• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.16-22
• /
• 2019

Investigations on the study of the distribution aspects and extinction threat evaluation of the Korean endemic species, Iksookimia pacifica were done from 2017 to 2018 in Korea. During the study period, the samples of I. pacifica were collected in 17 streams, 46 sites (from Baebongcheon Stream of Goseong-gun to Gunsuncheon Stream of Gangneung-si) among the noted 33 streams and 104 sampling sites investigated. The population size of I. pacifica was relatively large in streams such as Bukcheon, Baebongcheon, Hwasangcheon, Cheonjincheon, Ohhocheon Stream etc., but the population size was small in streams such as Sacheoncheon, Namcheon, Gangneung Namdaecheon Stream etc. The main habitat of I. pacifica was the downstream pool of clean water with slow velocity and sand bottoms, and their sensibility was estimated to be due to river work and water pollution. Comparing the previous records of the appearance of I. pacifica, they were first seen in Sampocheon Stream, but they did not appear in Jusucheon, Jeoncheon, Samcheok Osipcheon Stream. Given this evidence as noted for the 19.5% reduction in occupancy within 3 generations, in small appearance range ($1,343km^2$) and small occupancy area ($184km^2$), the number of locations were many (18) and the population was relatively large within the range of habitat. Therefore, I. pacifica is now considered a Near Threatened (NT) based on the IUCN Red List categories and criteria.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.41 no.6
• /
• pp.647-657
• /
• 2020

Infrasound signals associated with the 29 May 2004 offshore Uljin earthquake (Mw 5.1) were recorded at infrasound arrays of CHNAR (epicentral distance of 321 km) and TJNAR (256 km). Back-azimuths, indicating the directions to source locations, varied more than 28° broadly for the long-lasting signals over several minutes. From the analysis of the back-projecting location method and attenuation correction for infrasound propagation, the infrasound waves were to be generated by the interaction (diffraction) between seismic waves and topography in an area of ~4,600 ㎢ connecting the Samcheok-Uljin-Pohang regions. The maximum sound source pressure (BSP) was estimated to be 11.1 Pa. This result was consistent with the peak sound pressure (PSP) calculated by the Rayleigh integral approximation to the peak ground acceleration (PGA) dataset. In addition, the minimum PGA that was detectable at the two arrays was estimated to be ~3.0 cm s-2. Although the earthquake occurred offshore, diffracted infrasound signals were effectively generated by ground motions when seismic surface waves passed through high-topographic regions in the eastern Korean Peninsula. The relationship between infrasound source pressure and PGA can be applicable to characterize the ground motions in areas with insufficient seismological observatories.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.34-43
• /
• 2022

A distribution survey was conducted from March to August 2021 to evaluate the distribution status, habitat characteristics, and threat of extinction of the Korean cold-water fish Ladislabia taczanowskii Dybowski (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae). Historical distribution reports were divided into 1997~2005, 2006~2012, 2013~2019, and distribution surveyed 169 sampling sites, and 1,040 individuals were collected from 72 sites. Areas where the habitat was confirmed were Namhan River (27 stations), Han River (17 stations), Bukhan River (16 stations), Samcheok Osipcheon (4 stations), Yeongokcheon (3 stations), Gangneung Namdaecheon (2 stations), Jeoncheon (1 station), Chucheon (2 stations). The main habitat of L. taczanowskii was upstream of the river with a high altitude of more than 300 m, 2~30 m water flow width, 0.3~1.5 m water depth, and high ratio (50~90%) boulder bottoms. The main reasons for the decline in population size were assumed as river works, construction of reservoirs and bridges, discharge of contaminated water into the river, the inflow of summer vacationers, and weir. Compared to our results there exists evidence that states a 36.1% reduction in occupancy within 10 years, in a small appearance range (7,820 km²) and occupancy area (288 km²), number of disconnected locations (19 locations), and a decline in habitat quality. Therefore, L. taczanowskii is now considered as Vulnerable (VU) based on the results (VU A2ac, Near meets B1b (i, ii, iii)+B2b (i, ii, iii)) of IUCN Red List categories and criteria. Lastly, the conservation plan of Ladislabia taczanowskii was discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.213-223
• /
• 2011

The status and changes of water quality of national fishing harbors and designated ports in East Coast of Korea were analyzed to support establishment effective water environmental management. COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) concentration was satisfied to designated water quality criteria in most areas, but TN (Total Nitrogen) and TP (Total Phosphorus) exceeded the criteria frequently. Also, peak concentration was summer in COD and SS (Suspended Solid), but winter in TP. Eutrophication index of Ganggu and Pohang (old) area were the highest. Pollution index by function of COD, TN, and TP of Ganggu, Pohang, Jumunjin, and Guryongpo was high with gradual increasing recently, on the contrary, that of Samcheok, Imwon, and Chuksan was decreased. Pollution index involving multi-indictors relation to organics and inorganics was necessary for water quality assessment. Designated water quality criteria needed to be improved because the criteria of Jukbyun and Chuksan was applied more strictly compared to the other regions although without difference of environmental characteristics. Furthermore, the criteria notified lately needed to be related to management pollutants from land-based sources. The continuous diagnosis and monitoring on sediment quality within the study area were necessary for prevention of water pollution and eco-friendly disposal of dredged sediment. Especially, monitoring of Designated Ports was implemented partially, however monitoring ratio of National Fishing Har-bors was 7% to whole part. Therefore, systematic and integrated environmental monitoring for ports and harbors with charge of national management was reestablished by strengthening and securing a legal basis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.50-66
• /
• 1975

