• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.292-303
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• 2022

Background: Climate change significantly influences the geographical distribution of plant species worldwide. Selecting indicator species allows for better-informed and more effective ecosystem management in response to climate change. The Korean Peninsula is the northernmost distribution zone of warm temperate evergreen broad-leaved (WTEB) species in Northeast Asia. Considering the ecological value of these species, we evaluated the current distribution range and future suitable habitat for 13 WTEB tree species designated as climate-sensitive biological indicator species. Results: Up-to-date and accurate WTEB species distribution maps were constructed using herbarium specimens and citizen science data from the Korea Biodiversity Observation Network. Current northern limits for several species have shifted to higher latitudes compared to previous records. For example, the northern latitude limit for Stauntonia hexaphylla is higher (37° 02' N, Deokjeokdo archipelago) than that reported previously (36° 13' N). The minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio6) is the major factor influencing species distribution. Under future climate change scenarios, suitable habitats are predicted to expand toward higher latitudes inland and along the western coastal areas. Conclusions: Our results support the suitability of WTEB trees as significant biological indicators of species' responses to warming. The findings also suggest the need for consistent monitoring of species distribution shifts. This study provides an important baseline dataset for future monitoring and management of indicator species' responses to changing climate conditions in South Korea.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.600-614
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• 2013

This study aims to examine spatially-detailed changes and projection of subtropical climate zones based on the modified K$\ddot{o}$ppen-Trewartha's climate classification and extreme temperature indices using $1km{\times}1km$ high resolution RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 climate change scenarios based on PRIDE model over the Republic of Korea. Subtropical climate zones currently located along the southern coastal region. Future subtropical climate zones would be pushed northwards expanding to the western and the eastern coastal regions as well as some metropolitan areas. For both scenarios, the frequency of cold-related extreme temperatures projects to be reduced while the frequency of hot-related ones projects to be increased. Especially, hot days with $33^{\circ}C$ or higher temperature projects to occur more than 30 days over the most of regions except for some mountain areas with high altitudes during the period of 2070~2100. This study might provide essential information to make climate change adaptation processes be enhanced.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.120-132
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• 2008

Remotely sensed images from a satellite can be applied for detecting and quantifying spatial and temporal variations in terms of landuse & landcover, crop growth, and disaster for agricultural applications. The purposes of this study were to analyze topography using DEM(digital elevation model) and classify landuse & landcover into 10 classes-paddy field, dry field, forest, bare land, grass & bush, water body, reclaimed land, salt farm, residence & building, and others-using Landsat TM images in North Korea. Elevation was greater than 1,000 meters in the eastern part of North Korea around Ranggang-do where Kaemagowon was located. Pyeongnam and Hwangnam in the western part of North Korea were low in elevation. Topography of North Korea showed typical 'east-high and west-low' landform characteristics. Landcover classification of North Korea using spectral reflectance of multi-temporal Landsat TM images was performed and the statistics of each landcover by administrative district, slope, and agroclimatic zone were calculated in terms of area. Forest areas accounted for 69.6 percent of the whole area while the areas of dry fields and paddy fields were 15.7 percent and 4.2 percent, respectively. Bare land and water body occupied 6.6 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively. Residence & building reached less than 1 percent of the country. Paddy field areas concentrated in the A slope ranged from 0 to 2 percent(greater than 80 percent). The dry field areas were shown in the A slope the most, followed by D, E, C, B, and F slopes. According to the statistics by agroclimatic zone, paddy and dry fields were mainly distributed in the North plain region(N-6) and North western coastal region(N-7). Forest areas were evenly distributed all over the agroclimatic regions. Periodic landcover analysis of North Korea based on remote sensing technique using satellite imagery can produce spatial and temporal statistics information for future landuse management and planning of North Korea.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.265-272
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• 2002

Spatial distribution of Phytoplankton Pigment Concentration (PPC) and Sea Surface Temperature (SST) around the East Korean Warm Current (EKWC) was described, using both Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) images and Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) images in May, 1980. Water mass in this region can be classified into five categories in the horizontal profile of PPC and SST, nLw (normalized water-leaving radiance) images: (1) coastal cold water region associated with concentrations of dissolved organic material or yellow colored substances and suspended sediments, (2) cold water region of thermal frontal occurred by a combination of phytoplankton absorption and suspended materials, (3) warm water overlay region by the phytoplankton absorption than the suspended materials; (4) warm water region occurred by the low phytoplankton absorption, and (5) offshore region occurred by the high phytoplankton absorption. In particular, the highest PPC (>2.0 mg/m^3) area appeared in the CZCS and AVHRR images with a band shaped distribution of the thermal front and ocean color front region, which is located the coastal cold waters alonB western thermal front of the warm streamer of the EKWC. In this region, the highest PPC occurred by a combination of the high absorption of the phytoplankton (443 nm) and highest reflectance of suspended materials (550 nm). Another high PPC ($\simeq$$6\;mg/m^3$) appeared in the warm water overlay region inside warm streamer. High phytoplankton pigment concentration of this region was corresponding to the short wavelength of 443 nm, which represented phytoplankton absorption of the CZCS image.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 1970

