• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.389-406
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• 2011

As part of a feasibility study for introducing carbon labeling of fruit products in Korea, we explore the use of carbon footprints for Korean kiwifruit from Gyeongnam region as a case study. In Korea, the Korean Environmental Industry and Technology Institute (KEITI) is responsible for the carbon footprint labeling certification, and has two types of certification programs: one program focuses on climate change response (carbon footprint labeling analysis) and the other on low-carbon products (reduction of carbon footprints analysis). Currently agricultural products have not yet been included in the program. Carbon labeling could soon be a prerequisite for the international trading of agricultural products. In general the carbon footprints of various agricultural products from New Zealand followed the methodology described in the ISO standards and conformed to the PAS 2050. The carbon footprint assessment focuses on a supply chain, and considers the foreground and the background systems. The basic scheme consists of four phases, which are the 'goal', 'scope', 'inventory analysis', and 'interpretation' phases. In the case of the carbon footprint of New Zealand kiwifruit the study tried to understand each phase's contribution to total GHG emissions. According to the results, shipping, orchard, and coolstore operation are the main life cycle stages that contribute to the carbon footprint of the kiwifruit supply chain stretching from the orchard in New Zealand to the consumer in the UK. The carbon emission of long-distance transportation such as shipping can be a hot-spot of GHG emissions, but can be balanced out by minimizing the carbon footprint of other life cycle phases. For this reason it is important that orchard and coolstore operations reduce the GHG-intensive inputs such as fuel or electricity to minimize GHG emissions and consequently facilitate the industry to compete in international markets. The carbon footprint labeling guided by international standards should be introduced for fruit products in Korea as soon as possible. The already established LCA methodology of NZ kiwifruit can be applied for fruit products as a case study.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.55-66
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• 2024

This study conducted a survey to investigate the characteristics of fish communities and the inhabiting status of endangered species in the Byekgye Stream, Korea from April to September 2020. A total of 3,415 fish of 9 families and 31 species were collected from 7 survey stations during the survey period. The dominant species was Zacco koreanus (relative abundance of 31.2%), and the subdominant species was Z. platypus (15.0%), followed by Pungtungia herzi (11.7%), Acheilognathus yamatsutae (5.4%), A. lanceolata intermedia (4.8%), Rhinogobius brunneus (4.4%), and Pseudopungtungia tenuicorpa (4.3%). Among the fish species collected, 19 (61.3%) were identified as Korean endemic species, and two cold-water fish species sensitive to climate change (Rhynchocypris kumgangensis and Cottus koreanus) were collected. Four species were designated as class II endangered wildlife by the Ministry of Environment: A. signifer, P. tenuicorpa, Rhodeus pseudosericeus, and C. koreanus. A. signifer and P. tenuicorpa mainly inhabited the mid to lower streams, R. pseudosericeus in the midstream, and R. pseudosericeus in the upstream. P. tenuicorpa inhabited in large numbers, and estimating the age by total length-frequency distribution in July, the total length of the 26-35 mm group was estimated as 0 years old, the 54-75 mm group as 1 year old, 82-97 mm group as 2 years old, 104-109 mm group as 3 years or older. The cluster analysis showed that the dominance index decreased from upstream to downstream, but the diversity, evenness, and richness index increased. The water quality of Byekgye Stream was evaluated as good overall since the river health (fish assessment index, FAI) using fish was evaluated as excellent (5 stations) and good (2 stations). Byekgye Stream has relatively well-preserved habitats, but conservation measures are required as habitats are disturbed by river repair work in some parts of the midstream and downstream areas where many endangered species inhabit.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.303-318
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• 2014

Baseflow gives a significant contribution to stream function in the regions where climatic characteristics are seasonally distinct. In this regard, variable baseflow can make it difficult to maintain a stable water supply, as well as causing disruption to the stream ecosystem. Changes in land use can affect both the direct flow and baseflow of a stream, and consequently, most other components of the hydrologic cycle. Baseflow estimation depends on the observed streamflow in gauge watersheds, but accurate predictions of streamflow through modeling can be useful in determining baseflow data for ungauged watersheds. Accordingly, the objectives of this study are to 1) improve predictions of SWAT by applying the alpha factor estimated using RECESS for calibration; 2) estimate baseflow in an ungauged watershed using the WHAT system; and 3) evaluate the effects of changes in land use on baseflow characteristics. These objectives were implemented in the Gapcheon watershed, as an ungauged watershed in South Korea. The results show that the alpha factor estimated using RECESS in SWAT calibration improves the prediction for streamflow, and, in particular, recessions in the baseflow. Also, the changes in land use in the Gapcheon watershed leads to no significant difference in annual baseflow between comparable periods, regardless of precipitation, but does lead to differences in the seasonal characteristics observed for the temporal distribution of baseflow. Therefore, the Guem River, into which the stream from the Gapcheon watershed flows, requires strategic seasonal variability predictions of baseflow due to changes in land use within the region.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.186-193
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• 2014

