• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.285-294
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• 2000

In order to determine the horizontal and vertical distributions of metals and prospect the recent metal pollution history in Nakdong Estuary, we took surface and core sediments. Maximum value of organic matter occurs at the upstream site located 4 km from Nakdong barrage, and the concentration of trace metals (Zn, Cu, and Pb etc.) decrease seaward in the estuary. The sedimentation rates, based on $^{210}$Pb$_{ex}$ and $^{137}$Cs activities, were 0.34 cm/yr in inside of barrage (core 1) and 0.25 cm/yr in Changrim (core 4). Sediment mixing layer does not exist in core 1, where anoxic condition is known to be prevail. The topmost sediment layer of core 4 (<3.5 cm) is severely mixed. At sites 1 and 4, concentrations of Cu slowly increased during the period of 1920-1970, rapidly increased during 1970-1990, and followed by slight decrease after 1990. Zn contents increased in early 1960s and peaked in 1993, and followed by decrease after 1990s. Pb has increased continuously since early 1970s. At the downstream of the barrage, Cu and Zn have increased in the topmost layer. The trend of increase of Cu is evident after 1950 (11 cm in sediment depth). Overall trend of heavy metal concentration clearly indicates the pollution has been increasing after the construction of the barrage.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.8-19
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• 2002

Spatial distribution pattern of macrozoobenthos was studied along the salinity gradient and sedimentary environment in the Watancheon estuary, Beobseongpo, southwest coast of Korea. Ten stations were set from the mouth towards the head of estuary. Three replicate sediment samples were taken using a van Veen grab (surface area $0.1m^{2}$) at each station between June 1998 and January 1999. A total of 114 species were collected during the study period and they are composed of 44 species of polychaetes (39%), 34 of crustaceans (30%), 24 of molluscs (21%) and 12 of miscellaneous. The former two taxa together accounted for 69% in the total number of species. The mean density was 3,053 ind./m$^{2}$, comprising 2,536 ind./m$^{2}$ from polychaetes (83%) and 439 ind./m$^{2}$, crustaceans (14%). Moreover, the mean biomass was 58.23 gwwt./m$^{2}$, consisting of 29.56 gwwt./m$^{2}$ from polychaetes (51%), 23.38 gwwt./m$^{2}$, molluscs (40%). A spionid polychaete Minuspio japonica, two corophiid amphipods Grandidierella japonica and Corophium sinense, a bivalve Potamocorbula amurensis were major dominants at the head of estuary where the salinity was relatively lower compared with contiguous sites. The distributions of M. japonica and G. japonica were significantly related to the salinity and sediment environment, respectively, whereas C. sinense and P, amurensis showed no significance. The nereid polychaete, Hediste japonica, also predominated at the head of the estuary where bottom salinity was relatively low. Species diversity was high at the mouth area whereas low diversity and few species number were seen at the stations in the head of the estuary, influenced by freshwater and sandy sediment. Based on the cluster analysis, the macrobenthic community was classified into four station groups from head (station group A) toward mouth (group D) in the study area. The number of species and abundance between station group B and C were significantly different. And the abundance of between two neighboring station groups (station group A and B, B and C, C and D) was also different. These results suggested that the spatial distribution pattern of macrobenthos in this estuary seemed mainly related to gradients in bottom salinity and sediment grain size among environmental factors.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.216-227
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• 2008

