017). During the three and a half years since the launch of K-ETS, there have been critical policy change such as adjustment of the institutions involved, development and revision of the 2030 national GHG reduction roadmap, and change in the allocation plans. Moreover, lack of liquidity and fluctuation of carbon prices in the K-ETS market during this period has forced the Korean government to adjust the flexibility mechanism and auction permits of the market stability reserve. To evaluate the policy change in the K-ETS regarding conformance to its objectives, this study defines three objectives (Environmental Effectiveness, Cost Effectiveness and Economic Efficiency) and ten indicators. Evaluation of Environmental Effectiveness of K-ETS suggests that the national GHG reduction roadmap, coverage of GHG emitters and credibility of MRV positively affect GHG mitigation. However, there was a negative policy change implemented in 2017 that weakened the emission cap during the 1st phase. In terms of the Cost Effectiveness, the K-ETS policies related to market management and flexibility mechanism (e.g. banking, borrowing and offsets) were improved to deal with the liquidity shortage and permit price increase, which were caused by policy uncertainty and conservative behavior of firms during 2016-2018. Regarding Economic Efficiency, K-ETS expands benchmark?based allocation and began auction-based allocation; nevertheless, free allocation is being applied to sectors with high carbon leakage risk during the 2nd phase (2018-2020). As a result, it is worth evaluating the K-ETS policies that have been developed with respect to the three main objectives of ETS, considering the trial?and?error approach that has been followed since 2015. This study suggests that K-ETS policy should be modified to strengthen the emission cap, stabilize the market, expand auction-based allocation and build K-ETS specified funds during the 3rd phase (2021-2025).

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.2
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• pp.251-262
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• 2022

We selected a cold-tolerant tea tree (Camellia sinensis L.) through reliable evaluation using a number of cold-tolerance indicators targeting tea tree cultivars such as "Chamnok," "Bohyang," "Sangnok," and "Myungnok" in response to climate change. We conducted a low-temperature damage investigation, "Chamnok" and "Bohyang" were damaged investigated with small amounts of green and bright green. "Sangnok" and "Myungnok" were damaged investigated red and dark red at -10℃. The extent of electrolyte leakage increased as the treatment temperature decreased in all cultivars. We predicted lethal temperatures through non-linear regression analysis, finding relatively higher tolerance to low temperature in "Chamnok" (-9.344℃) and "Bohyang" (- 8.883℃) than that in "Myungnok" (-8.092 ℃) and"Sangnok" (-7.632℃). "Bohyang" showed higher levels of antioxidant activity compared to other cultivars. The lipid peroxidation reaction revealed that "Sangnok" and "Myungnok" had higher MDA content than that of other cultivars when treated at low temperatures. Consequently, predictions of the lethal temperature through non-linear regression analysis of "Chamnok" and "Bohyang" were consistent with their tolerance to low-temperature damage, and antioxidant activity and lipid peroxidation reactions were likewise consistent. The results of this study can be used not only for evaluation and selection of cold-tolerance of tea trees in response to climate change, but also in the cultivation of cold-tolerant plants.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.3
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• pp.418-427
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• 2022

Our aim was to evaluate the quality of pine seeds after long-term storage and to analyze the correlation between germination and physiological characteristics. Therefore, we investigated the germination and physiological characteristics of seeds stored for different periods and storage temperatures. Pine seeds lost little viability and vigor after 12 years of storage at 4℃; it is even possible to prolong the storage period at -18℃. The deterioration process operating through long-term storage was characterized by a loss of seed vigor before a loss in seed viability. Electrical conductivity of the seed leachate was significantly higher in seeds that completely lost their viability, and was also found to be significantly correlated with the germination percentage, T50, mean germination time, and germination speed. Among the minerals leaked to the leachate, K had the highest concentration, followed by Na, Ca, Cu, Mg, and Fe, while Mn and Zn were not detected. Concentrations of K, Ca, Cu, Mg, and Fe in the leachate differed significantly by treatment, and in the cases of K, Ca, Cu, Na, and Mg, we observed large differences in the leachate between the seeds that were collected in 2003 and those collected in other years.. Germination percentage was significantly negatively correlated to the concentrations of Ca, Cu, K, Mg, and Na. The coefficient of uniformity of germination was significantly negatively correlated to Cu concentration. The other germination characteristics were not significantly correlated with the mineral concentration. Therefore, the mineral concentrations of pine seed leachate were not reliable indicators of seed deterioration when the differences in quality between seed lots were small. However, electrical conductivity could be an indicator of seed viability and vigor of pine seeds under long-term storage.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.64-72
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• 2023