As an attempt to determine if the morphological differences between the southern and western oysters are due simply to the local ecological factors or are based on their fundamental genetic nature, oyster seeds produced in 1968 at Tong-Young, Ye-Chun, and Ko-Hung on the south coast and at Kan-Wol-Do on the west coast were cross-transplanted during May of 1969 to compare their growth. The spats were placed in plastic baskets which permitted free water flow through and the baskets hung from a wooden rack located at a tidal zone of less than I hour exposure at a depth chosen to keep the baskets submerged in water at all times. Twice a month the growth of the spats were measured along with the air and water temperature and salinity. The early summer spats, which were $17-240\%$ larger, in size, than the late summer spats at the time of cross-transplantation, grew more slowly than the late summer spats when exposed to identical environmental conditions, shortening the initial gap to a $5-20\%$ level as the first year of the growth phase came to an end in December. The growth of the Kan-Wol-Do spats lagged considerably behind the southern spats at all localities tested, whereas there were no significant differences among the latter groups. This suggests that the morphological differences between southern and western Pacific oysters in Korea are a manifestation of genetic variety and that Pacific oysters cultured along the south coast are of an identical variety as they are commonly believed to be. The seasonal changes in temperature and salinity even during rainy season in both the southern and western coastal areas are well within the range suitable for successful spawning, and spat fall. However, since the results were based on twice-a-month measurements with no data covering the critical period before and after spawning, they can only serve to indicate at best the general pattern of changes in the environmental conditions of each growing area.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.243-249
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• 2000

Seasonal variation in species composition and abundance of shallow water fish off Yongwon, Jinhae in the southern coast of Korea was determined by the analysis of monthly samples collected by a beach seine from January to December, 1998. Among 54 species identified, the resident species such as Favonigobius gymnauchen, Chaenogobius laevis, Pholis nebulosa and juvenile Hyporhamphus intermedius were predominated in abundance. The temporal species such as Sardinella zunasi, Leiognathus nuchalis and Takifugu niphobles were collected between April and September. Mean abundance (322 individuals/1000 $m^2$ or 806 g/1000 $m^2$) was higher than that in the shallow sand surf zone of Teachon, but lower than that in the shallow mud area of Chonsu Bay in the western coast of Korea. A large number of H. intermedius were collected in cold months between November and January. The dominant resident species began to be collected from february, and the number of species and biomass were increased until July. A small number of temporal species were collected and subsequently the abundance was low from August to October when high abundance was expected as in the other shallow waters by recruitment of a large number of juveniles of temporal species. The low abundance in these warm months seemed to be related to the water quality by weak water circulation in this shallow mud area.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.315-323
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• 2016

This study reports a gneiss dome in the Hongseong area, southwestern margin of the Gyeonggi massif. This gneiss dome, named here as 'Oseosan dome' because it is located around the Oseosan, the highest peak along the western coastal area, is composed mainly of the Neoproterozoic to Paleozoic ortho- and paragneiss, mafic metavolcanic rock, and metadolerite. Migmatization affected these rock units, in which leucocratic(granitic) materials derived from anatexis frequently occur as patch and vein parallel to or cutting through internal foliation. The Oseosan dome shows overall concentric geometry and outward-dipping internal foliation, but also partly complicatedly changeable or inward-dipping foliation. Taking available petrological and geochronological data into account, the Oseosan dome is interpreted to be exhumed quickly into the upper crustal level during the Late Triassic, accompanied in part with anatexis and granite intrusion. In addition, extensional shear zone intruded by the Late Triassic synkinematic granite and sedimentary basin have been reported around the Oseosan dome. These evidences possibly suggest that the Oseosan dome formed in closely associated with the Late Triassic extensional movement and diapiric flow. Alternatively, 1) thrust- or reverse fault-related doming or 2) interference between independent folds during structural inversion of the Late Traissic to Middle Jurassic sedimentary basin can be also considered as dome-forming process. However, considering the northern limb of the Oseosan dome, cutting by the Late Traissic granite, and the southern limb, cutting by contractional fault reactivated after the Middle Jurassic, it is likely that the domal structure formed during or prior to the Late Triassic.

