Hyun-Taik Oh

Nutrient inputs from submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) in Masan Bay, an embayment surrounded by heavily industrialized cities, Korea

In order to estimate the magnitude of submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and the associated nutrient fluxes in Masan Bay on the southern coast of Korea, we measured the concentrations of 226Ra and nutrients in seawater, brackish groundwater, and stream water in May and August 2006. Gauging unidentified nutrient fluxes through SGD is very important in this bay since diatom red tides have been occurring from April to October every year since the 1980s. Based on a 226Ra mass balance model, the submarine inputs of coastal groundwater were estimated to be 4.8x10(6) and 5.7x10(6) m3 d(-1) (61 and 71 L m(-2) d(-1)) in May and August, respectively, which were approximately 840% and 540% of the surface water discharge into the bay. The fluxes of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) and silicate (DSi) through SGD were 2-3 fold higher than those via stream water, while the fluxes of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) were comparable to those from surface waters during both sampling periods. Nutrient fluxes through stream waters relative to those from SGD were more significant in the inner part of the bay, which appears to be due to the direct influence of heavily polluted stream waters. Our study shows that the large and continuous supply of inorganic nutrients through SGD may play an important role in eutrophication and the occurrence of red tides in this bay, which should be taken into consideration in the environmental management of the bay.

Sustainability Evaluation for Shellfish Production in Gamak Bay Based on the Systems Ecology 1. EMERGY Evaluation for Shellfish Production in Gamak Bay

This research outlines a new method for evaluation of shellfish production in Gamak Bay based on the concept of EMERGY. Better understanding of those environmental factors influencing oyster production and the management of oyster stocks requires the ability to assess the real value of environmental sources such as solar energy, river, tide, wave, wind, and other physical mechanisms. In this research, EMERGY flows from environment sources were 76% for shellfish aquaculture in Gamak Bay. EMERGY yield ratio, Environmental Loading Ratio, and Sustainability Index were 4.26, 0.31 and 13.89, respectively. Using the Emergy evaluation data, the predicted maximum shellfish aquaculture production in Gamak Bay and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration, U.S.) designated area in Gamak Bay were 10,845 ton/y and 7,548 ton/yr, respectively. Since the predicted shellfish production was approximately 1.3 times more than produced shellfish production in 2005, the carrying capacity of Gamak Bay is estimated to be 1.3 times more than the present oyster production.

Ecological Modeling for Estimation of Autochthonous COD in Jinhae Bay

The three-dimensional eco-hydrodynamic model was applied to estimate the autochthonous COD caused by production of phytoplankton in Jinhae Bay. A residual current was simulated, using a hydrodynamic model, to have a sightly complicated pattern in the inner part of the bay, ranging from 0.001 to 5 cm/s. In the outer part of the bay, the simulated current flowed out to the south sea with a southward flow at a maximum of 25 cm/s. The results of the ecological model simulation of COD levels showed high concentrations, exceeding 4 mg/L, in the inner bay of Masan, an area of wastewater discharge, and lower levels, approaching less than 1 mg/L, closer to the outer part of the bay. The simulation results of Autochthonous COD by two methods using ecological modeling, showed high ratio over 70% of total COD. Therefore, it is more important to consider nutrients than organic matters in the region for control COD standard.

Climatic Classification over Asia during the Middle Holocene Climatic Optimum Based on PMIP Models

When considering potential global warming projections, it is useful to understand the impact of each climate condition at 6 kyr before present. Asian paleoclimate was simulated by performing an integration of the multi-model ensemble with the paleoclimate modeling intercomparison project (PMIP) models. The reconstructed winter (summer) surface air temperature at 6 kyr before present was 0.85 ºC (0.21 ºC) lower (higher) than the present day over Asia, 60ºE–150ºE, 10ºN–60ºN. The seasonal variation and heating differences of land and ocean in summer at 6 kyr before present might be much larger than present day. The winter and summer precipitation of 6 kyr before present were 0.067 and 0.017 mm·day-1 larger than present day, respectively. The Group B climate, which means the dry climates based on Köppen climate classification, at 6 kyr before present decreased 17% compared to present day, but the Group D which means the continental and microthermal climates at 6 kyr before present increased over 7%. Comparison between the results from the model simulation and published paleo-proxy record agrees within the limited sparse paleo-proxy record data.

Sustainability Evaluation of Shellfish Production in Gamak Bay Based on Systems Ecology 3. Energy Modeling of Shellfish Aquaculture Production in Gamak Bay

This research was performed to simulate shellfish production systems and sales in Gamak Bay, South Korea. To study the way the shellfish system generates maxima, a numerical model was developed to simulate the model under a control and a number of different scenarios. The program calculates the EMERGY flows by multiplying the flows of energy and materials by the appropriate solar transformity. In this study, an energy systems model was built to simulate the variation of sustainability for oyster aquaculture. The results of the simulation based on 2005 data that as oyster production yield slightly increases, money and assets increase to a steady state. When the program is run control simulation, the system reaches carrying capacity after 8 years. The simulation of models with price of purchased inputs increased with 3.5% inflation rate per year showed maximum benefit of shellfish production occurs after 6 years but amounts are less than control simulation, and then decreases slightly in money and yield results. The results with 3.5% inflation and increase of oyster price annually showed steady and slightly increase of money and yield.

