Two climate factors in May that affect Korean rainfall in September

This study revealed a high positive correlation between rainfall in Korea during September and the trade wind (TW)/Arctic Oscillation (AO) index in May that combines two climate factors, low-level TWs and the AO. This correlation was identified on the basis of the difference in the 850 hPa streamline analysis between the positive and negative phases selected using the combined TW/AO index. In May, the spatial pattern of the anomalous pressure systems is similar to that in the positive AO phase. These anomalous pressure systems continue in June to August (JJA) and September, but the overall spatial distribution shifts a little to the south. Particularly in September, a huge anomalous anticyclone centered over the southeast seas of Japan strengthens in most of the western north Pacific region and supplies a large volume of warm and humid air to the region near Korea. This characteristic is confirmed by the facts that during the positive TW/AO phase, the subtropical western north Pacific high (SWNPH) is more developed to the north and that the continuous positioning of the upper troposphere jet over Korea from May to September strengthens the anomalous upward flow, bringing warm and humid air to all layers. These factors contribute to increasing September rainfall in Korea during the positive TW/AO phase. Because the SWNPH develops more to the north in the positive phase, tropical cyclones tend to make landfall in Korea frequently, which also plays a positive role in increasing September rainfall in Korea.The above features are also reflected by the differences in average rainfall between the six years that had the highest May Ni o 3.4 indices (El Ni o phase) and the six years that had the lowest May Ni o 3.4 indices (La Ni a phase).     

Hydrogeochemical Characteristics of Acid Mine Drainage around the Abandoned Youngdong Coal Mine in Korea

Abstract: To determine the geochemical characteristics of the Imgok creek impacted by acid mine drainage (AMD) generated from the abandoned Youngdong coal mine in Korea, chemical analyses of water samples and precipitates and the geochemical modelling of the precipitates were conducted. Acid mine drainage drained from the mine adit and coal refuse piles shows a low pH, high conductivity and high concentrations of Fe, Al, SO₄ and heavy metals such as Co, Cu, Ni and Zn. In the Imgok creek, the concentrations of heavy metals and major cations besides Fe are decreased by dilution, but concentrations of Fe are decreased by the formation of precipitates as well as dilution. From the results of geochemical modelling, goethite is oversaturated, and schwertmannite is the most stable solid phase in the Imgok creek. Yellowish red Fe-precipitates collected at the Imgok creek are recognized as amorphous or poorly crystallized minerals from XRD patterns and Fe_ox/Fe_totratios, and as containing chemically bonded SO₄ and OH by an IR analysis. The mole ratios of Fe/S in these precipitates, which are determined by EPMA, are 5. 1 and 6. 1.     

日本海西部大陆坡自生碳酸盐的特征与成因

对日本海西部大陆坡沉积物柱状样中的自生碳酸盐样品进行了X射线衍射、扫描电镜、地球化学和碳氧同位素组成的系统研究。X射线衍射和扫描电镜分析结果表明,碳酸盐主要组成矿物为颗粒状自生高镁方解石微晶,放射状自生文石微晶仅在一个层位出现。结合碳酸盐的地球化学组成,认为研究区碳酸盐来自于富Ca2+、Mg2+和HCO3-流体的沉淀。中度亏损的13C (-33.85‰~-39.53‰)表明碳来自于甲烷的厌氧氧化,同时,这也是研究区海底存在甲烷冷泉的重要证据。重氧同位素比值(5.28‰~5.31‰)则指示着富18O流体来源,而该流体应源于天然气水合物的分解。综上可知,研究区碳酸盐来自于研究区甲烷冷泉上升流的沉淀,指示着海底更深处天然气水合物的存在与分解。