• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.587-598
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• 2023

To assess the distribution and temporal changes in radon concentration within a region in Yeonpung-myeon, Goesan-gun, known for elevated groundwater radon levels, we conducted a series of analyses, measuring radon concentration and DTW (Depth to water table) at 2-month intervals over 12 cycles. The investigation covered 10 groundwater wells and one stream within the designated area. The groundwater in the central part of the region exhibited high radon concentrations, ranging from 37.0 to 2,675.2 Bq/L. Conversely, the peripheral zones displayed comparatively lower radon concentrations, ranging from 10.6 to 37.9 Bq/L. This variation is attributed to the presence of granite porphyry that intruded into the Okcheon Formation, forming a fracture zone and contributing to elevated radon levels in the central part. In contrast, the peripheral locations, located within the Okcheon Formation and away from the granite porphyry intrusion, demonstrated lower radon concentrations. The observed significant fluctuation in radon concentration in the central area is associated with its low-lying topography. The pronounced seasonal changes in groundwater levels contribute to the migration of shallow, low-radon groundwater into areas with higher radon concentrations, explaining the observed variations in radon levels within the central part of the studied area.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2024

The Sincheon wetland shows a remarkable diversity of fluvial landforms, such as river islands, anastomosing channels, braided channels, and sand-gravel bars, which contribute to its rich ecological habitat. The wetland area is characterized by a ecological diversity of herbaceous and woody plants. Significant changes in land cover within the wetlands were observed from 2008 to 2020. Notably, there was a rapid decrease in agricultural area from 18% to 0.04%, while the vegetation area expanded from 45% to 54%. Concurrently, the water area also experienced a notable increase from 34% to 41%. The surface sediment composition in the studied area displays sandy loam characteristics and exhibits acidic soil properties. Sediment acidity tends to increase downstream and in the central part of channels. Variations in acidity are also observed at nearby collection sites due to the tributaries and local discharge. The presence of dense vegetation in river islands and bars has led to a significant transformation of sediments into soil, with this change being more pronounced downstream, particularly near the weirs. The installation of a weir in Sincheon wetland is believed to have a significant impact on altering flow velocities between upstream and downstream sections, as well as influencing erosion and sediment deposition patterns. However, given the formation of landforms in response to weirs, effective administration and management are essential to address potential risks of catastrophic environmental disruptions, such as the removal of weirs and/or the maintenance of river channels.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.19-36
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• 2024

The global seasonal forecasting system version 6 (GloSea6) operated by the Korea Meteorological Administration for 1- and 3-month prediction products does not include complex atmospheric chemistry-aerosol physical processes (UKCA). In this study, low-resolution GloSea6 and GloSea6 coupled with UKCA (GloSea6-UKCA) were installed in a CentOS-based Linux cluster system, and preliminary prediction results for the spring of 2000 were examined. Low-resolution versions of GloSea6 and GloSea6-UKCA are highly needed to examine the effects of atmospheric chemistry-aerosol owing to the huge computational demand of the current high resolution GloSea6. The spatial distributions of the surface temperature and daily precipitation for April 2000 (obtained from the two model runs for the next 75 days, starting from March 1, 2000, 00Z) were compared with the ERA5 reanalysis data. The GloSea6-UKCA results were more similar to the ERA5 reanalysis data than the GloSea6 results. The surface air temperature and daily precipitation prediction results of GloSea6-UKCA for spring, particularly over East Asia, were improved by the inclusion of UKCA. Furthermore, compared with GloSea6, GloSea6-UKCA simulated improved temporal variations in the temperature and precipitation intensity during the model integration period that were more similar to the reanalysis data. This indicates that the coupling of atmospheric chemistry-aerosol processes in GloSea6 is crucial for improving the spring predictions over East Asia.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.57-69
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• 2001