This study aimed to analyze spatio-temporal trends of phenological characteristics in South Korea by using MODIS EVI. For the phenology analysis, we had applied double logistic function to MODIS time-series data. Our results showed that starting date of phenology seems to have a tendency along with latitudinal trends. Starting date of phenology of Jeju Island and Mt. Sobeak went back for 0.38, 0.174 days per year, respectively whereas, Mt. Jiri and Mt. Seolak went forward for 0.32 days, 0.239 days and 0.119 days, respectively. Our results exhibited the fluctuation of plant phonological season rather than the change of phonological timing and season. Starting date of plant phenology by spatial distribution revealed tendency that starting date of mountain area was late, and basin and south foot of mountain was fast. In urban ares such as Seoul metropolitan, Masan, Changwon, Milyang, Daegu and Jeju, the phonological starting date went forward quickly. Pheonoligcal attributes such as starting date and leaf fall in urban areas likely being affected from heat island effect and related warming. Our study expressed that local and regional monitoring on phonological events and changes in Korea would be possible through MODIS data.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.35 no.5_1
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• pp.649-663
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• 2019

The 2018 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report announced that deforestation in North Korea is the most extreme situation and in terms of climate change, this deforestation is a global scale issue. To respond deforestation, various study and projects are conducted based on remote sensing, but access to public data in North Korea is limited, and objectivity is difficult to be guaranteed. In this study, the forest detection based on density estimation in statistic using Landsat imagery was conducted in Gangwon province which is the only administrative district divided into South and North. The forest spatial data of South Korea was used as data for the labeling of forest and Non-forest in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and a threshold (0.6658) for forest detection was set by Gaussian Probability Density Function (PDF) estimation by category. The results show that the forest area decreased until the 2000s in both Korea, but the area increased in 2010s. It is also confirmed that the reduction of forest area on the local scale is the same as the policy direction of urbanization and industrialization at that time. The Kappa value for validation was strong agreement (0.8) and moderate agreement (0.6), respectively. The detection based on the Gaussian PDF estimation is considered a method for complementing the statistical limitations of the existing detection method using satellite imagery. This study can be used as basic data for deforestation in North Korea and Based on the detection results, it is necessary to protect and restore forest resources.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.460-466
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• 2009

Carbon fixation and density of crops are important to estimate carbon uptake or emission by agricultural production activities and to establish life cycle inventory of crops for assessment of climate change impact. In this study, regional carbon fixation and density in each part of 14 crops, harvest index, and ratio of aboveground to underground were investigated to estimate biomass of 14 crops in Korea by using agricultural statistics data. Biomass yield of potato was $16.5ton\;ha^{-1}$, which was the highest, and those of rice, sweet potato, and garlic were $10.5ton\;ha^{-1}$, $8.7ton\;ha^{-1}$, and $7.5ton\;ha^{-1}$ respectively. Biomass yield of Green onion was the lowest as $2.8ton\;ha^{-1}$. Carbon density of 14 crops were in the order of potato ($6.4ton\;ha^{-1}$), rice ($4.2ton\;ha^{-1}$), sweet potato ($3.4ton\;ha^{-1}$), rape ($2.9ton\;ha^{-1}$) and garlic ($2.8ton\;ha^{-1}$). Regional distribution of carbon contents for each crop mapped revealed that carbon fixation of rice, soybean, sesame, garlic, and green onion were the highest in Jeonnam province, barley, red pepper, and watermelon in Gyeongnam, perilla in Chungnam, peanut in Gyeongbuk, rape and carrot in Jeju, sweet potato in Gyeonggi, potato in Gangwon. The results can be applied for assessing life cycle inventory of crops and crop productivity using remotely sensed data.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.301-316
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• 2012

Two models, TANK and SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) were compared for simulating natural flows in the Paldang Dam upstream areas of the Han River basin in order to understand the limitations of TANK and to review the applicability and capability of SWAT. For comparison, simulation results from the previous research work were used. In the results for the calibrated watersheds (Chungju Dam and Soyanggang Dam), two models provided promising results for forecasting of daily flows with the Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency of around 0.8. TANK simulated observations during some peak flood seasons better than SWAT, while it showed poor results during dry seasons, especially its simulations did not fall down under a certain value. It can be explained that TANK was calibrated for relatively larger flows than smaller ones. SWAT results showed a relatively good agreement with observed flows except some flood flows, and simulated inflows at the Paldang Dam considering discharges from upper dams coincided with observations with the model efficiency of around 0.9. This accounts for SWAT applicability with higher accuracy in predicting natural flows without dam operation or artificial water uses, and in assessing flow variations before and after dam development. Also, two model results were compared for other watersheds such as Pyeongchang-A, Dalcheon-B, Seomgang-B, Inbuk-A, Hangang-D, and Hongcheon-A to which calibrated TANK parameters were applied. The results were similar to the case of calibrated watersheds, that TANK simulated poor smaller flows except some flood flows and had same problem of keeping on over a certain value in dry seasons. This indicates that TANK application may have fatal uncertainties in estimating low flows used as an important index in water resources planning and management. Therefore, in order to reflect actually complex and complicated physical characteristics of Korean watersheds, and to manage efficiently water resources according to the land use and water use changes with urbanization or climate change in the future, it is necessary to utilize a physically based watershed model like SWAT rather than an existing conceptual lumped model like TANK.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.26-36
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• 2017

