Comparative analysis of four stem taper models for Quercus glauca in Mount Halla,Jeju Island,South Korea

This study was conducted to fit the diameter-height data of Quercusglaucain Jeju Island, South Korea to the four commonly used stem taper equations andto evaluate the performance of the four stem taper models using four statistical criteria： Fit index （FI）, root mean square error （RMSE）, bias （）,and absolute mean difference （AMD）. Results showed that the Kozak02stem taper equation provided the best FI（0.9847）, RMSE（1.5745）,（-0.0030 cm） and AMD （1.0990 cm） whileMax and Burkhart model had the poorest performance among the four stem taper models based on the four evaluation statistics （FI ： 0.9793,RMSE ： 1.8272, ： 0.3040 cm and AMD ： 1.3060 cm）. These stem taper equations can serve as a useful tool for forest managers in estimating the diameter outside bark at any given height, merchantable stem volumes and total stem volumesof the standing trees of Quercusglaucain theGotjawal forests located in Mount Halla, Jeju Island, South Korea.     

The reproductive cycle of the humbug damselfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dascyllus aruanus</Emphasis> according to the changes in lunar phase in Micronesia

The moon is known to be an environmental factor that controls the reproductive cycle of fish, and fish have evolved a variety of reproduction patterns depending on the lunar phase. In this study, we examined the relationship between lunar phases and the reproductive cycle of the humbug damselfish Dascyllus aruanus inhabiting Weno Island, Chuuk Lagoon, Micronesia. We divided the one-month lunar cycle into eight phases, and measured the features of moonlight (peak wavelength and intensity) and indicators of fish maturity [gonadosomatic index (GSI) and sex hormones] in relation to the eight lunar phases. In addition, we investigated the daily rhythms of sex hormones in fish ovaries during the full moon phase. The results showed that the peak wavelength of moonlight was 430 nm (blue wavelength region) regardless of the lunar phase, and that moonlight intensity was highest during a full moon at 02:00. Furthermore, the GSI and sex hormones were both higher around the full moon phase. These findings support the hypothesis that humbug damselfish spawn once a month and that this event occurs at full moon, which is the phase of the moon with the strongest intensity. Based on these findings, we predict that blue wavelength, the dominant wavelength of moonlight, is one of the environmental factors influencing the monthly spawning of D. aruanus.     

Effect of grid size on building wind according to a computation fluid dynamics simulation

Skyscrapers negatively impact the environment by creating gusty winds, known as building winds, which are the result of descending turbulences caused by the blockage of upper air by tall buildings. Usually, a building wind impact assessment (BWIA) is carried out using a wind tunnel test or computation fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation methods. The application of wind tunnel test is limited by the high costs of the models. Thus, CFD simulations are now the preferred approach to save time and expense as a result of advancements in computer technology, however, differing grid cell sizes greatly impact simulation results. Therefore, it is important to select appropriate cell sizes. CFD simulations based on different grid sizes were tested and compared in this study. The study site is located in the Dogok-dong at Gangnam-ku in Seoul, Korea. The study results revealed significant errors when using coarse grid sizes due to incorrect representations of building shape.     

中朝与扬子地块结合带东部的卫星重力异常特征研究

中朝板块与扬子板块碰撞结合带过黄海向东延伸方式一直是国内外学者关注的问题.本文采用最新的地球重力场模型(GGM03C)计算了中国东部海域及朝鲜半岛的360阶卫星布格重力异常,通过异常分离、水平梯度及其垂直导数等位场资料处理和边界识别技术的应用,获得与研究区地块边界及断裂相关的各种信息.结合地质资料,对中国东部海域及朝鲜半岛进行地质构造单元划分与断裂系统分析,探讨了中朝与扬子地块结合带在海区位置与东部延伸模式.对京畿地块的深部结构及地质构造的认识是探讨中朝-扬子地块结合带在朝鲜半岛所在位置的关键.分析认为,五莲-青岛-荣城断裂和嘉山-响水断裂构成中朝-扬子地块结合带的海区段,南黄海南部断裂带与绍兴-勿南沙断裂带构成中朝-华南地块结合带;在京畿地块中部可能存在近南北向的断裂带,与临津江构造带、沃川构造带和上述两个结合带共同构成中朝、扬子与华南地块结合带;南黄海属于扬子地块,而北黄海与朝鲜半岛大部分仍属于中朝地块,其南界位于济州岛南缘断裂带附近,济州岛南缘断裂带南部海域为华南地块.     

