• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.155-166
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• 2007

We carried out a study on the marine environment, such as water temperature, salinity, density and chlorophyll ${\alpha}$, and the distribution of phytoplankton community, such as species composition, dominant species and standing crops in the Southwestern Sea of Korea during early summer 2005. According to the analysis of a T-S diagram, three characteristics of water masses were identified. We classified them into Korean and Chinese coastal water, the cold water and the oceanic water. The first was characterized by high temperature and low salinity in the surface layer influenced by river run offs from China and Korea, the second by low temperature and salinity in bottom layer originated from the bottom cold water of the Yellow Sea, and the third by high temperature and high salinity influenced by Tsushima warm currents. The internal discontinuous layer among them was formed at the intermediate depth (about $10{\sim}20\;m$ layer). And the thermal front appeared in the central parts between Tsushima warm currents and Korean and Chinese coastal waters in the Southwestern Sea of Korea. Chlorophyll ${\alpha}$ concentration was high values in the Korean coastal waters and sub-surface layers. But It was low concentration in the Tsushima warm currents regions. The $Chl-{\alpha}$ maximum layers appeared in the sub-surface layer below thermocline. The phytoplankton community in the surface and stratified layers was composed of a total of 40 species belonging to 26 genera. Dominant species were 2 diatoms, Paralia sulcata, Skeletonema costatum and a dinoflagellate, Scripsiella trochoidea. Standing crops of phytoplankton in the surface layer were very low with cell density ranging from 5 to $3.8\;{\times}\;10^3\;cells/L$. Diatoms were controlled by the expanded low salinity coastal waters of the low salinity with high concentrations of nutrients. Otherwise phytoflagellates were dominant in the high temperature regions where the Tsushima warm currents approches the Southwestern Sea of Korea in early summer.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.189-196
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: Water quality management of river requires quantification of pollutant loads and implementation of measures through monitoring study, but it requires labour and costs. Therefore, many researchers are performing nonpoint source pollution analysis using computer models. However, calibration of model parameters needs observed data. Nitrogen concentration in rainfall is one of the factors to be considered when estimating the pollutant loads through application of the nonpoint source pollution model, but the default value provided by the model is used when there are no observed data. Therefore, this study aims to provide the representative nitrogen concentration of the rainfall for the administrative district ensuring rational modeling and reliable results. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, rainfall monitoring data from June 2015 to December 2017 were used to determine the nitrogen concentration in rainfall for each administrative district. Range of the $NO_3{^-}$ and $NH_4{^+}$ concentrations were 0.41~6.05 mg/L, 0.39~2.27 mg/L, respectively, and T-N concentration was 0.80~7.71 mg/L. Furthermore, the national average of T-N concentration in this study was $2.84{\pm}1.42mg/L$, which was similar to the national average of T-N 3.03 mg/L presented by the Ministry of Environment in 2015. Therefore, the nitrogen concentrations suggested in this study can be considered to be resonable values. CONCLUSION: The nitrogen concentrations estimated in this study showed regional differences. Therefore, when estimating the pollutant loads through application of the nonpoint source pollution model, resonable parameter estimation of nitrogen concentration in rainfall is possible by reflecting the regional characteristics.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.303-320
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• 2019

Plants interact with various biotic and abiotic environmental factors. It requires much information to understand the traits of a plant species. A shortage of information would restrict the assessment, especially in the evaluation of what kind of factors influence a plant species to face extinction. Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim. is one of the northern plants of which Korea is the southern distribution edge. The Korean Ministry of Environment had designated it to be the endangered species until December 2015. Although it is comparatively widespread, and a large population has recently been reported, it is assessed to be vulnerable due to the low population genetic diversity. This study evaluated the current distribution of Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim. We investigated the vegetational environment, population structures, phenology, soil environment, and self-incompatibility based on the results. Lastly, we evaluated the current threats observed in the habitats. The habitats tended to be located in the areas where the masses at the edge of the stream accumulated except for those that were located on slopes of some mountainous areas. Most of them showed a stable population structure and had re-established or recruited seedlings. Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim. had the difference in time when the shoots appeared above the ground depending on the depth of the rhizome located in the underground. In particular, the seedlings and juveniles had their rhizome located shallow in the soil. Visits by pollinator insects and success in pollination were crucial factors for bearing of fruits by Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim. The threats observed in the habitat of Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim. included the expansion of cultivated land, construction of new buildings, and construction of river banks and roads. Despite such observed risk factors, it is not likely that there would be rapid population reduction or extinction because of its widespread distribution with the total population of more than 2.7 million individuals and the new populations established by the re-colonization.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2016

