• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.347-359
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• 2009

The concentrations of PAHs in $PM_{10}$ fine particles were determined at two sites, which were Jongno, one of the urban core sites of Seoul, and Yongin, a downwind site of Seoul. The average concentration of PAHs in $PM_{10}$ was $19.92{\pm}18.49\;ng\;m^{-3}$ with the range of $1.28{\sim}81.22\;ng\;m^{-3}$ at Jongno site of Seoul from August 2006 to August 2007, and $14.06{\pm}9.96\;ng\;m^{-3}$ with the range of $1.66{\sim}31.84\;ng\;m^{-3}$ at Yongin site from September to November of 2006. In the results of monthly comparison, the concentration of PAHs in August was the lowest level of $3.23\;ng\;m^{-3}$, but the highest level of $46.24\;ng\;m^{-3}$ in January. The seasonal comparison showed the concentration in winter was higher by the factor of 11.9 than in summer. The concentrations of PAHs during a warm period (November${\sim}$March) increased as 5.1 times higher than those during a cold period (April${\sim}$October). The concentrations of PAHs were assumed to be largely attributed to the consumption of fossil fuels, temperature, mixing height, and photochemical reactions in Seoul metropolitan area.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.501-511
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• 2008

The Objective of this study is to examine the characteristic of fine aerosol $(PM_{2.5})$ obtained at Ieodo Ocean Research Station, which lies between the eastern part of China and the south western part of Korea. The average mass concentration of $PM_{2.5}$ was $21.5{\pm}17.0{\mu}g/m^3$ during June $2004{\sim}June 2006$. The concentration was the highest in winter $(34.8{\mu}g/m^3)$ and lowest in summer $(16.5{\mu}g/m^3)$. Water soluble ions were measured for samples collected from December 2004 to September 2005. Among them, $SO_4^{2-}\;and\;NH_4^+$ were the most abundant species and accounted for 32.2% and 14.2% of the $PM_{2.5}$ mass, respectively. The mass fraction of $SO_4^{2-}$ was higher in winter (42%) than in spring (26%). Nitrate concentrations were much lower than those of sulfate due mainly to evaporation during sampling period. The cluster analysis of backward airmass trajectories showed that the high mass loadings $(26.9{\mu}g/m^3\;on\;average)$ were associated with air originating inland China. Also, the seasonal variation of $PM_{2.5}$ mass was well correlated with the frequency of westerly winds passing through the western part of China. During the ABC-EAREX2005 (March 2005), $PM_{2.5}$ mass and major ionic concentrations were higher at Ieodo, compared with $PM_{2.5}$ measurements at Gosan while they were similar in variation pattern. These results suggested that $PM_{2.5}$ mass and its ionic composition of Ieodo Ocean Research Station were greatly influenced by continental outflows from China.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.288-303
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• 2012

In this study, real time measurements of particle number size distribution in urban Gwangju, coastal Taean, and industrial Yeosu in Korea were conducted in 2008 to understand the occurrence of ultrafine particle (UFP) (<100 nm) events, the variation of its concentration among different sampling sites, and UFP formation pathways. Also, to investigate seasonal and long-term variation of the UFP number concentration, data were collected for the period of 5 years (2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012) in urban Gwangju. Photochemical and combustion events were found to be responsible for the formation of UFP in the urban Gwangju site, whereas only photochemical event led to the formation of UFP in the coastal Taean site. The highest UFP concentration was found in industrial Yeosu (the average UFP number fractions were 79, 59 and 58% in Yeosu, Gwangju, and Taean, respectively), suggesting that high amount of gas pollutants (e.g., $NO_2$, $SO_2$, and volatile organic carbon (VOC)) emitted from industries and their photochemical reaction contributed for the elevated UFP concentration in the industrial Yeosu site. The UFP fraction also showed a seasonal variation with the peak value in spring (61.5, 54.5, 50.5, and 40.7% in spring, fall, summer, and winter, respectively) at urban Gwangju. Annual average UFP number concentrations in urban Gwangju were $5.53{\times}10^3\;cm^{-3}$, $4.68{\times}10^3\;cm^{-3}$, $5.32{\times}10^3\;cm^{-3}$, $3.99{\times}10^3\;cm^{-3}$, and $2.16{\times}10^3\;cm^{-3}$ in the year 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively. Comparison of the annual average UFP number concentration with urban sites in other countries showed that the UFP concentrations of the Korean sites were lower than those in other urban cities, probably due to lower source strength in the current site. TEM/EDS analysis for the size-selected UFPs showed that the UFPs were classified into various types having different chemical species. Carbonaceous particles were observed in both combustion (soot and organics) and photochemical events (sulfate and organics). In the photochemical event, an internal mixture of organic species and ammonium sulfate/bisulfate was identified. Also, internal mixtures of aged Na-rich and organic species, aged Ca-rich particles, and doughnut shaped K-containing particles with elemental composition of a strong C with minor O, S, and K-likely to be originated from biomass burning nearby agricultural area, were observed. In addition, fly ash particles were also observed in the combustion event, not in the photochemical event.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.149-166
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• 2004

