Impact of Temperature,Low pH and NH 4 + Enrichment on Ecophysiological Responses of a Green Tide Species Ulva australis Areschoug

Ulva are ubiquitous and opportunistic green algae species that easily adapt to various environmental conditions. These algae are responsible for the green     

Physiological Responses of Cultured Seaweed Pyropia yezoensis to Phosphorous Limitation in the Nakdong River Estuary,Korea

Ocean Science Journal - Pyropia yezoensis cultured in the estuary of the Nakdong River in Korea is an important fisheries resource for the local economy. Over the past few decades, the...     

Quantitative estimation of intertidal sediment characteristics using remote sensing and GIS

High spatial resolution satellite data (IKONOS) combined with in situ data was used to quantitatively estimate the spatial distribution of tidal flat characteristics for the Hwangdo tidal flat, Cheonsu Bay, Korea. The classification result was accurate in terms of a comparison with the in situ data, and the overall accuracy was 90.7%, which confirmed the validity of the classification. GIS analysis based on a probabilistic model was applied to a quantitative estimation of the relationship between each surface sediment facies and the spectral reflectance. Mud flat facies showed a high positive correlation (R² = 0.91), and sand flat facies showed a high negative correlation (R² = 1.00), which was a good reflection of the sedimentary characteristics of Hwangdo tidal flat. Relationships between each sediment facies and DEM also showed good agreement with the topographic characteristics in the study area. The study revealed that intertidal surface sediment classification using high resolution remote sensing imagery and in situ data successfully shows spectral and topographic characteristics of the study area. It was noted that spectral reflectance was affected by a combination of environmental factors, including grain size, topography, and remnant surface water. It is possible to determine the type of tidal flat through quantitative estimates of the spatial distribution of surface sediments according to their spectral reflectance.     

Comet assay for the detection of genotoxicity in blood cells of flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) exposed to sediments and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

To investigate the genotoxic effect of marine sediments on aquatic organism, sediment samples were collected from 13 sites along the coast of Gwangyang Bay (Korea). Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments were determined and the relationship between exposure of flounder blood cells to sediment extracts and DNA single-strand breakage in the blood cells was examined using the comet assay. Levels of DNA damage were proportionally increased by exposure concentration and the highest sediment-associated DNA damage was observed at the station showing the highest PAHs contamination. DNA damage in blood cells exposed to five types of PAHs (benzo[a]pyrene, fluoranthene, anthracene, pyrene and phenanthrene) and in flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) exposed to benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) for 0, 2 and 4 days were assessed by measuring comet tail length. The tail lengths of five PAHs-exposed groups at 50 and 100 ppb were significantly different from the non-exposed group, and the genotoxic effect of BaP correlated with both concentration and duration of exposure. Throughout the study, significant differences in DNA breakage were recorded between cells exposed to sediment extracts or PAHs and non-exposed control. This study demonstrated the comet assay as a successful tool in monitoring contamination of marine sediments and assessing genotoxicity of PAHs in marine organisms, either in vitro or in vivo.     

Evaluation of pedestrian winds around tall buildings by numerical approach

Summary A numerical model based on the compressible flow equations has been used to simulate the pedestrian wind fields around the programming tall buildings in Beijing city. The model results are well agreed with those of the wind tunnel experiments. Since numerical model can provide the detailed flow field data at each grid point and each time step, it has a great advantage compared with the wind tunnel experiment in accurately evaluating the wind effects on pedestrian and other environmental issues. Furthermore, advance computational technology has made the numerical modeling become fast and cheaply. It is believed that the numerical simulation will play an increasingly more important role in the coming years, especially in dealing with wind environment.     

Evaluation of the impact of pyrite oxidation on rock characteristics and environment by laboratory tests

Pyrite is a common and abundant sulfidic mineral subject to oxidation. The weathering characteristics of rock-bearing pyrite sometimes impose serious influences on the surrounding environment as the oxidation of pyrite (FeS₂) generates acid drainage that results in the acceleration of rock weathering and the discharge of heavy metals into the environment. Such an accelerated weathering of rocks can reduce its mechanical properties and therefore menace the stability of rock structures, such as excavated slopes and tunnels. The evolution of physical properties of rocks and the chemical composition of drainage were evaluated in this study by a weathering test using a double Soxhlet extractor for 1 month in a laboratory setting. Three groups of biotite gneiss classified according to their pyrite content were used for the Soxhlet extraction experiment (group A with less than 0.1 wt% of pyrite; group B with about 3.3 wt% of disseminated pyrite; group C with about 5.65 wt% of vein type pyrite). The massive groups A and B had limited weathering on the surface; however, group C with the pyrite vein experienced weathering on the surface as well as along the pyrite vein. The weathering type regulated by the occurrence of pyrite apparently controlled the mechanical properties of the rock samples and the chemistry of the drainage. Groups A and B showed no significant quick absorption ratio after the 1-month experiment; however, group C had about 10 % increase in value. The uniaxial compressive strength of the three groups decreased about 20, 10 and 45 % for groups A, B and C, respectively. The mechanical properties of the samples and the chemical compositions of the drainage indicate that the oxidation of pyrite contained in the samples accelerated weathering, resulting in deterioration of mechanical properties of the rocks, and could result in the discharge of heavy metals and acid into the environment with the drainage.     

A developed soil column test device for measuring the electrical conductivity breakthrough curves

To obtain the breakthrough curves without efforts required in the sampling and chemical analysis, a new soil column test device was developed. The device can conduct time-continuous electrical conductivity (EC) measurements without disturbing the soil matrix at all stages of the test. This device is composed of soil column, channel selector, LCR meter, and data logger. The soil column employs three 4-electrode sensors installed at different positions. To verify its applicability, the electrical conductivity breakthrough curves at different distances have been obtained with the use of five different species influent solutions (KCl, NaCl, CaCl₂, MgCl₂, and seawater). Results showed that the EC breakthrough curves and the transport parameters (the pore-water velocity, the dispersion coefficient, and the dispersivity) are very reasonable, and understand the one-dimensional steady flow exactly. The developed soil column test device proposed in this study provides a nondestructive, convenient, and inexpensive means of obtaining EC breakthrough curves.     

Sequestration of arsenate from aqueous solution using 2-line ferrihydrite: equilibria,kinetics, and X-ray absorption spectroscopic analysis

Arsenic(V), as the arsenate (AsO₄ ^3?) ion and its conjugate acids, has a strong affinity on Fe, Mn, and Al (oxyhydr)oxides and clay minerals. Removal of arsenate from aqueous solution by poorly crystalline ferrihydrite (hydrous ferric oxide) via a combination of macroscopic (equilibria and kinetics of sorption) and X-ray absorption spectroscopic studies was investigated. The removal of arsenate significantly decreased with increasing pH and sorption maxima of approximately 1.994 mmol/g (0.192 mol_As/mol_Fe) were achieved at pH 2.0. The Langmuir isotherm is most appropriate for arsenate sorption over the wide range of pH, indicating that arsenate sorption preferentially takes place at relatively homogenous and monolayer sites rather than heterogeneous and multilayer surfaces. The kinetic study demonstrated that arsenate sorption onto 2-line ferrihydrite is considerably fast, and sorption equilibrium was achieved within the reaction time of 2 h. X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy indicates no change in oxidation state of arsenate following interaction with the ferrihydrite surfaces. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy supports the efficient removal of arsenate by the 2-line ferrihydrite through the formation of highly stable inner-sphere surface complexes, such as bidentate binuclear corner-sharing (²C) and bidentate mononuclear edge-sharing (²E) complexes.