Since it is an undeniable fact that the so-called illegal field-burning cultivation is directly implicated in the causes of forest devastation, land erosion, and drought and flood, thus, barring the nation from a well-balanced economic growth, the policy to exterminate its practices must have the topmost priority. Eighty percent of Gangweon-do is mountain forests and naturally of all others this province has the largest area of illegally burned hill-side farminglands, stubbornly retarding the provincial development policy as well as directly causing tremendous forest damages. In 1965 a 7-year plan mapped out to rehabilitate these gypsy type field burning farmers only to be suspended in 1968 to give way to the mandatory project of clearing the isolated farmsteads set in deep mountain to circumvent the guerilla forces signaled by the so-called Samcheok-Uljin area infiltration. In the meantime, new hordes of roving farmers burned the forests, working a renewed havoc. To cope with this situation, the provincial government, taking the year 1973 as a planning year, launched another three year project (1974-76) and has been enforcing the rehabilitation project mobilizing the whole administrative power. Whether or not this project will succeed solely depends upon whether the forcedly rehabilitated roving farmers can really establish self-supporting homesteads. Among the various difficulties facing the newly established homesteaders are: (1) First of all, the homesteaders must be given money-earning jobs. (2) Financial supports or subsidies must be provided them with which to establish self-supporting homesteads. (3) Private enterprises as well as public organizations must offer them jobs with priority. (4) The rehabilitated rovers themselves must establish self-supporting homesteads before expecting the external assistance. (5) The rehabilitated rovers themselves must have the spirit of self-help, welcoming all levels and all kinds of jobs. (6) The rural revitalization movement must expand the self-help reconstruction projects to give them the opportunity to work. (7) All citizen in the province must receive and protect them with brethren love. (8) The evacuated burned-forests must be reforestrated with the principle of "best trees to the best lands". (9) The seedlings of species that the forest owners select must anyhow be secured and supplied (10) The organization and function of the village forestry association must be strengthened to take effective care of the reforestated burned-forests.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.36 no.5_3
• /
• pp.1109-1123
• /
• 2020

In South Korea with forest as a major land cover class (over 60% of the country), many wildfires occur every year. Wildfires weaken the shear strength of the soil, forming a layer of soil that is vulnerable to landslides. It is important to identify the severity of a wildfire as well as the burned area to sustainably manage the forest. Although satellite remote sensing has been widely used to map wildfire severity, it is often difficult to determine the severity using only the temporal change of satellite-derived indices such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR). In this study, we proposed an approach for determining wildfire severity based on machine learning through the synergistic use of Sentinel-1A Synthetic Aperture Radar-C data and Sentinel-2A Multi Spectral Instrument data. Three wildfire cases-Samcheok in May 2017, Gangreung·Donghae in April 2019, and Gosung·Sokcho in April 2019-were used for developing wildfire severity mapping models with three machine learning algorithms (i.e., Random Forest, Logistic Regression, and Support Vector Machine). The results showed that the random forest model yielded the best performance, resulting in an overall accuracy of 82.3%. The cross-site validation to examine the spatiotemporal transferability of the machine learning models showed that the models were highly sensitive to temporal differences between the training and validation sites, especially in the early growing season. This implies that a more robust model with high spatiotemporal transferability can be developed when more wildfire cases with different seasons and areas are added in the future.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
• /
• v.37 no.5_1
• /
• pp.1043-1059
• /
• 2021

Forest and agricultural land are very important factors in the environmental ecosystem and securing food resources. Forest and agricultural land should be monitored regularly. CAS500-4 data are expected to be effectively used as a supplement of monitoring forest and agricultural land. Prior to the launch of the CAS500-4, the relative canopy height error analysis of the digital elevation model on South Korea was performed to determine the vertical target accuracy. Especially, by considering area of interest of the CAS500-4 (mountainous or agricultural area), it is conducted that vertical error analysis according to the slope and canopy. For Gongju, Jeju, and Samcheok, the average root mean squared differences were calculated compared to the drone LiDAR digitalsurface models, which were filmed in autumn and winter and the 5 m digital elevation model from the National Geographic Information Institute. As a result, the Shuttle radar topography mission digital elevation model showed a root mean squared differences of about 8.35, 8.19, and 7.49 m, respectively, while the Copernicus digital elevation model showed a root mean squared differences of about 5.65, 6.73, and 7.39 m, respectively. In addition, the root mean squared difference of shuttle radar topography mission digital elevation model and the Copernicus digital elevation model according to the slope angle were estimated on South Korea compared to the 5 m digital elevation model from the National Geographic Information Institute. At the slope angle of between 0° to 5°, root mean squared differences of the Shuttle radar topography mission digital elevation model and the Copernicus digital elevation model showed 3.62 and 2.52 m, respectively. On the other hands root mean squared differences of the Shuttle radar topography mission digital elevation model and the Copernicus digital elevation model respectively showed about 10.16 and 11.62 m at the slope angle of 35° or higher.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.111 no.3
• /
• pp.357-364
• /
• 2022

