In this study, we investigated the impact of different initial data on atmospheric modeling results using the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model. Four WRF simulations were conducted with different initialization in March 2015, which showed the highest monthly mean PM10 concentration in the recent ten years (2006-2015). The results of WRF simulations using NCEP-FNL and ERA-Interim were compared with observed surface temperature and wind speed data, and the difference of grid nudging effect on WRF simulation between the two data were also analyzed. The FNL simulation showed better accuracy in the simulated temperature and wind speed than the Interim simulation, and the difference was clear in the coastal area. The grid nudging effect on the Interim simulation was larger than that of the FNL simulation. Despite of the higher spatial resolution of ERA-Interim data compared to NCEP-FNL data, the Interim simulation showed slightly worse accuracy than those of the FNL simulation. It was due to uncertainties associated with the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) field in the ERA-Interim data. The results from the Interim simulation with different SST data showed significantly improved accuracy than the standard Interim simulation. It means that the SST field in the ERA-Interim data need to be optimized for the better WRF simulation. In conclusion, although the WRF simulation with ERA-Interim data does not show reasonable accuracy compared to those with NCEP-FNL data, it would be able to be Improved by optimizing the SST variable.
This study reviewed the applicability of the existing flood discharge calculation method on Jeju Island Han Stream and compared this method with observation results by improving the mediating variables for the Han Stream. The results were as follows. First, when the rain-discharge status of the Han Stream was analyzed using the flood discharge calculation method of the existing design (2012), the result was smaller than the observed flood discharge and the flood hydrograph differed. The result of the flood discharge calculation corrected for the curve number based on the terrain gradient showed an improvement of 1.47 - 6.47% from the existing flood discharge, and flood discharge was improved by 4.39 - 16.67% after applying the new reached time. In addition, the sub-basin was set separately to calculate the flood discharge, which yielded an improvement of 9.92 - 32.96% from the existing method. In particular, the steepness and rainfall-discharge characteristics of Han Stream were considered in the reaching time, and the sub-basin was separated to calculate the flood discharge, which resulted in an error rate of –8.77 to 8.71%, showing a large improvement of 7.31 - 28.79% from the existing method. The flood hydrograph also showed a similar tendency.
Coal-fired power plants emit various Particulate Matter(PM) at coal storage pile and ash landfill as well as the stack, and affect the surrounding environment. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray analyzer(FE-SEM/EDX) were used to develop identification factor and the physico-chemical analysis of PM emitted from a power plant. In this study, three samples of pulverized coal, bottom ash, and fly ash were analyzed. The pulverized coal was spherical particles in shape and the chemical composition of C-O-Si-Al and C/Si and C/Al ratios were 200~300 on average. The bottom ash was spherical or non-spherical particles in shape, chemical composition was O-C-Si-Al-Fe-Ca and C/Si and C/Al ratios were 4.3±4.6 and 8.8±10.0. The fly ash was spherical particles in shape, chemical composition was O-Si-Ai-C-Fe-Ca and C/Si and C/Al ratios were 0.5±0.2 and 0.8±0.5.
This study aimed to identify the aquatic and riparian factors associated with the presence/absence of the Eurasian otter in the Nakdong river basin, where the species is relatively more abundant than other otter species. Environmental factors and presence records were collected. Geographical Information System technology and chi-square test were used to compare environmental gradients in aquatic and riparian factors between presence and absence sites. Aquatic habitat attributes were evaluated with natural riverside sandbars and channel crossing artificial structures, the ratio of channel width to alluvial plain width, riverbed substrate, and flow diversity. Riverbank characteristics, bank materials, man-made embankment types, and land use/land cover of inland and riverside areas were selected as riparian habitat attributes. Compared to the aquatic attributes, riparian attributes were highly significant when assessing otter presence and absence sites, suggesting that conservation of suitable riparian areas to provide maternity and resting areas for otter species is essential in the Nakdong river basin. None of the aquatic attributes examined were statistically significant when evaluating otter presence or absence. These results indicate that the presence of suitable riparian area for resting and reproduction habitats is more critical to the presence of Eurasian otter than food availability in aquatic areas. To inform implementation of effective conservation action
This study was performed to evaluate the possibility of application of lactic acid bacteria fermentation to increase the anti-allergic activity of the extracts from Houttuynia cordata Thunb. H. cordata Thunb was fermented on 25, 30, 35 and 40℃ for 5 days by two species of lactic acid bacteria, Leuconostoc mesenteroides 4395 and Lactobacillus sakei 383. The anti-allergic activity of water extracts of H. cordata Thunb was then analyzed both before and after fermentation. Anti-allergic activity was determined in vitro assays by using 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and β-hexoseaminidase release of RBL-2H3 cells (degranulation marker). The extracts fermented at 35℃ by both bacteria had the highest inhibitory activities against 5-LO, and also higher than the control, and the one fermented at 30℃ by both bacteria had the highest inhibitory activity against COX-2. The degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells induced by IgE-antigen complex was estimated as β-hexoseaminidase release rate as reference of 100%, the release rates were inhibited in 25 μg/ml of the extracts fermented at 30, 35 and 40℃ only by L. mesenteroides 4395. These results indicate that anti-allergic activity of H. cordata Thunb is increased by lactic acid bacteria fermentation.
