최근 해수와 담수의 염분농도차를 이용하여 발전하는 역전기투석(Reverse Electrodialysis; RED)은 잠재량이 크고 지속적 전력생산이 가능한 친환경적이며 미래지향적 신재생에너지로 인식되어 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 염분차발전은 무한 청정의 바닷물을 이용하는 기술로, 발전 과정에서 이산화탄소, 방사성 물질, 오염 폐수가 거의 발생되지 않는 친환경 미래 블루에너지 기술이다. RED 기술의 상용화를 위해서는 최적화된 소재, 스택 설계 및 공정기술의 개발이 필요하다. 특히 스택의 대용량화 및 막 성능 향상 등 시스템 효율과 관련된 원천 기술의 확보가 필수적이다. KIER에서는 kW급 염분차발전 기술과 전용막 개발을 수행 중에 있으며, 최근 발전성능에서 세계 최고수준의 2.4 W/m2를 얻었다.

Recently, in construction vehicles like exacavator, many customers demand the interior parts to be convenient and handy to operate. Futermore, that parts had to be more lightweight and better quality and durability. For this reaseon, the combination switch, a part for operation of head lamps, wipers, horn, etc, had been designed as a new lightweight structure by using PA plastics material and had been changed the mechanical contact into electric non-contact by using Hall IC and FET.

우리나라 도서지역 산림식생의 인간 간섭 유무와 정도에 따른 생태적 보전 및 관리를 위한 기초 정보를 수집하기 위하여 남해안 유인도서(대모도)와 무인도서(구도)를 대상으로 식물사회학적 연구방법으로 산림식생을 분류하고 그 구조 및 종조성 특성(총피도, 중요치, 종다양성, 지표종, 생활형 조성 등)을 파악하였다. 산림식생 유형은 대모도에서 총 11개 식생단위(1개 군락군, 2개 군락, 개 아군락, 9개 변군락, 그리고 4개 아변군락), 구도에서 총 8개 식생단위(2개 군락군, 5개 군락, 그리고 6개 아군락)가 구분되었다. 총피도(S)와 종다양도(H′)에 있어서 구도는 교목층이, 대모도는 관목층이 다른 층위에 비하여 상대적으로 아주 높게 나타났다. 생활형 조성 체계는 대모도 N-R5-D2-e, 구도 MM-R5-D2-e로 나타났다. 과중요치(FIV) 분석결과 대모도에서는 차나무과와 소나무과, 구도는 녹나무과와 참나무과 분류군들이 상위그룹을 이루고 있었으며, 과별 종구성비에 있어서는 대모도는 국화과가 4.5%(19종류), 구도는 백합과 가 7.3%(8종류)로 가장 높게 나타나 두 도서간 인위적 교란 정도를 가늠할 수 있었다. 지표종 분석에서는 대모도는 청미래덩굴, 광나무, 사스레피나무 등 미소지상식물(N)이, 구도는 황칠나무, 구실잣밤나무, 육박나무 등 대형지상식물 (MM)이 대개 유의한 지표종(p <0.0005)으로 나타났다.

This study conducted to analyze the growth characteristics of old Prunus yedoensis on Jeju island. The diameter growth per year was measured using a DTRS-2000 instrument. The DBH, ground DBH and height of the investigated P. yedoensis were 137 cm, 143 cm, and 15.5 m, respectively. Our analysis showed that the age of the old P. yedoensis was 93 years. An annual diameter growth of 2.85 mm±0.96 was observed. The result of age estimation, about 265±64 years in P. yedoensis on Jeju island. This information could be useful to understand the annual diameter growth characteristics the P. yedoensis distributed on Jeju island.

This study was carried out to investigate the distribution and their change of Pinus densiflora forests by climate change in Mt. Hallasan. The results showed that the areas of P. densiflora forests of Mt. Hallasan varied by region, with a total area of 1,324.3 ha, concentrated mostly in the region 1,000 m - 1,400 m above sea level. The temperate coniferous forest zone are distributed in the upper part of temperate forest zone composed of deciduous broad-leaved trees. Most of the P. densiflora forests in the lower parts were found not to be spreading because they are located close to the deciduous broad-leaved trees. However, the P. densiflora forests in the Sajebi and Pyeonggwe regions composed of the grasslands and shrub forests were found to be spreading. In addition, the altitude of the P. densiflora forests distribution increased by about 50 m and 90 m in the Sajebi and Pyeonggwe regions, respectively. The spread rate is expected to become faster than in the past due to the rate of climate change. The structure of the vegetation in Mt. Hallasan and the changes in the vegetation due to various factors need to be investigated from a long-term point of view.

This paper reexamines the interannual intensity change of tropical cyclone (TC) over the western North Pacific. Analyses are done for the annual extreme intensity and the average intensity of the five strongest typhoons based on the best track data issued from the RSMC (Regional Specialized Meteorological Center) Tokyo and the JTWC (Joint Typhoon Warning Center). Trends over the last 30+ years in one data set are nearly opposite in another. Specifically, the TC intensity tends to increase with the years in the JTWC data, whereas the opposite is found in the RSMC data. Realizing that one data set shows a significant statistical difference from the other, a homogenization process has been applied to the original data so that comparisons of the two data sets and the trend analyses become more meaningful than those with solely the original data. With the homogenized data, we present some cautious conclusions regarding the TC intensity changes over the western North Pacific. The annual extreme TC intensity has been decreasing, while the strong TCs have become stronger over the years. For TCs entering the KMA emergency area and directly hitting Korea, we are hesitant to make any conclusions because the corresponding area is small so that the number of TCs entering the area each year is too small to have any statistically significant implications.