Seasonal trend of particulate PAHs at Gosan, a background site in Korea between 2001 and 2002 and major factors affecting their levels

The concentrations of particulate Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured at Gosan, a background site in Korea for 1 year between November 2001 and November 2002. The total concentrations of 14 PAH compounds at Gosan were between 0.52 and 14.76 ng m^− 3 and about 3–15 times higher than those at other rural or remote sites in the world. Seasonal trend was observed for particulate PAHs concentrations at Gosan with higher levels during heating season due to increased fossil fuel usage and the movement of air parcels from Asian continent. Principal component factor analysis (PCF) for PAHs showed three factors; combination of coal combustion and vehicular emission, natural gas combustion, and unidentified one. However, PCF for the combined data of PAHs, inorganic ions, and elements revealed that the unidentified factor consists of crustal species, sea salts, and four PAH compounds. Thus, this factor is thought to be transport of crustal species with organics from combustion sources. The major variables which determine the sources of PAHs are the heating season and the movement of air parcels from Asian continent.     

Effects of Task Demand and Familiarity with Scenes in Visuospatial Representations on the Perception and Processing of Spatial Information

This study examined the effects of task demand and familiarity on students' perception and processing of spatial information upon viewing visuospatial representations. Participants in South Korea were told that they would travel through an area, either drawing a map or observing the scenery depicted in photographs. The level of familiarity in the photographs was manipulated in three categories: neighborhood, Seoul (capital city of South Korea), and foreign cities. In two experiments, this study investigated students' eye movements, memory, and response sensitivity and bias. The results indicate that the participants in the map-drawing condition focused on structural information, such as routes, and that their memory of the scenes was more accurate. Moreover, the map-drawing group students were more sensitive and prudent in their responses. The increased level of familiarity also made students focus on structural information. The findings provide useful strategies for geography educators to use visuospatial representations.     

Development of an Operational Hybrid Data Assimilation System at KIAPS

This study introduces the operational data assimilation (DA) system at the Korea Institute of Atmospheric Prediction Systems (KIAPS) to the numerical weather prediction community. Its development history and performance are addressed with experimental illustrations and the authors’ previously published studies. Milestones in skill improvements include the initial operational implementation of three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3DVar), the ingestion of additional satellite observations, and changing the DA scheme to a hybrid four-dimensional ensemble-variational DA using forecasts from an ensemble based on the local ensemble transform Kalman filter (LETKF). In the hybrid system, determining the relative contribution of the ensemble-based covariance to the resultant analysis is crucial, particularly for moisture variables including a variety of horizontal scale spectra. Modifications to the humidity control variable, partial rather than full recentering of the ensemble for humidity further improves moisture analysis, and the inclusion of more radiance observations with higher-level peaking channels have significant impacts on stratosphere temperature and wind performance. Recent update of the operational hybrid DA system relative to the previous 3DVar system is described for detailed improvements with interpretation.     

Morphology and Immune-related activities of hemocytes of the mussel Mytilus coruscus (Gould, 1861) from East Sea of Korea

Ocean Science Journal - Mytilus coruscus is a cold water mussel commonly occurring on shallow subtidal rocky substrata along the east coast of Korea. Despite its abundance, there have only been a...     

Photometric study of an SX Phoenicis variable in the galactic halo

We have studied the relatively recently discovered object 2-7-0122, with a V magnitude of 17 ^m , and have confirmed that it is an SX Phe variable star. Our photometry at the 1.8 m telescope of the Boyhunsan Observatory and the 1.0 m telescope of the Mount Lemon Observatory has enabled us to refine the photometric elements and to perform a frequency analysis of the light curve. We demonstrate the presence of two close frequencies, f ₁ = 24.6539 cycles/day and f ₂ = 24.8173 cycles/day, one of them possibly non-radial, and of several combinational frequencies. The star’s metallicity is at least two orders of magnitude lower than that of the Sun, making the star the most metal-poor SX Phe object in the Galactic field. We confirm variability of another star in the field of view, and have determined its light elements and its possible variability type (RRc).