Water quality and ecological environment in the Han River estuary was analyzed using the longterm water quality monitoring data from National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI) and the existing data collected in this area. Based on the salinity distribution and changes of current direction in the lower Han River and its estuary, boundaries of the estuary were identified and also, distribution patterns of the phyto- and zooplankton, benthos, ichthyoplankton and fish were discussed related with the salinity changes in the macrotidal subestuary of Han River. Seasonal and spatial distribution of salinity suggested that the direct impact of freshwater be limited to the Incheon North Harbour all the year round and even extended to the southern area of Gyunggi Bay near Palmi island during limited time, usually in summer. Upper limit of salt water intrusion through the Han River is likely to be Singok underwater dam located Gimpo, Gyunggi Province, and normally limited to much lower part of the river, Jeonryuri, Gimpo. Biological boundaries of the Han River estuary exceeded the physical boundaries based on the salinity distribution. Many estuarine species in plankton and fish were found at the totally freshwater or saltwater depending on the seasons and tidal cycles. Some estuarine ichthyoplanktons showed extremely limited distributions in the estuary whereas adult fish revealed wide ranges of salinity adaptation. Critical environmental issues in the Han River estuary and its drainage basin are likely to be 1) pressure on development-promoted district for new town in the drainage area of the estuary, 2) reduction of tidal flat by reclamation, 3) pollutant input through river from municipal sewages and industrial wastes, and 4) ecological barrier between river and terrestrial systems by the military wire fence and riverside road.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.144-150
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• 2016

In southwestern East Sea, we investigated the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of particulate organic carbon (POC) and nitrogen (PON) in September 2011 (summer), January (winter) and May 2012 (spring). Although cold waters known as the origin upwelling in the surface layer of September were not observed, this periods showed high primary productivity because of high concentrations of chlorophyll, low percentage of non-autotrophic particulate fraction among POC calculated by POC/Chl-a ratio (27%) and low POC/PON ratio (6.2), which means active amino acid and protein synthesis, However, May, 2012 showed low primary productivity because of high percentage of non-autotrophic particulate fractions among POC (66%) and high POC/PON ratio (8.1), Although spring bloom and high primary productivity has been reported in the East Sea, high percentage of non-autotrophic particulate fractions in POC, observed in the East sea during the post 2012 spring, is suggested to be due to the increase of phaeo-pigment during post spring bloom. Thus, composition of particulate organic matter may have sensitively changed by marine environmental factors in spite of same season.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2018

Nation-wide systematic and comprehensive measurements of air quality criteria species have been made over 340 sites currently in Korea since 1990. Using these data, temporal and spatial trends of $SO_2$, $PM_{10}$, $NO_2$, $O_3$, CO and $O_x(NO_2+O_3)$ were analyzed to characterize and evaluate implementing efficiency of air quality policy and regulations. Due to strict and effective policy to use cleaner fuels in late 1980s and 1990s, the primary pollutants, such as $SO_2$, CO, and $PM_{10}$ decreased sharply by early 2000s in all parts of Korea. After this period, their concentrations declined with much lower rates in most parts of Korea. In addition, isolated but noticeable numbers of places, especially in major ports, newly developing towns and industrial parks, sustained high levels or even showed further degradation. Despite series of emission control strategies were enforced since early 1990s, $NO_2$ concentrations haven't changed much till 2005, due to significant increase in number of automobiles. Nevertheless, we confirmed that the staggering levels of $NO_2$ and $PM_{10}$ improved evidently after 2005, especially in Seoul Metropolitan Area (SMA), where enhanced regulations for $NO_2$ and $PM_{10}$ emissions was imposed to automobiles and large emission sources. However, their decreasing trends were much lessened in recent years again as current air quality improvement strategies has been challenged to revise further. In contrast to these primary species, annual $O_3$, which is secondary product from $NO_2$ and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), has increased consistently with about 0.6 ppbv per year in every urban part of Korea, while yearly average of daily maximum 8-hour $O_3$ in summer season had a much higher rate of 1.2 ppbv per year. Increase of $O_3$ can be explained mainly by reductions of NO emission. Rising background $O_3$ in the Northeast Asia and increasing oxidizing capacity by changing photochemistry were likely causes of observed $O_3$ increase. The future air quality policy should consider more effective ways to lower alarming level of $O_3$ and $PM_{10}$.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.35 no.6_4
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• pp.1403-1415
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• 2019