• Atmosphere
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.227-241
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• 2016

This study investigated the cause of the heavy snowfall that occurred in the East Coast of Korea from 6 February to 14 February 2014. The synoptic conditions were analyzed using blocking index, equivalent potential temperature, potential vorticity, maritime temperature difference, temperature advection, and ground convergence. During the case period, a large blocking pattern developed over the Western Pacific causing the flow to be stagnant, and there was a North-South oriented High-to-Low pressure system over the Korean Peninsula because of this arrangement. The case period was divided into three parts based on the synoptic forcing that was responsible for the heavy snowfall; detailed analyses were conducted for the first and last period. In the first period, a heavy snowfall occurred over the entire Korean Peninsula due to strong updrafts from baroclinic instability and a low pressure caused by potential vorticity located at the mid-troposphere. In the lower atmosphere, a North-South oriented High-to-Low pressure system over the Eastern Korea intensified the easterly airflow and created a convergence zone near the ground which strengthened the upslope effect of the Taebaek Mountain range with a cumulative fresh snowfall amount of 41 cm in the East Coast region. In the last period, the cold air nestled in the Maritime Province of Siberia and Manchuria strengthened much more than that in the first half and extended to the East Sea. The temperature difference between the 850 hPa air and the SST was large and convective clouds developed over the sea. The highest cumulative fresh snow amount of 39.7 cm was recorded in the coastal area during this period. During the entire period, vertically oriented equivalent potential temperature showed neutral stability layer that helped the cloud formation and development in the East Coast. The 2014 heavy snowfall case over the East Coast provinces of Korea were due to: 1) stagnation of the system by blocking pattern, 2) the dynamic effect of mid-level potential vorticity of 1.6 PVU, 3) the easterly air flow from North-South oriented High-to-Low pressure system, 4) the existence of vertically oriented neutral stable layer, and 5) the expansion of strong cold air into the East Sea which created a large temperature difference between the air and the ocean.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.56-63
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• 2002

Tracing the history of study, problems of seawater intrusion are commonly investigated with electrical techniques because seawater saturated zone is indicative of the low resistivity anomaly. There we, however, silt and mud layers in the western and southern coastal areas of Korea, so we may make a mistake in case we determine seawater intrusion only with resistivity survey. Hence, reference IP survey was carried out in Kimje, Jeollabuk-Do and Youngkwang, Jeollanam-Do in order to decide whether or not the area is under the influence of seawater intrusion. With the use of a electric field cable to minimize EM coupling, we obtained more accurate results by appling reference If technique measuring simultaneously wavelet of current as well as potential. With the aid of reference IP technique, it is possible that we can exactly evaluate seawater intrusion by discriminating seawater saturated area (no IP effect) from very highly conductive layer composed of clay mineral (high IP effect).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.143-156
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• 2014

We reviewed investigation status on turbidity plume in the statement of marine environmental survey(2008 to 2012) associated with marine sand extraction projects. The survey statement from seven marine sand extraction sites (extraction area of Southern EEZ, extraction area of Western EEZ, relocation zone in the Western EEZ, sea area under jurisdiction of Taean-gun, sea area under jurisdiction of Ansan City, and two discrete sea areas under jurisdiction of Ongjin-gun) in the nearshore and offshore of Korea showed that in situ observations were carried out for the dispersion and transport of suspended sediments on two areas (One is a extraction area in the EEZs, the other is an area of coastal sites). However, sampling station and range have not been selected considering physical, geographical factors (tide, wave, stratification, water depth, etc.) and weather conditions (wind direction and velocity, fetch, duration, etc). Especially turbidity plumes originating from three sources, which include suspended sediments in overflow(or overspill) discharged from spillways and reject chutes of dredging vessel, and resuspended sediments from draghead at the seabed, may be transported to a far greater distance outside the boundary of the extraction site and have undesirable impacts on the marine environment and ecosystem. We address that behaviour of environmental pollutants such as suspended solids, nutrients, and metals should be extensively monitored and diagnosed during the dispersion and transport of the plume. Finally we suggest the necessity to supplement the current system of the sea area utilization consultation and establish the combined guidelines on marine sand extraction to collect basic data, to monitor cumulative effects, and to minimize environmental damages incurred by the aftermath of sand extraction.