Characterization of alluvium soil using geophysical and sounding methods

The alluvial deposits are highly heterogeneous and thus special techniques for investigating the subsurface have been required to obtain high quality data. The objective of this study is to apply two geophysical methods to alluvial deposits: a seismic survey method and the electrical resistivity method. The one-dimensional sounding method known as the standard penetration test is also applied to investigate subsurface properties and to compare these results with those measured by the geophysical methods. In seismic survey method, the seismic impulse source system shotgun is used to strongly propagate the elastic wave through the soil. The nonpolarizable electrode is selected to obtain the most reliable result by reducing the contact resistance. The application test is performed at Nakdong River in the southern part of Korean Peninsula where the area consists of alluvial deposits. The four profiles are selected for conducting the geophysical methods and the ranges of profiles are 115 ～ 205 m with interval distance of 5 m. The six one-dimensional soundings are performed in the intersection of geophysical profiles. Even though the measured results based on the geophysical method and one-dimensional sounding show slight difference, every result is applied to estimate subsurface characterization as the complementary data.     

The correlation between bioaccumulation and pattern of stress-related genes expression of black sea bream (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acanthopagrus schlegeli</Emphasis>) by cadmium exposure

In order to correlate the expression of detoxifying enzyme genes and Cd accumulation in black sea bream, we analyzed four tissues (brain, gills, liver, and muscle) from black sea breams that were exposed to four different concentrations of Cd (0, 2, 13, and 25 mg/L) for various durations (0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h). The highest level of Cd was accumulated in the liver, followed by the gills, brain, and muscle. The accumulation of Cd was significantly correlated with the duration of exposure and the concentration in brain, gill, and liver tissue, but not in muscle tissue, and the rate of accumulation increased with Cd concentration. The expression of metallothionein II (MT II) mRNA exhibited a similar pattern as Cd accumulation, especially in that the expression of MT II mRNA decreased in muscle tissue with increases in exposure duration. In contrast, the expression of cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) mRNA was highest in the liver, followed by brain, muscle, and gill tissues, and in gills and muscle tissue of Cd-exposed fish, the expression of CYP1A mRNA fell below that of the control fish. Overall, the liver of black sea bream was the most sensitive to Cd exposure, and the expression of MT II mRNA was 200-fold greater than the control fish. These findings indicate that the detoxification mechanisms of black sea bream are influenced by both MT II and CYP1A and that the genes participate in the detoxification of different tissues.     

Flora,life form characteristics,and plan for the promotion of biodiversity in South Korea’s Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System,the traditional Gudeuljang irrigated rice terraces in Cheongsando

The objectives of this study were to analyze the biodiversity of the Traditional Gudeuljang Irrigated Rice Terraces in Cheongsando, South Korea’s representative GIAHS (Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System) site, with reference to position and land-use features, and to develop a plan to promote agricultural biodiversity in the region. We confirmed approximately 54,000 m² of Gudeuljang paddy fields by an on-site survey. Of the Traditional Gudeuljang Irrigated Rice Terraces confirmed by onsite inspection, our survey showed that approximately 24,000 m² are currently being used as paddy fields, approximately 15,000 m² are being used as dry fields, and approximately 14,000 m² are fallow. In terms of other non-agricultural land use, there was grassland, including graveyards; artificial arboreal land, such as orchards, rivers and wetlands, and man-made facilities, such as roads and residences. We also confirmed that the Traditional Gudeuljang Irrigated Rice Terraces had higher plant species diversity than conventional terraced rice paddies, and there was a difference in life form characteristics between the two types. Although the superficial topsoil structure is the same for the Traditional Gudeuljang Irrigated Rice Terraces (TGIRTs) and conventional terraced rice paddies, it is thought that the differences in the subsurface structure of the TGIRTs contribute greatly to species and habitat diversity. However, the TGIRTs in Cheongsando are facing degeneration, due to damage and reduction in agricultural activity. The main cause is the reduction in the number of farming households due to an aging population in Cheongsando. In order to address this problem, we proposed a management plan, related to fallow paddy fields in South Korea, to initiate voluntary activities in the TGIRTs.     