The chemical, elemental and biochemical components of the suspended particulate matter (SPM) were investigated in order to quantify particulate organic matter (POM) and assess diet quality for suspension feeders in the southern coastal bay systems of Korea where the marine farming of the suspension feeders are most active, The intense field observation program was carried out seasonally in the three coastal bay systems of Chinhae, Gosung and Kangjin bays, The SPM was characterized as collective properties of organic carbon (POC), nitrogen (PON), phosphorus (PP) and more refined collective properties of protein (PPr), carbohydrate (PCHO) and chlorophyll a (Chl a) compound. Although the three coastal bays are regarded as phytoplankton based ecosystem, the SPM is not composed entirely with phytoplankton cells. Due to the shallow water depth, resuspension of bottom sediment contributes significantly to some of the regions. Therefore, concentration of SPM in the surface water did not co-vary with Chl a or PPr, PCHO. In general, temporal variation of POC, PON and Chl a contents in seawater were closely associated with phytoplankton biomass in the three coastal bays, However, PPr and PCHO contents in seawater were higher in Chinhae bay than in Gosung and Kangjin bays and Chl a PPr-N ratio was higher in Chinhae bay than in Kosung and Kangjin bays, since Chinhae bay is more eutrophicated than other bays. Average C : N ratios from regressions of POC and PON of SPM were 6.6, 6.6 and 5.0 in Chinhae, Gosung and Kangjin bays, respectively. SPM in Chinhae and Gosung bays appears to be made of largely phytoplankton cells and SPM in Kangjin bay appears to be contributed from the bacterial biomass due to the shallow water depth. N : P ratios from regressions of PON and PP of SPM were 10.8 and 14.7 in spring, and 18.2 and 24.6 in Chinhae and Gosung bays, respectively. With respect to the hypothetical Redfield molecule, phytoplankton appears to be limited by the lack of N and f in spring and summer, respectively, in the two bays, In Kangjin bay, N : P ratios from regressions of PON and PP of SPM were varied from 6.3 to 12.8 throughout the year. The low N : P ratio with resepct to the hypothetical Redfield molecule, phytoplankton growth appears to be limited by the lack of N-nutrients.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.309-315
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• 2009

Maintenance of adequate soil water content during the period of crop growth is necessary to support optimum plant growth and yields. A better understanding of soil water movement for precision irrigation would allow efficient supply of water to crops, thereby resulting in minimization of water drainage and contamination of ground water. This research reports on the characterization of spatial and temporal variations in water contents through three different textured soils, such as loam, sandy loam, and loamy sand, when water is applied on the soil surface using an one-line drip irrigation system and the soils are dried after the irrigation stops, respectively. Water contents through each soil profile were continuously monitored using three Sentek probes, each consisting of three capacitance sensors at 10, 20, and 30cm depths. Spatial variability in water content for each soil type was strongly influenced by soil textural class. There were big differences in wetting pattern and the rate of downward movement between loam and sandy loam soils, showing that the loam soil had a wider wetting pattern and a slower rate of downward movement than did the sandy loam soil. The wetting pattern in loamy sand soil was not apparent due to a low variability in water content (< 10%) by a lower-water holding capacity as compared to those measured in the loam and sandy loam soils, implying that the rate of water drainage below a depth of 30cm was high. When soils were dried, there were highly exponential relationships between water content and time elapsed after irrigation stops ($r^2$${\geq}$0.98). It was estimated that equilibrium moisture contents for loam, sandy loam, and loamy sand soils would be 17.6%, 6.2%, and 4.2%, respectively.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.251-261
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• 2003