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the vegetation structure and distributional characteristics of Abies koreana forests in Mt. Halla, and to provide basicdata for an ecological study on Abies koreana in Mt. Halla. The results of the analysis showed that the mean importance percentage(M.I.P.) of Abies koreana in the Youngsil and Bangaeoreum and the Azalea field were 28.3%, 23.6%, and 46.4%, respectively. The ratios of DBH (diameter at breast height) to height were similar in all region, except in the Azalea field, where Abies koreana of various ages, both young and old, were found. The species diversity (H) of the upper and lower layers in the Youngsil and Bangaeoreum and in the Azalea field were 0.625 and 0.810, 0.731 and 0.848, and 0.342 and 0.757, respectively. A total of 52 community were distributed at locations higher than 1,300m above sea level. The proportions of each community in the whole Abies koreana forest were 56.5%(Azalea field), 11.0% (Youngsil trail at 1,550-1,650 m above sea level), and 8.1%(Janggumok and Kundurewat region). The total area of the Abies koreana forest was calculated to be 795.3ha by combining all the areas of each community. An Abies koreana forest with the largest area was found at locations 1,500-1,600 m above sea level, taking up 38.8% of the total Abies koreana forest area. For the slopes of the distributional area of Abies koreana, 46.1%(highest proportion) of the total area was 10~25°, and for the azimuth of the distributional area, 17.4%(the highest proportion) of the total area was 0-45°. The vegetation structure showed large differences between areas. It was found, however, that the distribution was mostly in the areas with a relatively gentle slope. It is suggested that research be done to forecast the possible changes in the differences in the vegetation structures between different areas caused by climate changes. In addition, there is a need to monitor the Abies koreana and alpine plants in the subalpine zones of Mt. Halla, which are sensitive to climate change, to obtain the basic data that are necessary for the protection and maintenance of the ecosystem.

This study was conducted to provide scientific information for establishing efficient and systematic measures for nature conservation and management in Manjang-gul lava tube. The number of vascular plants was 204 taxa (82 families, 176 genera, 144 species, 1 subspecies, 26 varieties and 1 forma). Of those, pteridophyte were 5 families, 12 genera, 14 species and 1 variety and gymnosperm were 4 families, 6 genera, 5 species and 1 variety. Seventy three families, 149 genera, 157 species, 1 subspecies, 24 varieties and 1 forma in angiosperm composed of 62 families, 123 genera, 137 species, 1 subspecies, 17 varieties and 1 forma in dicotyledon and 11 families, 26 genera, 20 species and 7 varieties in monocotyledon. The number of naturalized plants was 9 families, 17 genera, 18 species and 3 varieties, totaling 21 taxa.

We described and illustrated a rare species in Korea, Hypoxis aurea Lour. (Hypoxidaceae) which was rediscovered about 70 years after its first collection from Jeju island in Korea. The members of the family Hypoxidaceae R. Br. are distinguished from the plants of Amaryllidaceae J. St-Hill. by having grass-like leaves, an invisible stem which is modified into a corm or a rhizome, trimerous, and radially symmetric flowers with an inferior ovary developing into a capsule on scapes. Hypoxis aurea Lour. is readily distinguishable from Curculigo orchinoides Gsertn. in Japan by beakless ovary and capsular fruit. The number of somatic chromosome is 2n=54.

Variations in antioxidant capacity of leaves and characteristics of seed germination among five Hibiscus hamabo populations in Korea were evaluated. While the leaves of H. hamabo from Shincheon contained highest Na concentration, those from Hado and Ohzo does lowest. MDA content and SOD activity didn't show significant difference among populations, but total protein and anthocyanin content were significantly different among five populations. The filled seed rates of five populations were ranged from 92.0 to 98.7%, and the moisture contents of seeds from Shinyang and Soando were lower than that of R. syriacus (5.18%). The fresh weights of H. hamabo from Hado and Ohzo were the highest and those of seeds from Shinyang and Soando were the lowest. Significant variations among H. hamabo populations were detected for all seed germination characters: percentage of germination, average germination time and germination rate and uniformity. SOD activities of seeds from Onpyoung and Soando were the highest of five populations, and total protein concentrations of seeds in Ohzo and Shinyang populations were higher than those of other populations. H. hamabo is considered exposed to salt stress and all characteristics of seed germinations were inferior to other species.

We tested the hypothesis that alpine plants have special physiological and biochemical mechanisms in addition to their structural adaptation in order to survive under extreme conditions. The photosynthetic organs of Pinus pumila were used to examine the seasonal changes in sugar concentration, antioxidative enzyme, and lipid peroxidation. The concentrations of sucrose, glucose, fructose and reducing sugar were the highest in the leaves in April. But sugar contents in buds and inner barks did not respond sensitively on temperature change. Meanwhile superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity responded sensitively on the change of temperature and SOD in all tissues maintained high activity in April. Meanwhile anthocyanin content increased rapidly in June but the increase of anthocyanin content was not enough to prevent their tissues from the damage by the exposure of high temperature or other stress. In conclusion, under low temperature condition, P. pumila increased the concentration of soluble sugars and SOD activity in their tissues in order to overcome extreme environmental condition. But in summer, these stress defense system against high temperature might be disturbed slightly. This results in the increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in three tissues by lipid peroxidation.