This study was carried out to investigate the flora of the western front (Paju-Yencheon Area) of the Civilian Control Zone. Vascular plants collected in these areas were a total of 558 taxa composing of 501 species, 3 subspecies, 48 varieties and 1 forma of 330 genera under 109 families This shows that 11% of the 4,880 vascular plant species that are known to exist in Korea is distributed in the western part of the DMZ. 1 taxa of endangered species designated by the Ministry of Environment was found: the Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxim in the edge of the military operation road from Taepung observatory to Imjin river. For the floristically specific ones of the Korean floristic zones, 3 taxa of the $5^{th}$ grade, 3 taxa of the $4^{th}$ grade, 13 taxa of the $3^{rd}$ grade, 13 taxa of the $2^{nd}$ grade and 22 taxa of the $1^{st}$ grade were found. For the endemic species of Korea, 4 taxa including Cirsium setidens (Dunn) Nakai were confirmed to be distributed mostly on the slope or the cutting area. Among the collected rare plants (11 taxa), there were 1 taxa of endangered species, 4 taxa of vulnerable species and 6 taxa of least concern species. Also, 51 taxa of naturalized plants were identified and 4 taxa of ecosystem disturbance organism designated by the Ministry of Environment were identified. The urbanization index and naturalization index for all species were estimated to be 15.89% and 9.14% respectively. Our survey is expected to be considered as primary data of biological diversity and ecological axis in the DMZ and the western part of the DMZ. According to the results of this study, it is thought to be necessary to establish policies for conservation and protection of the DMZ.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.275-282
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• 2009

PAHs(Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) compounds may enter into the marine environment in a number of ways, and PAHs in coastal area and estuary adjacent to urban area and industrial activities region are mainly introduced into marine environment via atmosphere or river. The field surveys to evaluate the pollution of PAHs in rivers of Jinhae bay were carried out in August, 2008. The water samples collected from seven main rivers and Deokdong WWTP(Waste water Treatment Plant) which lead to Jinhae bay. 16 PAHs which had been selected as priority pollutants by EPA were analyzed. The range and mean of dissolved Total PAHs concentrations in the rivers and Duckdong WWTP that lead to Jinhae bay were shown to be 9.79~128.25(mean 36.94)ng/L, while the range and mean of Total PAHs concentrations in SPM(Suspended Particulate Matter) were shown to be 1,81434~8,893.37(mean 4,657.73)${\mu}g$/kg dry wt. The dissolved Total PAHs and Total PAHs in SPM were shown to be high concentrations in the Semhocheon which leads to Masan bay that is the most polluted area of Jinhae bay, while those were shown to be low concentrations at rivers which lead to the west area of the bay. The ranges and means of the loading fluxes from rivers and Duckdong WWTP were calculated at 0.06~12.05(mean 1.86)g/day for dissolved Total PAHs and at 0.12~16.00(mean 2.41)g/day tor Total PAH in SPM. The loading flux of Total PAHs from Duckdong WWTP was shown to be the greatest, occupying more than 80% of Total loading flux from all rivers and WWTP to Jinhae bay. The composition patterns of PAHs compound by the number of benzene ring between dissolved PAHs and PAHs of SPM were different each other. Low molecuar weight PAHs of dissoloved compounds were in high concentration, while high molecular weight PAHs of SPM were in high concentration. These results were due to physical and chemical characteristics of PAHs and were similar to those of other studies. The total PAHs concentrations of dissolved and SPM in this study are lower than those of other studies. The extent of PAHs pollution appeared to be not serious in reverine waters of Jinhae bay.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.25-36
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• 2005

Several metalliferous and coal mines, including Myungjin, Seojin and Okdong located at the upper watershed of Okdong stream, were abandoned or closed since 1988 due to the mining industry promotion policy. Thus these disposed an enormous amount of mining wastes without a proper treatment facilities, resulting in water pollution in the downstream areas. Acid mine drainage (AMD) and waste water effluents from the closed coal mines were very strongly acidic showing pH ranges of 2.7 to 4.5 and had a high level of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) showing the ranges of 1,030 to 1,947 mg/L. Also heavy metal concentrations in these samples such as Fe, Cu, Cd and anion such as sulfate were very high. Concentrations of water soluble heavy metals in the Okdong streams were in the orders of Fe>Al>Mn>Zn>Cu>Pb>Cd, indicating Fe from the AMD and waste water effluents contributed greatly to the quality of water and soil in the lower watershed of Okdong stream. Copper concentrations in the effluents from the tile drainage of mine tailings dams were highest during the raining season. Water Pollution Index (WPI) of the surface water at the upper stream of Okdong river where AMD of the abandoned coal mines was flowed into main stream were in the ranges of 16.3 to 47.1. On the other hand, those at the mid stream where effluents from tailings dams and coal mines flowed into main stream were in the WPI ranges of 10.6 to 19.5. However, those at the lower stream were ranged from 10.6 to 14.9. These results indicated that mining wastes such as AMD and effluents from the closed mines were the major source to water pollution at the Okdong stream areas.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.243-255
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• 2014

