• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.40-50
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• 2017

We were interested in the long-term temporal and spatial variability trends of water quality. Trend tests such as the Seasonal and Regional Kendall tests and LOWESS (LOcally WEighted Scatter plot Smoother) have been recommended as outstanding tools for trend detection. In this study, we conducted four types of nonparametric trend tests (Seasonal and Regional Kendall tests, LOWESS, and flow-adjusted Seasonal Kendall). We aimed to identify water quality trends using the monthly data for five variables (BOD, COD, TN, TP, and flow) collected from 24 sites in the Nakdong River from August 2004 to December 2013. According to the Regional Kendall test, BOD, COD, and TN increased but TP decreased trend. The Seasonal Kendall test showed that BOD, TN, and TP remained constant at 62.5-83.3% of the sites. COD remained constant at 58.3% of the sites. LOWESS showed that TP gradually increased between 2007 and 2008, then decreased slowly at the Gumi, Geumhogang6, Daeam-1 and Milyanggang3 sites. BOD increased slightly between 2008 and 2009, and then decreased slowly at the Namgang4-1 site. Lastly, a flow-adjusted Seasonal Kendall test was conducted. There were different results between Seasonal Kendall and flow-adjusted Seasonal Kendall tests at 11 of the 24 sites. According to the results from six of the eleven sites, BOD increased at one site, showed no trends at three sited, and decreased at two sites. Each of COD, TN increased at two, one site. but TP decreased at two sites.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1029-1048
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• 2018

In this study, seasonal Mann - Kendall test method was applied to 12 stations of the water quality measurement network of Nam-River based on data of BOD, COD, TN and TP for 11 years from January 2005 to December 2015 The changes of water quality at each station were examined through linear trends and the tendency of water quality change during the study period was analyzed by applying the locally weighted scatter plot smoother (LOWESS) method. In addition, spatial trends of the whole Nam-River were examined by items. The flow-adjusted seasonal Kendall test was performed to remove the flow at the water quality measurement station. As a result, BOD, COD concentration showed "no trand" and TN and TP concentration showed "down trand" in regional Kendall test throughout the study period. BOD and TP concentration in "no trand", COD, and TN concentration showed an "up trand" tendency in Nam-River dam. LOWESS analysis showed no significant water quality change in most of the analysis items and stations, but water quality fluctuation characteristics were shown at some stations such as NR1 (Kyungho-River 1), NR2 (Kyungho-River 2), NR3 (Nam-River), NR6 (Nam-River 2A). In addition, the flow-adjusted seasonal Kendall results showed that the BOD concentration was "up trand" due to the flow at the NR3 (Nam-River) station. The COD concentration was "up trand" due to the flow at NR1 (Kyungho-River 1) and NR2 (Kyungho-River 2) located upstream of the Nam-River. The effect of influent flow on water quality varies according to each site and analysis item. Therefore, for the effective water quality management in the Nam-River, it is necessary to take measures to improve the water quality at the point where the water quality is continuously "up trand" during the study period.