Biopolymer is a versatile material used in food processing, medicine, construction, and soil reinforcement. 𝛽-glucan is one of the biopolymers that improves the soil water content and ion adsorption in a drought or toxic metal contaminated land for plant survival. We analyzed drought stress damage reduction in sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas L. cv. Sodammi) by measuring the growth and major protein expression and activity under 𝛽-glucan soil amendment. The result showed that sweet potato leaf length and width were not affected by drought stress for 14 days, but sweet potatoes grown in 𝛽-glucan-amended soil showed an effect in preventing wilting caused by drought in phenotypic changes. Under drought stress, sweet potato leaves did not show any changes in electrolyte leakage, but the relative water content was higher in sweet potatoes grown in 𝛽-glucan-amended soil than in normal soil. 𝛽-glucan soil amendment increased the expression of plasma membrane (PM) H⁺-ATPase, but it decreased the aquaporin PIP2 (plasma membrane intrinsic protein 2) in sweet potatoes under drought stress. Moreover, water maintenance affected the PM H⁺-ATPase activity, which contributed to tolerance under drought stress. These results indicate that 𝛽-glucan soil amendment improves the soil water content during drought and affects the water supply in sweet potatoes. Consequently, 𝛽-glucan is a potential material for maintaining soil water contents, and analysis of the major PM proteins is one of the indicators for evaluating the biopolymer effect on plant survival under drought stress.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.599-614
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• 2024

To evaluate the safety status of deteriorated segments in a submarine shield tunnel during its service life, a seepage model was established based on a cross-sea shield tunnel project. This model was used to study the migration patterns of erosive ions within the shield segments. Based on these laws, the degree of deterioration of the segments was determined. Using the derived analytical solution, the internal forces within the segments were calculated. Lastly, by applying the formula for calculating safety factors, the variation trends in the safety factors of segments with different degrees of deterioration were obtained. The findings demonstrate that corrosive seawater presents the evolution characteristics of continuous seepage from the outside to the inside of the tunnel. The nearby seepage field shows locally concentrated characteristics when there is leakage at the joint, which causes the seepage field's depth and scope to significantly increase. The chlorine ion content decreases gradually with the increase of the distance from the outer surface of the tunnel. The penetration of erosion ions in the segment is facilitated by the presence of water pressure. The ion content of the entire ring segment lining structure is related in the following order: vault < haunch < springing. The difference in the segment's rate of increase in chlorine ion content decreases as service time increases. Based on the analytical solution calculation, the segment's safety factor drops more when the joint leaks than when its intact, and the change rate between the two states exhibits a general downward trend. The safety factor shows a similar change rule at different water depths and continuously decreases at the same segment position as the water depth increases. The three phases of "sudden drop-rise-stability" are represented by a "spoon-shaped" change rule on the safety factor's change curve. The issue of the poor applicability of indicators in earlier studies is resolved by the analytical solution, which only requires determining the loss degree of the segment lining's effective bearing thickness to calculate the safety factor of any cross-section of the shield tunnel. The analytical solution's computation results, however, have some safety margins and are cautious. The process of establishing the evaluation model indicates that the secondary lining made of molded concrete can also have its safety status assessed using the analytical solution. It is very important for the safe operation of the tunnel and the safety of people's property and has a wide range of applications.