Composition of Phytoplankton in Gamak Bay by CHEMTAX Analyses

Chlorophyll a (chl a) has been used as an indicator for phytoplankton biomass in pelagic ecosystems due to the relative ease of measurement and selectivity for autotrophs in mixed plankton assemblages. However, the use of chi a as an indicator for phytoplankton biomass is restricted due to its inability to resolve taxonomic differences of phytoplankton and the highly variable relationship of chi a with phytoplankton. Here, we describe the analysis of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) photosynthetic pigment data using CHEMTAX, which is a matrix factorization program that uses chemical taxonomic indices (phytoplankton carotenoids) to quantify the abundance of phytoplankton groups. Compared to direct microscopic counting that can distinguish species within broad groups, the resolution of taxonomic groups by CHEMTAX is generally coarse. It can only distinguish between diatoms, dinoflagellates, cryptophytes, cyanobacteria, chlorophytes, prasinophytes, and haptophytes. However, CHEMTAX analysis is much faster and less expensive than microscopic counting methods. HPLC pigment observations were taken in the spring, summer, fall, and winter in within Gamak Bay, South Korea. CHEMTAX results revealed that diatoms were the dominant taxonomic group in Gamak Bay. In inner Gamak Bay, the ratio between diatoms and cryptophytes was , and the ratio between dinoflagellates and cryptophytes was . In outer Gamak Bay, the ratio between diatoms and cryptophytes was , and the ratio between dinflagellates and cryptophytes was only . The population structure was seasonal. Relative diatom populations were less in the summer than the winter season.

Marine Ecosystem Response to Nutrient Input Reduction in Jinhae Bay, South Korea

We study on the dynamic interaction with a simulated physical-biological coupled model response to nutrient reduction scenario in Jinhae Bay. According to the low relative errors, high regression coefficients of COD and DIN, and realistic distribution in comparison to the observation, our coupled model could be applicable for assessing the marine ecosystem response to nutrient input reduction in Jinhae Bay. Due to the new construction and expansion of sewage treatment plant from our government, we reduce 50% nutrient inputs near Masan Bay and sewage treatment plant. COD achieves Level II in Korea standard of the water quality from the middle of the Masan Bay to all around Jinhae Bay except the inner Masan Bay remaining at Level III. When our experiment reduces 50% nutrient inputs near Masan Bay and Dukdong sewage treatment plant simultaneously, COD decreases to about 0.1-1.2 mg/L . The COD from the middle of the Masan Bay to Jinhae Bay achieves Level II.

Marine environmental impact assessment of abalone, Haliotis discus hannai, cage farm in Wan-do, Republic of Korea

To assess the marine environmental impacts of abalone, Haliotis discus hannai, cage farms in Wan-do, we monitored the benthic environment on top of the sediment underneath cage farm stations and reference stations. We applied two methods for this assessment. One was the A- and B-investigation of the MOM system (Modeling–On fish farm–Monitoring) developed in Norway. The other was a general environmental monitoring method which is widely used. In this study, we found benthic animals in all samples that belonged to condition 1 which were based on group 1(presence of macrofauna) of the B-investigation method. The values of redox potential (group 2–pH, redox potential) in all samples were above +65 mV belonging to condition 1. Based on sensory results (group 3–gas, color, odor, thickness of deposits), five out of seven experiment samples showed condition 1 while stations 2 and 7 showed condition 2, which have been cultured for 10 years in semi-closed waters. As group 2 takes precedence over group 3, the level of the conditions for B-investigation results consequently showed condition 1 in all stations. We found that pollutants and trace metals in the sediment underneath cage farms were lower than the pollution standard. This led us to conclude that the environmental impacts of the cage farms in this study were not significant.

European Union System of Fisheries Management Based on Information and Communication Technology

The fishing industry in Europe has faced environmental, economic, and social challenges. Since the early 2000s, a key tool in addressing these challenges has been information and communication technology (ICT), which has helped to modernize fishery systems in European Union (EU) countries. The ICT used in EU fisheries can be categorized broadly as 1) macro-technologies such as satellite and other remote sensing technologies in combination with geographical information systems, 2) micro-technologies adapted for fishing vessels such as echo sounders, ship navigation devices, and mobile communication devices to connect fishermen and consumers, and 3) onshore micro-technologies related to internet technology and mobile devices. The European Monitoring Center on Change has used ICT to effectively manage fisheries bio-resources. This use of ICT has contributed to the development of sustainable and competent fisheries in the 2000s, even though the knowledge-sharing practices involved are contrary to the long tradition of autonomy within the fishery industry.