Urban population growth and consequent rapid urbanization involve some thermal environmental problems in the cities. Monitoring of thermal environments in urban areas such as hot spot analysis is required for effective actions to resolve these problems. This study selected 14 dongs and surrounding administrative districts of Sejong city as study areas and analyzed the characteristics of changes in surface temperature due to the urban expansion in the summer from 2013 to 2018. In the study, the surface temperature distributions in the study areas were plotted using surface temperature values from Landsat 8 and NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and NDBI (Normalized Difference Built-up Index) based on KOMPSAT 2/3 data, and the patterns of surface temperature changes with urban expansion were discussed using the estimated NDVI and NDBI. In particular, the distinct urbanization in the study areas were selected for case studies, and the cause of the changes in the hot spots in the regions was analyzed using high-resolution KOMPSAT images. This study results present that hot spots appeared in urbanized regions within the study areas, and it was plotted that the lower the NDVI values and the higher the NDBI values indicate the temperature values are high. The land surface temperature and satellite-based products were used to divide the study areas into continuously urbanized regions and rapidly urbanized regions and to identify the different characteristics depending on land covers. In the regions with distinct surface temperature changes by urbanization, the analysis using high-resolution KOMPSAT images as presented in this study could provide effective information for urban planning and policy utilization in the future.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.88-96
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• 2013

Much attention has been needed in water resource management at the watershed due to drought and flooding issues caused by climate change in recent years. Increase in air temperature and changes in precipitation patterns due to climate change are affecting hydrologic cycles, such as evaporation and soil moisture. Thus, these phenomena result in increased runoff at the watershed. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model has been used to evaluate rainfall-runoff at the watershed reflecting effects on hydrology of various weather data such as rainfall, temperature, humidity, solar radiation, wind speed. For bias-correction of RCP data, at least 30 year data are needed. However, for most gaging stations, only precipitation data have been recorded and very little stations have recorded other weather data. In addition, the RCP scenario does not provide all weather data for the SWAT model. In this study, two scenarios were made to evaluate whether it would be possible to estimate streamflow using measured precipitation and long-term average values of other weather data required for running the SWAT. With measured long-term weather data (scenario 1) and with long-term average values of weather data except precipitation (scenario 2), the estimate streamflow values were almost the same with NSE value of 0.99. Increase/decrease by ${\pm}2%$, ${\pm}4%$ in temperature and humidity data did not affect streamflow. Thus, the RCP precipitation data for Hongcheon watershed were bias-corrected with measured long-term precipitation data to evaluate effects of climate change on streamflow. The results revealed that estimated streamflow for 2055s was the greatest among data for 2025s, 2055s, and 2085s. However, estimated streamflow for 2085s decreased by 9%. In addition, streamflow for Spring would be expected to increase compared with current data and streamflow for Summer will be decreased with RCP data. The results obtained in this study indicate that the streamflow could be estimated with long-term precipitation data only and effects of climate change could be evaluated using precipitation data as shown in this study.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.235-250
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• 2016

In Korea, 70% of the annual rainfall falls in summer, and the number of days of extreme rainfall (over 200 mm) is increasing over time. Because rainfall is the most important trigger of landslides, it is necessary to decide a rainfall threshold for landslide warning and to develop a landslide warning model. This study selected 12 study areas that contained landslides with exactly known triggering times and locations, and also rainfall data. The feasibility of applying a Rainfall Triggering Index (RTI) to Korea is analyzed, and three RTI models that consider different time units for rainfall intensity are compared. The analyses show that the 60-minute RTI model failed to predict landslides in three of the study areas, while both the 30- and 10-minute RTI models gave successful predictions for all of the study areas. Each RTI model showed different mean response times to landslide warning: 4.04 hours in the 60-minute RTI model, 6.08 hours in the 30-minute RTI model, and 9.15 hours in the 10-minute RTI model. Longer response times to landslides were possible using models that considered rainfall intensity for shorter periods of time. Considering the large variations in rainfall intensity that may occur within short periods in Korea, it is possible to increase the accuracy of prediction, and thereby improve the early warning of landslides, using a RTI model that considers rainfall intensity for periods of less than 1 hour.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.150-160
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to analyze long-term temporal trends of water chemistry and spatial heterogeneity for 7 sampling sites of the Hyeongsan River watershed using water quality dataset during 1999 to 2008 (obtained from the Ministry of Environment, Korea). The water quality, based on eight physical and chemical parameters, varied largely depending on the years, seasons and sampling sites. Seasonal and annual means of conductivity, used as a key indicator for a ionic dilution declined during the monsoon season and TN, based on overall mean of all sites, showed marked declines during the monsoon, compared to those of the premonsoon. In the mean time, BOD and COD had no significant relations with a precipitation, in spite of some differences in the sampling sites. In contrast, major input of SS occurred during the period of summer monsoon season. Spatial trend analyses of all parameters, except for DO and temperatures, showed that gyeongju city acted as a point source, and thus, water quality at the location of Site 4 declined abruptly, compared to locations of Site 1~2. Based on overall dataset, efficient water quality management in the point source tributary streams is required for better water quality of the main Hyeongsan River.