This study was investigated to estimate the relations between benthic environments and benthic polychaetous community from April 2012 to February 2013. Twenty four stations were selected sequentially with Seomjin River Estuary from the northern part of Gwangyang Bay. The study area could be divided into three characteristic zones based on salinity, water temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH such as Saline Water Zone (SWZ), Brackish Water Zone (BWZ), and Fresh Water Zone (FWZ). Salinity was above 30.0 psu in SWZ, drastically decreased toward inland in BWZ, and nearly zero psu in FWZ. SWZ showed its specific environmental characters like that water temperature fluctuated with little seasonal change and DO showed the lowest values among three zones, and pH maintained as consistent value without seasonal fluctuation. In FWZ, on the other hand, water temperature showed high seasonal fluctuation, DO showed the highest values among three zones, and pH fluctuated greatly. In sedimentary environment, mud, sand and sand/gravel were found as dominant sedimentary deposits in SWZ, BWZ and FWZ, respectively. Organic matter content and AVS in surface sediment were high in SWZ, while Chl-a content high in FWZ. This study area showed a marked environmental difference between FWZ and SWZ as follows: FWZ has coarse sediment and low salinity, low organic matter content, low AVS in FWZ but SWZ has fine sediment and high salinity, high organic matter content and AVS. Species number and mean density of benthic polychaete community was highest in Saline Water Zone (SWZ), drastically decreased in Brackish Water Zone (BWZ), and lowest in Fresh Water Zone (FWZ). Dominant polychates above 5.0% of individual numbers were 6 taxa. Lumbrineris longifolia, Prionospio cirrifera, Tharyx sp. occurred as main dominant species of all study periods, and Hediste sp., Praxillella affinis, Tylorrhynchus sp. dominantly occurred at some seasons. Inhabiting areas of dominant species were separated characteristically. Representative species in SWZ were Lumbrineris longifolia, Tharyx sp., Mediomastus sp.. Wide-appearing species between SWZ and BWZ were Prionospio cirrifera, Heteromastus filiformis, Aricidea sp.. Characteristic species in FWZ were Tylorrhynchus sp. and Hediste sp.. As the results of cluster analysis and nMDS based on the species composition of polychaetous community, unique station groups were established in SWZ and FWZ. Stations in BWZ were sub-divided into several groups with season. Pearson's correlation analysis and PCA between benthic environments and ecological characteristics of polychaetous community showed that salinity, sediment composition, organic content and dissolved oxygen played a role to determine the temporal and spatial distribution of the ecological characteristics as species number, mean density, abundance of main species, and ecological indices.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.49-59
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to analyze the importance and satisfaction of resources in the mouth of Nakdong River. A Pearson's chi-square test was performed in SPSS 24.0 for statistical analysis and the result of the study was summarized by three points. First, the results of importance analysis on resources in Nakdong estuary found that the importance of ecology resources was the highest with 27.1%, followed by landscape resources (18.5%), waterside leisure resources (6.5%), complex cultural resources (5.4%), and historic and cultural resources (3.3%). The probability values (p-value) of each group had shown significant differences depending on gender, age, and the location of the survey. For instance, women respondents reported a higher preference to ecology resources and complex cultural resources such as museums than men respondents as much as two times and three times, respectively. Meanwhile, men respondents showed a higher preference to waterside leisure resources in three times as much as women respondents. As for the analysis by age, the respondents in their 20s and 30s recorded a higher value than those in other age groups, and people in their 30s reported a higher preference to waterside leisure resources than those in different age groups by three times. Lastly, no significant differences were found in the preference analysis by occupation (p>.05). With regard to the results of satisfaction analysis, the average level of satisfaction on landscape resources was 6.01, and that of ecology resources and complex cultural resource were 5.65 and 5.15, respectively. Also, significant differences were found between landscape and ecology resources in the satisfaction analysis by age, landscape resources by age, ecology resources by region, and between landscape resources and ecology resources by occupation. The p-value of complex cultural resources was p=0.012, although the satisfaction level of landscape resources and ecology resources were reported to have no significant differences by age. As for the level of satisfaction in landscape resources, respondents in their 40s and 50s showed a high level of satisfaction. However, those in their 20s showed a relatively low level of satisfaction in the same category. The survey respondents living in Busan and South Gyeongsang Province and those living outside the regions revealed no significant differences in terms of satisfaction in landscape resources and complex cultural resources. However, the two same groups were found to show significant differences in the satisfaction analysis on ecology resources. In the satisfaction analysis of landscape resources and ecology resources by occupation, significant differences were found among college students, government employees, ordinary citizens, and expert groups. However, they showed no significant differences in the level of satisfaction to complex cultural resources. Third, the results of importance-satisfaction analysis on Nakdong estuary found that the average levels of satisfaction to landscape resources for each group of respondents who considered landscape, ecology, and cultural resources as important was 6.19, 6.08, and 5.67, respectively. Their levels of satisfaction on ecology resources were 5.95, 5.57, and 5.41 for each. Its correlation to the importance was insignificant. However, it was confirmed that the correlation to the level of satisfaction on complex cultural resources had a significant difference (p=0.025). In addition, the results of the analysis on 15 detailed items that was carried out with the aim to improving values and vitalizing resources in the mouth of Nakdong River found that respondents considered that the vitalization of eco-tourism (49.5%) and restoration of reed marsh (47.5%) were important. The results of detailed analysis revealed respondents' high awareness on the need of enhancing values on ecology resources. Also, improving infrastructure nearby the mouth, creating cycling routes, walkways, waterside leisure facilities, and others were considered as the requirements for the vitalization of Nakdong estuary.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.1 s.93
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• pp.1-8
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• 2001