Numerical study on the flow characteristics of tidal jets induced by a tidal-jet-generator

The flow characteristics of tidal jets induced by a Tidal-Jet Generator (TJG) are investigated using a finite-difference numerical scheme, named Navier–Stokes (NS)–Marker and Cell (MAC)-TIDE, based on the fully 3D NS equations. The TJG is an enclosed rectangular breakwater, which has vertical opening and a large enclosed volume inside. During both phases of tide, strong and uni-directional jets can be obtained locally from the inlet of the TJG, due to the water level difference between the inner and outer sides of TJG.The computed results are extensively compared with three other independently developed numerical models; 3D-ADI, DVM, and CIP-CSF. These models are based on quasi-3D, 2D depth-averaged, and fully 3D NS equations, respectively. It is seen that the present fully 3D numerical model NS–MAC-TIDE can predict the maximum intensity of inlet velocity with higher accuracy than the other numerical models when compared with the empirical function proposed from the experiments. The numerical simulations based on NS–MAC-TIDE can reproduce successfully the processes of generation, development, and dissipation of tidal jets. The effects of gap opening on the main characteristics of the tidal jet flow are assessed. Through numerical assessment, it is also clearly demonstrated that the residual time of a pollutant distributed around the front of the TJG can be decreased by significant amount due to the locally induced tidal jet. The TJG can thus utilize tidal energy for water purification in local marine environment by providing a flushing mechanism.     

Remote sensing of ocean sound speed profiles by a perceptron neuralnetwork

A method is developed to estimate ocean sound speed profiles through synthesis of remotely measured environmental data and historical statistics of sound speed obtained at a remotely sensed location. Sound speed profiles are represented by an expansion of empirical orthogonal functions (EOF) of the historical sound speed variation, while the remotely sensed environmental data provide real-time information to determine the expansion coefficients. Environmental inputs are limited to sea surface temperature available from satellite infrared sensors, acoustic time-of-flight and ocean bottom temperature measurable from bottom mounted acoustic and thermal transducers. A multilayer perceptron neural network is implemented to learn the functional transformation from the measured environmental input to the desired EOF coefficient output on a set of representative sound speed profiles. Sea surface temperature, time-of-year, and time-of-flight from the acoustic multipath that maximally samples the vertical sound speed are found to be the dominant inputs. The trained network is computationally efficient and produces estimates for untrained environmental inputs with a mean error of 1.1-4.4 m/s     

Transport and sediment–water partitioning of trace metals in acid mine drainage: an example from the abandoned Kwangyang Au–Ag mine area, South Korea

Transport and sediment–water partitioning of trace metals (Cr, Co, Fe, Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd) in acid mine drainage were studied in two creeks in the Kwangyang Au–Ag mine area, southern part of Korea. Chemical analysis of stream waters and the weak acid (0.1 N HCl) extraction, strong acid (HF–HNO₃–HClO₄) extraction, and sequential extraction of stream sediments were performed. Heavy metal pollution of sediments was higher in Chonam-ri creek than in Sagok-ri creek, because there is a larger source of base metal sulfides in the ores and waste dump upstream of Chonam-ri creek. The sediment–water distribution coefficients (K _d) for metals in both creeks were dependent on the water pH and decreased in the order Pb ≈ Al > Cu > Mn > Zn > Co > Ni ≈ Cd. K _d values for Al, Cu and Zn were very sensitive to changes in pH. The results of sequential extraction indicated that among non-residual fractions, Fe–Mn oxides are most important for retaining trace metals in the sediments. Therefore, the precipitation of Fe(–Mn) oxides due to pH increase in downstream sites plays an important role in regulating the concentrations of dissolved trace metals in both creeks. For Al, Co, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn, the metal concentrations determined by 0.1 N HCl extraction (Korean Standard Method for Soil Pollution) were almost identical to the cumulative concentrations determined for the first three weakly-bound fractions (exchangeable + bound to carbonates + bound to Fe–Mn oxides) in the sequential extraction procedure. This suggests that 0.1 N HCl extraction can be effectively used to assess the environmentally available and/or bioavailable forms of trace metals in natural stream sediments.     