Global climate change caused by industrialization has caused abnormal weather conditions such as urban temperatures and tropical nights, urban heat waves, heat waves, and heavy rains. Therefore, the study tried to analyze climate conditions and weather conditions in the streets and analyze climate factors and meteorological factors that lead to inconvenience to citizens. In the case of trees, the overall temperature, surface temperature, solar irradiance, and net radiation were measured low, and the temperature was lower in the Pedestrian road than in roads. The dry bulb temperature, the black bulb temperature, and the wet bulb temperature for the thermal evaluation showed the same tendency. In the case of thermal evaluation, there was a similar tendency to temperature in WBGT, MRT, and UTCI, and varied differences between types. Although the correlation between the meteorological environment and the thermal environment showed a statistically significant significance, the difference between the measured items was not significant. The study found that the trees were generally pleasant to weather and thermal climate in the form of trees, and the differences were mostly documented.
In order to investigate the PM10 concentration trend and its characteristics over five different sub area in Busan from 2013 to 2015, data analysis with considering air flow distribution according to its topography was carried out using statistical methodology. The annual mean concentrations of PM10 in Busan tend to decrease from 49.6㎍/m³ in 2013 to 46.9㎍/m³ in 2015. The monthly mean concentrations value of PM10 were high during spring season, from March to May, and low during summer and fall due to frequent rain events. The concentration of PM10 was the highest in five different sub-area in Busan. High concentration episodes over 90 percentile of daily PM10 concentration were strongly associated with mean daily wind speed, and often occurred when the westerly wind or southwesterly wind were dominant. Regardless of wind direction, the highest correlation of PM10 concentrations was observed between eastern and southern regions, which were geographically close to each other, and the lowest in the western and eastern regions blocked by mountains. Wind flow along the complex terrain in Busan is also one of the predominant factors to understand the temporal variation of PM10 concentrations.
In this study, we calculated the fixed-type Areal Reduction Factor (ARF) of the Hancheon River basin in Jeju Island, and compared the calculated ARF and the ARF of the four major river basins suggested by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. As a result, the maximum fluctuation ratios of ARF for the four major river basins calculated using area, frequency, and initial duration time were significant: 7.61% for the Hangang River basin; 12.69% for the Nakdonggang River basin; 8.09% for the Kumgang River basin; and 17.98% for the Yeongsangang River basin. In addition, the differences between the maximum and minimum value of ARF for the Hancheon River basin based on 48 hours was 2.13%, and it was smaller than the one for the four major river basins: 8.92% for the Hangang River basin; 11.41% for the Nakdonggang River basin; 8.87% for the Kumgang River basin; and 17.17% for the Yeongsangang River basin. The Yeongsangang River basin had the highest difference.
We compared the spatial distribution of several heat stress indices (the Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature(WBGT) index, Environmental Stress Index (ESI), and Modified Discomfort Index(MDI)) for the heat wave of June 6 ~August 26, 2016, in Daegu. We calculated the heat stress indices using data from the high density urban climate observation network in Daegu. The observation system was established in February. 2013. We used data from a total of 38 air temperature observation points (23 thermometers and 18 automatic weather stations). The values of the heat stress indices indicated that the danger level was very high from 0900-2000h in downtown Daegu. The daily maximum value of the WBGT was greater than or equal to 35℃ The differences in the heat stress indices from downtown and rural areas were higher in the daytime than at nighttime. The maximum difference was about 4 before and after 1400h, and the time variations of the heat stress indices corresponded well. Thus, we were able to confirm that the ESI and MDI can be substituted with the WBGT index.