To understand eutrophication in the upper regions of brackish Lake Sihwa with a limited water exchange, temporal and spatial distributions of pollutants in water and sediment were investigated from March to October in 2005 and 2006. Also, pollution levels of water and sediment were estimated by trophic state index (TSI) and sediment quality guideline (SQG). Total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), organic matter (COD), and chlorophyll $\alpha$ (Chl-$\alpha$) concentrations in the surface waters were largely varied temporally and spatially, and the variations were highest in the middle areas where strong halocline was formed. Chl-$\alpha$ concentrations in the middle area were very high in April (>$900\;{\mu}g\;L^{-1}$) when algal blooms (red tides) occurred. The relationships between TN and Chl-$\alpha$ (r=0.31), and TP and Chl-$\alpha$ (r=0.65) indicated that the algal growth was primarily affected by phosphorus rather than nitrogen. The distribution of COD was similar to that of Chl-$\alpha$, indicating that the autochthonous organic matters may be a more important carbon source, especially in the middle areas. The brackish water regions were classified as eutrophic or hypertrophic based on their TSI values ($69{\sim}76$). In addition, the content of nutrients (especially TP) in surface sediments were classified as severe polluted state, except the upper areas. Major causes of the eutrophication observed were probably due to high nutrients loading from watersheds, the phosphorus release from anaerobic sediment, and long retention time by the limited water exchange through the sluice gates.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.435-445
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• 2023

A delta is a depositional landform that is formed when sediment transported by a river is deposited in a relatively low-energy environment, such as a lake, sea, or a main channel. Among these, a delta formed at the confluence of rivers has a great importance in river management and research because it has a significant impact on the hydraulic and sedimentological characteristics of the river. Recently, the equilibrium state of the confluence area has been disrupted by large-scale dredging and construction of levees in the Nakdong River. However, due to the natural recovery of the river, the confluence area is returning to its pre-dredging natural state through ongoing sedimentation. The time-series data show that the confluence delta has been steadily growing since the dredging, but once it reaches a certain size, it repeats growth and retreat, and the overall size does not change significantly. In this study, we developed a model to explain the sedimentation-erosion processes in the confluence area based on the assumption that the confluence delta reaches a dynamic equilibrium. The model is based on two fundamental principles: sedimentation due to supply from the tributary and erosion due to the main channel. The erosion coefficient that represents the Nakdong River confluence areas, was obtained using data from the tributaries of the Nakdong River. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using the developed model to understand how the confluence delta responds to changes in the sediment and water discharges of the tributary and the main channel, respectively. We then used annual average discharge of the Nakdong River's tributaries to predict the dynamic equilibrium positions of the confluence deltas. Finally, we conducted a simulation experiment on the development of the Gamcheon-Nakdong River delta using recorded daily discharge. The results showed that even though it is a simple model, it accurately predicted the dynamic equilibrium positions of the confluence deltas in the Nakdong River, including the areas where the delta had not formed, and those where the delta had already formed and predicted the trend of the response of the Gamcheon-Nakdong River delta. However, the actual retreat in the Gamcheon-Nakdong River delta was not captured fully due to errors and limitations in the simplification process. The insights through this study provide basic information on the sediment supply of the Nakdong River through the confluence areas, which can be implemented as a basic model for river maintenance and management.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.49-67
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• 2006

A mesocosm, an artificial tidal flat ecosystem, was constructed outdoors to simulate in situ physical and biochemical environmental conditions of natural tidal flat as much as possible. During the experiment from February to August 2004, the study was focused on the biogeochemical variations of superficial water and porewater after introduction of freshwater into the mesocosm. The mesocosm has three experimental conditions; SW-M-T: maintaining the saline water of approximately 20 psu; FW-M-T: complete exchange of freshwater ul the mesocosm with continuous mixing of water column: FW-NM-T: complete exchange of saline water to freshwater in the mesocosm without mixing of water column. Mass extinction of benthic macrofauna appeared due to drastic decrease of porewater salinity from 20 psu to less than 10 psu between the 63th and 91st day of freshwater introduction in FW-M-T and FW-NM-T. Throughout the periods, 7/8 of bivalves and 2/3 of polychaete populations have been extinguished in the sediment. In FW-NM-T, as temperature rises, both evident decrease of DO in water column and active release of DIP from sediment were observed. ${NO_3}^-$ was removed from water column into sediment throughout the periods. Therefore extremely low ${NO_3}^-$ was found during late spring and summer. Whereas ${NH_4}^+$ exhibited only $1/2{\sim}1/8$ of ${NO_3}^-$ concentration. Unexpectedly even after mass extinction of benthic macrofauna, we were not able to find high ${NH_4}^+$. This mesocosm study suggests that when fresh water introduce to natural tidal flat, its sediment activity functions as a potential source of DIP, but a sink of ${NO_3}^-$.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.14-27
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• 2024