During April 1993 to November 1994, cations, anions, and conductivity were analyzed to examine how summer monsoon influences the ionic content of Taechung Reservoir, Korea. Interannual variability of ionic content reflected hydrological characteristics between the two years(high-flood year in 1993 vs. draught year in 1994). Cations, anions and conductivity were lowest during peak inflow in 1993 and highest during a drought in 1994. Floods in 1993 markedly decreased total salinity as a result of reduced Ca$^{2+}$ and HCO$_{3}\;^{-}$ and produced extreme spatial heterogeneity (i.e., longitudinal, vertical, and horizontal variation) in ionic concentrations. The dominant process modifying the longitudinal (the headwaters-to-downlake) and vertical (top-to-bottom) patterns in salinity was an interflow current during the 1993 monsoon. The interflow water plunged near a 27${\sim}$37 km-location (from the dam) of the mid-lake and passed through the 10${\sim}$30m stratum of the reservoir, resulting in an isolation of epilimnetic high conductivity water (>100 ${\mu}$S/cm) from advected river water with low conductivity (65${\sim}$75 ${\mu}$S/cm), During postmonsoon 1993, the factors regulating salinity differed spatially; salinity of downlake markedly declined as a result of dilution through the mixing of lake water with river water, whereas in the headwaters it increased due to enhanced CaCO$_{3}$ (originated from limestone/metamorphic rock) of groundwaters entering the reservoir. This result suggests an importance of the basin geology on ion compositions with hydrological characteristics. In 1994, salinity was markedly greater (p<0.001) relative to 1993 and ionic dilution did not occur during the monsoon due to reduced inflow. Overall data suggest that the primary factor influencing seasonal ionic concentrations and compositions in this system is the dilution process depending on the intensity of monsoon rainfall.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.1 s.93
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• pp.9-19
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• 2001

contrasting monsoon between 1993 and 1994 produced an interannual difference in hydrology. Theoretical water residence time (TWRT) in monsoon 1993 averaged 27 d, which was>3 months shorter compared to the TWRT in monsoon 1994. A dominant physical process influencing thermal stratification, water movement, and mixing regime was an interflow current in 1993. During summer 1993, river water plunged to mid-lake (location 27 km) and passed through the 10${\sim}$20m stratum of the reservoir, resulting in an isolation of epilimnetic lake water from advected river water. The interflow disrupted thermal stratification and produced a meta-hypolimnetic warming of >4$^{\circ}C$ downlake, thereby increased a mixing depth (>13 m). In contrast, during monsoon 1994 density currents were not observed and strong thermal stratification occurred in the entire reservoir, resulting in > 2 fold greater thermal resistance (8.2${\times}10^{5}$ erg)compared to 1993 (4.0${\times}10^{5}$ erg). This reservoir was identified as a typical warm monomictic reservoir which showed one mixis during early winter. The timing of overturn, however, differed between the two years as a result of distinct contrast in TWRT and thermal regime; overturn in 1993 occured about one month earlier relative to that in 1994. Hypolimnetic warming was predictable in this system; the variation in discharge accounted (Y = 4.35-0.06X+0.10X$^{2}$, p<0.0001)for 98% of the interannual variation in hypolimnetic temperature. Overall data suggest that thermal stability, the timing of fall overturn, and water residence time in this system are primarily regulated by the intensity of monsoon.