EK-Fenton process for removal of phenanthrene in a two-dimensional soil system

Feasibility of electrokinetic (EK) process combined with Fenton-like reaction was investigated for the removal of phenanthrene in a two-dimensional cell. Sandy soil and bentonite were selected as a model soil and a filling material to inhibit the leak of electrolyte solution within the electrode reservoirs into the soil by hydraulic pressure difference, respectively. The effects of parameters including current, electroosmotic flow (EOF), electrolyte pH, and moisture content on the removal efficiency were examined under constant voltage.

At the end of operation for 21 days, the concentration of phenanthrene near the anode was lower than the other positions of soil specimen and increased gradually towards the cathode because hydrogen peroxide solution was supplied from anode to cathode region following the direction of EOF. The concentration of phenanthrene at the bottom soil was lower than that at the top soil. Because capillary attraction in the sandy soil with high porosity was too low to maintain appropriate moisture at the top of the cell, EOF moved through the bottom soil with higher moisture content. Overall removal efficiency at 140 V was 81.6%, which was higher than 68.9% at 100 V because total EOF increased by a factor of 1.5 upon increase of the voltage from 100 to 140 V. In addition, power consumptions at 100 and 140 V were 7.2 and 19.4 kWh, respectively.     

Probabilistic analysis of rock slope stability and random properties of discontinuity parameters, Interstate Highway 40, Western North Carolina, USA

Probabilistic analysis has been used as an effective tool to evaluate uncertainty so prevalent in variables governing rock slope stability. In this study a probabilistic analysis procedure and related algorithms were developed by extending the Monte Carlo simulation. The approach was used to analyze rock slope stability for Interstate Highway 40 (I-40), North Carolina, USA. This probabilistic approach consists of two parts: analysis of available geotechnical data to obtain random properties of discontinuity parameters; and probabilistic analysis of slope stability based on parameters with random properties. Random geometric and strength parameters for discontinuities were derived from field measurements and analysis using the statistical inference method or obtained from experience and engineering judgment of parameters. Specifically, this study shows that a certain amount of experience and engineering judgment can be utilized to determine random properties of discontinuity parameters. Probabilistic stability analysis is accomplished using statistical parameters and probability density functions for each discontinuity parameter. Then, the two requisite conditions, kinematic and kinetic instability for evaluating rock slope stability, are determined and evaluated separately, and subsequently the two probabilities are combined to provide an overall stability measure. Following the probabilistic analysis to account for variation in parameters, results of the probabilistic analyses were compared to those of a deterministic analysis, illustrating deficiencies in the latter procedure. Two geometries for the cut slopes on I-40 were evaluated, the original 75° slope and the 50° slope which has developed over the past 40 years of weathering.     

Design of a low-cost attitude determination GPS/INS integrated navigation system

Due to their complementary features of GPS and INS, the GPS/INS integrated navigation system is increasingly being used for a variety of commercial and military applications. An attitude determination GPS (ADGPS) receiver, with multiple antennas, can be more effectively integrated with a low-cost IMU since the receiver gives not only position and velocity data but also attitude data. This paper proposes a low-cost attitude determination GPS/INS integrated navigation system. The proposed navigation system comprises an ADGPS receiver, a navigation computer unit (NCU), and a low-cost commercial MEMS IMU. The navigation software includes a fault detection and isolation (FDI) algorithm for integrity. In order to evaluate the performance of the proposed navigation system, two flight tests have been performed using a small aircraft. The first flight test confirmed the fundamental operation of the proposed navigation system and the effectiveness of the FDI algorithm. The second flight test evaluated the performance of the proposed navigation system and demonstrated the benefit of GPS attitude information in a high dynamic environment. The flight test results show that the proposed ADGPS/INS integrated navigation unit gives reliable navigation performance even when anomalous GPS data is provided and gives better navigation performance than a conventional GPS/INS unit.