Unlike the shelf sand ridges moribund in motion, nearshore sand ridges are highly mobile, sensitive to changes in ocean environments, thereby becoming of particular interest with respect to morphological changes. About 5 km off the Daesan port, the Jangan Sand Ridge has been undergoing severe subsea morphological change over the past two decades. Understanding the nature of sand ridges is critical to elucidate the causes of morphological changes. In this context, this study aims at understanding the characteristics and distribution patterns of surface sediments of the ridge and its vicinity. For this purpose, 227 sediment samples were acquired using a grab-sampler, the grain sizes being analysed by the sieve-pipette method. In addition, comparison of grain sizes in sediments between 1997 and 2021 was made in order to investigate the 25-years change in sediment composition. Surface sediments along the ridge axis are fine to medium sands with 2-3 phi in mean grain size, whereas, in the trough of ridge, the sediments are composed of gravels and muddy sandy gravels with mean sizes of -2 to -6 phi. Sediments in the crest of the ridge are well-sorted with normal distribution, on the other hand, the basal sediments are poorly-sorted and positively skewed. Along the ridge crest, the sediments are negatively skewed. From 1997 to 2021, the ridge sediments became largely coarser about 0.5 phi. Such coarsening trend in mean grain size can be explained either by elimination of fine sediments during high waves in winter or elimination of fines suspended during sand mining activities in the past. Spatial distribution pattern of surface sediments shows that ca. 30 m thick of the sand ridge itself overlies the thin relict gravels. The strong asymmetry of sand ridge, the exposure of ridge base, and reworked gravel lags suggest that Jangan sand ridge is probably sediment-deficit and hence erosive in nature at present.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.208-215
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• 2000

The estimated total material transports through the Cheju Strait using all data which investigated in 1997 and 1999 are as follows; A large amount of suspended sediments and dissovted inorganic nutrients are carried tothe South Sea through the Cheju Strait by a persistent eastward flow (Cheju Current) from the Y311ow Sea andthe East China Sea. The annual material Oanspous by the Cheju Current are as follows; 22.9${\times}$10$^6$ ton yr$^{-1}$(SS), 0.52${\times}$10$^{10}$ mol yr$^{-1}$ (NH$_4\;^+$), 6.05${\times}$10$^{10}$ mol yr$^{-1}$ (NO$_3\;^-$), 0.36${\times}$10$^{10}$ mol yr$^{-1}$ (PO$_4\;^{3-}$), 10.27${\times}$10$^{10}$ mol yr$^{-1}$ (Si(OH)$_4$). The annual suspended sediment flux per water transport in the Cheju Strait (44.48${\times}$10$^6$ ton yr$^{-1}$ Sv$^{-1}$) is about 1.7 larger than that in the Korean Strait (26.08${\times}$10$^6$ ton yr$^{-1}$ Sv$^{-1}$). The annual nitrate flux per water transport (11.60${\times}$10$^{10}$ mol yr$^{-1}$ Sv$^{-1}$) is about 1.2 larger than that in the Korean Strait (9.72${\times}$10$^{10}$ mol yr$^{-1}$ Sv$^{-1}$) and 2/3 of that by Kuroshio in the East China Sea (18.55${\times}$10$^{10}$ ton yr$^{-1}$ Sv$^{-1}$). It suggests that chemical rich Cheju Current will play a significant role in the biogeochemical processes in the South Sea where the huge land-based waste are introduced.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.23 no.3 s.59
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• pp.293-303
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• 2005