As a part of an on-going project investigating flux of materials in Gomso Tidal Flat, we have monitored temporal and spatial distribution of nitrogen components(TN, PON, DON, DIN) and have sought the relationships with the freshwater input(tidal range, salinity), the biological activities(chlorophyll-${\alpha}$, TP, DIP, silicate) and the resuspended bottom sediment in seawater(SPM) from 1999 to 2000. TN in seawater was 39.05 $\mu\textrm{m}$ol 1$\^$-1/ (31.03∼42.93 $\mu\textrm{m}$ol 1$\^$-1/) without any statistical difference(p<0.05) between the studied periods. Organic nitrogen (DON and PON) occupied 75％, 95％, 73％, and 75％ in April, August, September and November, respectively. DON and PON have been found within the narrow concentration ranges of 11.30∼16.38 $\mu\textrm{m}$ol 1$\^$-1/ and 13.16∼20.04 $\mu\textrm{m}$ol 1$\^$-1/ in spite of severe environmental differences through the studied periods. Dissolved fractions of nitrogen(DON and DIN) occupied 53∼65％ of TN. Only DIN varied with an evident temporal variability: low concentrations(1.325∼1.616 $\mu\textrm{m}$ol 1$\^$-1/) in August and high enrichment(8.377∼14.65 $\mu\textrm{m}$ol 1$\^$-1/) in September. High consumption rate of DIN by phytoplankton and a long-lasted drought probably induced such low concentration of DIN in August. Eventually heavy precipitation probably introduced plenty of new nitrogen sources into Gomso Bay in September. The portion of PON, DON and DIN in the total nitrogen was 40％, 38％ and 22％, respectively. Their contents were in the order of DON>PON>DIN for the year round except PON>DON>DIN only in September. The highest DON portion in August probably due to the active microbial decomposition of organic material in summer. Only in April, some evident negative correlations have been found between chlorophyll-${\alpha}$ and DIN mostly nitrate(-0.64, p<0.01), phosphate(-0.46, p<0.01) and silicate(-0.55, p<0.01). The Si(OH)$_4$/DIN/DIP ratios in the water column suggests the limitation of DIN for the growth of phytoplankton during the dry summer in Gomso Bay, which was the case of August in this work. Even with some difference between the studied periods, the primary factors on the distribution of nitrogen components in seawater overlying the Gomso Tidal Flat have been the tidal range and the freshwater input, but the additional variations were due to the biological activities.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.191-201
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• 2011

Soybean has widely grown for its edible bean which has numerous uses. Microwave remote sensing has a great potential over the conventional remote sensing with the visible and infrared spectra due to its all-weather day-and-night imaging capabilities. In this investigation, a ground-based polarimetric scatterometer operating at multiple frequencies was used to continuously monitor the crop conditions of a soybean field. Polarimetric backscatter data at L, C, and X-bands were acquired every 10 minutes on the microwave observations at various soybean stages. The polarimetric scatterometer consists of a vector network analyzer, a microwave switch, radio frequency cables, power unit and a personal computer. The polarimetric scatterometer components were installed inside an air-conditioned shelter to maintain constant temperature and humidity during the data acquisition period. The backscattering coefficients were calculated from the measured data at incidence angle $40^{\circ}$ and full polarization (HH, VV, HV, VH) by applying the radar equation. The soybean growth data such as leaf area index (LAI), plant height, fresh and dry weight, vegetation water content and pod weight were measured periodically throughout the growth season. We measured the temporal variations of backscattering coefficients of the soybean crop at L, C, and X-bands during a soybean growth period. In the three bands, VV-polarized backscattering coefficients were higher than HH-polarized backscattering coefficients until mid-June, and thereafter HH-polarized backscattering coefficients were higher than VV-, HV-polarized back scattering coefficients. However, the cross-over stage (HH > VV) was different for each frequency: DOY 200 for L-band and DOY 210 for both C and X-bands. The temporal trend of the backscattering coefficients for all bands agreed with the soybean growth data such as LAI, dry weight and plant height; i.e., increased until about DOY 271 and decreased afterward. We plotted the relationship between the backscattering coefficients with three bands and soybean growth parameters. The growth parameters were highly correlated with HH-polarization at L-band (over r=0.92).