We investigated the early growth characteristics of Quercus rubra planted in six regions (Hwaseong, Yangpyeong, Pyeongchang, Samcheok, Chungju, and Gimje) in South Korea in relation to soil physicochemical properties and meteorological factors. Q. rubra (1-0) were planted at a density of 3,000 trees ha^-1. The average height, root collar diameter (RCD), and volume of 8-year-old Q. rubra planted in 2014 were 3.52 m, 3.84 cm, and 0.0023 m³, respectively. The growth parameters of Q. rubra were the highest and lowest in Hwaseong and Pyeongchang, respectively. Correlation analysis among the soil physicochemical properties, meteorological factors, and plantation growth characteristics found that pH was the only soil factor negatively correlated with RCD, and the other soil factors were not significantly correlated with the growth characteristics. However, growth characteristics were positively correlated to average temperature from March to October and daily maximum temperature; and they were negatively correlated to altitude, topology, and the number of rainy days from March to October. In particular, the trees planted in Hwaseong area showed the best early growth characteristics because this area had the highest daily maximum temperature, the x average temperature from March to October, the low altitude, and it is located close to the foot of a mountain. In Pyeongchang, the early growth characteristics were negatively affected by winter cold damage because of the high altitude, low daily minimum temperature, and damage by wild animals. In Hwaseong, meteorological factors such as temperature and altitude were more highly correlated to growth characteristics of Q. rubra than the physicochemical soil properties. These results will provide useful information for determining suitable sites for Q. rubra plantations and for predicting early growth characteristics in response to environmental factors.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.36-44
• /
• 2010

In order to rehabilitate forest sites damaged by wildfire via natural or artificial restoration, it is important to determine right tree species, which can acclimate to biogeoclimatic environment at the sites. The objectives of this study were to develop site index equation of different tree species for estimating forest productivity and to provide information on species selection for post-wildfire restoration. Site index equation was developed based on environmental information from wildfire damaged areas in Gangneung, Goseong, Donghae, and Samcheok, where were located in east coastal areas of South Korea. Despite the small numbers (4~5) of environmental variables used for the development of the site index equations, statistical analysis (e.g. mean difference, standard deviation of difference, and standard error of difference) showed relatively low bias and variation, suggesting that those equations can provide relatively high capability of estimation and practical applicability with high effectiveness. The small numbers of the variables enabled the model to be applied in a wide range of usages including determination of appropriate tree species for post-wildfire restoration. The estimation of forest site productivity showed the possibility of large distribution in east coastal region as the best site for Korean ash (Fraxinus rhynchophylla) and original oak (Quercus variabilis) that can be used for firebreak in the region. These results imply that damages by forest fire can be reduced significantly by replacing existing pure coniferous forests in the area with ones dominated by broad-leaved deciduous stands, which can play an important role as fire break and/or prevent a transition from surface fire to crown fire.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.27-32
• /
• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate artificial insemination (AI) failure status and frozen semen characteristics in Korean proven bulls' number (KPN) semen used for AI of Hanwoo cows in Gangwon East region (Gangneung, Donghae, Taebaek, Samcheok, Sokcho, Yangyang, Goseong). Among semen used for AI, AI failure rate showed lowest at KPN506 (27.6%), whereas highest at KPN593 (77.2%). Correlations of AI failure in between Korean proven bulls semen and cows was 0.2941, which means that AI failure rate of Korean proven bulls semen may have respectable effect on reproduction of Hanwoo cow. In addition, present study was conducted to investigate spermatozoal viability rate, ruptured acrosome rate and active mitochondria in frozen Korean proven bulls semen with flow cytometry. The semen of KPN593 showed significantly ($p$<0.05) higher viability rate in KPN593 (30.49%) than that in KPN637 (37.34%). Furthermore, percentage of ruptured acrosome was lower in KPN637 as 21.37% than in KPN637 (21.37%), but it was not statistically significant. In conclusion, these results indicate that choice of Korean proven bulls semen may correlate positively with conception rate in Hanwoo cow. Therefore, KPN with high AI failure rate might be avoid to increase conception rate and characteristics of frozen semen might be evaluated before its use for AI.