Japanese medaka, Oryzias latipes is widely distributed in the North East Asia including Korea, Japan and east China, and commonly used for freshwater toxicity tests and cytotoxicological studies worldwide. In this study, a series of experiments were conducted to identify the potential of the fish as a standard test species for saltwater toxicity evaluation such as marine receiving waters, ocean-dumped materials and sediment pore waters etc. Hatching, growth and mortality rates of the fish were estimated with the wide ranges of salinity from freshwater to seawater (35 psu). Direct exposure of the fertilized eggs in freshwater to the wide ranges of salinity (from 0 to 35 psu) without pre- acclimation to the saltwater revealed no significant differences in hatching rates by salinities (p =0.24). On the other hand, medaka larvae hatched in freshwater and exposed to saltwater directly showed high mortality at > 25 psu treatment groups (p < 0.0001). However, there was no significant difference in mortality of medaka larvae hatched in 13.8 and 14.2 psu at the wide ranges of salinities ($0\~35$ psu). Growth rates of medaka larvae hatched in the above two salinities showed no differences in body length either from 0 to 35 psu treatment groups (p =0.64 for 13.8 psu group and p=0.32 for 14.2 psu group). The number of gill chloride cell in medaka larvae sharply increased when the larvae were exposed to high salinity. Reference tests with zinc chloride revealed 96h $LC_{50}=8.84(7.19\~10.87)mg\;L^{-1}$ using 7~10 day old medaka larvae. These were comparable or better sensitivity in comparison with the other standard test species such as North American sheepshead minnow Cyprinodon variegatus. Based on the results of these experiments, hatching rates and larvalmortality of medaka must be good toxicity parameters for seawater bioassay and the species seems to be a good standard species for both the freshwater and seawater toxicity test.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.103-125
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• 2022

This study aims to identify the community characteristics of meiofauna inhabiting the Yellow Sea continental shelf. To this end an annual survey was conducted considering the seasons from 2018 to 2020 at 13 stations with a depth of 18~90 m of the Yellow Sea located at latitudes 35, 36 and 37 degrees north latitude. The survey was conducted in three seasons of spring, summer, and autumn at 5 stations in October 2018, 9 stations in April 2019, and 6 stations in August 2020 was used to collect 3 repetitions at each station. The habitat density of meiobenthos in the surveyed area was in the range of 45~1029 inds./10 cm², which was similar to the previous studies conducted in the Yellow Sea. The density of meiobenthos according to the seasons was 800±69 inds./10 cm² in autumn, the highest, and the lowest at 260±48 inds./10 cm² in summer. A total of 19 taxa appeared in meiobenthos, and the average value showed the number of nine taxa. Among the appearing taxa, the most dominant taxon was nematodes, accounting for 80.8% of the total density, followed by benthic copepods (8.8%) and benthic foraminifers (4.7%). As for the size distribution of medium benthic animals, the density of organisms corresponding to the size of 63~125 ㎛ was the highest, and 1~0.5 mm was the lowest. As for the vertical distribution in the sediments of medium benthic animals, the habitat density gradually decreased as the depth increased in the sediment surface layer. As a result of analysis of the N/C ratio, MPI, and ITD index using medium-sized benthic animals to identify the benthic environment, there were differences by season, but no values indicating pollution overall.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.144-157
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• 2016

The community structure of meiobenthos was investigated from seasonal surveys at four stations of Keunso Bay in Taean. Samples of meiobenthos were collected in August, October, 2013 and January, April, 2014. Triplicate faunal samples were collected by using an acryl corer with a 3.6 cm diameter at each station. The mean grain size of the study area ranged from 3.65 ø to 6.35 ø. Total 13 meiofaunal groups were found in the study area. The total density of meiobenthos at each station was be $1,521-7,849ind./10cm^2$. Nematodes were the most dominant faunal group at all stations. The subdominant group were Sarcomastigophorans and benthic harpacticoid copepods. The highest meiofaunal density was shown in spring, whereas the lowest density was recorded in summer. A total of 13 meiobenthic taxa were found, the richest taxa in October at station 2 ($13ind./10cm^2$), and the lowest in April at station 4 ($5ind./10cm^2$). There were seasonal fluctuations in the number of meiobenthic taxa decreasing from summer to spring. The density of meiobenthos gradually decreased as the depth of sediment increased. Seasonal changes in the vertical distribution of meiobenthos in the study area occurred mainly near the sediment surface.