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.3 s.104
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• pp.336-343
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• 2003

Two types of statistical models, simple and multivariate log linear models, were studied for continuity simulation and trend analysis of water qualities in incoming flows to Lake Paldang. Water quality is a function of one independent variable (flow) in the simple log linear model, and of three different variables (flow, time, and seasonal cycle) in multivariate model. The independent variables act as surrogate variables of water quality in both models. The model coefficients were determined by the monthly data. The water qualities included 5-day Biochemical Oxygen Demand ($BOD_5$), Total Nitrogen (TN), and Total Phosphorus (TP) measured from 1995 to 2000 in the South and the North branches of Han River and the Kyoungan Stream. The results indicated that the multivariate model provided better agreements with field measurements than the simple one in a31 attempted cases. Flow dependency, seasonality, and temporal trends of water quality were tested on the determined coefficients of the multivariate model. The test of flow dependency indicated that BOD concentrations decreased as the water flow increased. In TN and TP concentrations, however, there were no discernible flow effects. From the temporal trend analyses, the following results were obtained: 1) no trends on BOD at all three upstreams, 2) increase on TN at the South Branch and the Kyoungan Stream, 3)decrease on TN at the North Branch,4) no trends on TP at the North and the South Branches and 5) increase on TP at the Kyoungan Stream by 3 to 8% per years. The seasonality test showed that there were significant seasonal variations in all three water qualities at three incoming flows.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.102-114
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• 2013

The basin of Lake Shihwa is one of highly industrialized region of Korea and a current environmental issue of study area is the operation of tidal power plant (TPP) to improve water quality. The application of water quality index (WQI) which integrates five physiochemical parameters (transparency, DO, DIN, DIP and chlorophyll-a) of water quality in Lake Shihwa and outer sea during 2011~2012 were performed not only to evaluate the spatial and temporal distribution of the water quality but also to assess the effect of water quality improvement by the operation of tidal power plant. The higher WQI values were observed in monitored sites near the industrial complexes in Lake Shihwa and the outfall of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in outer sea. This indicates that the quality of seawater is influenced by diffuse non-point sources from industrial, municipal and agricultural areas in Lake Shihwa and by point sources from the effluence of municipal and industrial wastewater throughout WWTPs in outer sea. Mean WQI value decreased from 53.0 in 2011 to 42.8 in 2012 of Lake Shihwa. Water quality has improved significantly after TPP operation because enhancement of seawater exchange between Lake Shihwa and outer sea leads to improve a hypoxic condition which is primarily a problem in Lake Shihwa. Mean WQI of outer sea showed similar values between 2011 and 2012. However, the results of hierarchical cluster analysis and the deterioration of water quality in summer season indicate that the operation of tidal power plant was not improved the water quality in the upper most area of Lake Shihwa. To successfully improve overall water quality of Lake Shihwa, it is urgently necessary to manage and reduce of non-point pollution sources of the basin of Lake Shihwa.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.675-689
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• 2007

Kilauea volcano's summit area was formed by continuous ind/or sporadic eruption activities for several hundreds years. In this study, we mainly focused on the trace elements characteristics through systematic sample rocks erupted from 1790 to September of 1982. Under the microscope it can be observed some main minerals such as olivine, clinopyroxene. and plagioclase with minor opaque minerals including Cr-spinel and ilmenite. Zr, V, Y, Ti elements show incompatible activities with MgO while Ni, Cr, Co elements show highly compatible properties. Elements like as Ba, Rb, Th, Sr, Nd are highly incompatible to show positive trends with $K_2O$. In the REE diagram LREE is more enriched than HREE suggesting typical Oceanic Island Basalt(OIB) type. It can be suggested that Sr have an effect on the fractionation of plagioclase from the kink in the $K_2O$ variation diagram. Y/Ho ratio diagram shows there was no fluids effect in the historical Kilauea volcano but Zr/Hf ratio diagram shows a significant difference between Kilauea lavas and PuuOo lavas. There are distinctive changes of trace element contents showing in particular abrupt changes of temporal variations between 1924 and 1954. Moreover, PuuOo lavas which had been erupted since 1983 follow these decreasing trends of trace element variation. Therefore, it is strongly suggested that these abrupt changes of trace elements trends result from the huge collapse geological event which formed Halemaumau crater in 1924 causing contamination effects of crustal contents into magma chamber and from the changes of parental magma composition injected into Kilauea volcano's summit magma reservoir.