Korea is preparing an offshore carbon capture, transport and storage (CCS) demonstration project which is recognized as one of important $CO_2$ reduction technologies to mitigate climate change. The offshore CCS project aims to transport, inject and store large amount of $CO_2$ into offshore geologic formation, and has a potential risk of leakage which might cause disastrous damage to human health, environment and property. Therefore, in order to ensure the safety of the offshore CCS project, a strict HSE (health, safety and environment) management plan and its implementation are required throughout the project life cycle. However, there are no HSE domestic laws or regulations applicable to CCS projects, and the related research is insufficient in Korea. For the derivation of the essential and urgent requirement in HSE management framework applicable to the offshore CCS project in Korea, we analysed the HSE management methodologies and foreign CCS HSE management guidelines and cases. First, this paper has analyzed ISO 31000, a generalized risk management principles. Second, we have investigated the HSE management practices of CCS projects in Norway and UK. Based on the analyses, we suggested the necessity of developing the HSE Philosophy and the HSE management process through the whole life cycle. Application of HSE management in early phase of an offshore CCS project will promote systematic and successful project implementation in a cost-effective and safe way.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.161-177
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• 2020

This research aims to identify the relevance of 'Adolescence consumption' units to ESD(Education for Sustainable Development), and to analyze the unit's inquiry tendency through the Romey analysis method. The assessment criteria in association with ESD developed in the previous literature were summarized and established to set up an analysis framework consisted of 11 key points including environmental perspective (natural resources, climate change/disaster prevention and mitigation, and sustainable rural and urban systems), economic perspective (corporate sustainability, market economy, and poverty gap mitigation), and socio-cultural perspective (human rights/peace/human protection, cultural diversity and understanding, health/safety, civic engagement, and management of nation). With this framework, the learning contents of 'adolescence consumption life' unit in twelve middle school Home Economics textbooks were analyzed including the texts, images/illustrations/tables/graphs, and activities. The analysis revealed that the core elements of the 'market economy' and 'management of nation' from the economic perspective were presented in three different formats: texts, images/illustrations/tables/graphs, and activities. However, relatively insufficient contents were presented in terms of health/safety, civic engagement, sustainable rural and urban systems, and corporate sustainability, and thus, development of textbooks dealing with various ESD contents is neededrecommended. Additionally, most textbooks' texts and images/illustrations/tables/graphs tend to be authoritative, while activities and assignments exhibited an inquiry tendency. It is advisable to incorporate a wider variety of ESD-related content in Home Economics classes and creatively employ inquiry-based learning activities for the development of pro-sustainable-development consumption values and behavioral tendencies among young students.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.64 no.4
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• pp.395-405
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• 2019

A recent assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projected that the global average surface temperature will increase by a value 1.5℃ from 2030 to 2052. In this study, we used a temperature gradient chamber that mimicked field conditions to evaluate the effect of increased air temperature on phenology, yield components, protein content, and oil content, to assess soybean growth. In 2017 and 2018, 'Deawonkong', 'Pungsannamulkong', and 'Deapungkong' cultivars were grown in three temperature gradient chambers. Four temperature treatment groups were established by dividing the rows along temperature regimes: ambient temperature + 1℃ (aT+1), ambient temperature + 2℃ (aT+2), ambient temperature + 3℃ (aT+3), ambient temperature + 4℃ (aT+4). Year, cultivar, and temperature treatments significantly affected yield components and seed yield. In 2017, the flowering stage of 'Deawon' and 'Pungsannamul' cultivars in the aT+4 group was delayed compared to the flowering stage of those in the aT+1 group. In 2018, the flowering stage of 'Deawon' and 'Pungsannamul' was delayed at all temperature gradients, owing to high temperature stress, whereas 'Deapung' was regularly flowering in 2017 and 2018. The duration of the grain filling period was six days shorter in 2018 than in 2017 because of high temperature stress. The total number of pods per ㎡ for 'Deawon' and 'Pungsannamul' was 48.8 and 41.5% lower in 2018 than in 2017, respectively, whereas 'Deapung' increased by 6.3%. The 100-seed weight of 'Deawon' and 'Deapung' was 29.2 and 32.1% lower, respectively. However, 'Pungsannamul' decreased by 14.7%. The protein and oil content was lower during the grain filling period in 2018 than in the same period in 2017 because of high temperature stress. In contrast, the oil content in 'Deapung' was higher in 2018 than in 2017. Our results showed that increased temperature during the grain filling period was significantly and negatively correlated with pod number, 100-seed weight, protein content, and oil content.