Verification and Correction of Cloud Base and Top Height Retrievals from Ka–band Cloud Radar in Boseong,Korea

In this study,cloud base height(CBH) and cloud top height(CTH) observed by the Ka-band(33.44 GHz) cloud radar at the Boseong National Center for Intensive Observation of Severe Weather during fall 2013(September-November) were verified and corrected.For comparative verification,CBH and CTH were obtained using a ceilometer(CL51) and the Communication,Ocean and Meteorological Satellite(COMS).During rainfall,the CBH and CTH observed by the cloud radar were lower than observed by the ceilometer and COMS because of signal attenuation due to raindrops,and this difference increased with rainfall intensity.During dry periods,however,the CBH and CTH observed by the cloud radar,ceilometer,and COMS were similar.Thin and low-density clouds were observed more effectively by the cloud radar compared with the ceilometer and COMS.In cases of rainfall or missing cloud radar data,the ceilometer and COMS data were proven effective in correcting or compensating the cloud radar data.These corrected cloud data were used to classify cloud types,which revealed that low clouds occurred most frequently.     

Shearing characteristics of SCP-inserted clay specimens in triaxial compression test

Sand compaction piles (SCPs) have been widely applied to the construction on the soft ground for decades, due to not only the acceleration of the consolidation but also the enhancement of strength and stiffness of ground. However, physical behaviors of SCP-improved ground have not been clearly unveiled due to complex response of two distinct materials, compacted sand and soft clay, which are having quite different mechanical characteristics. Therefore, in this study, the mechanical characteristics of SCP composite ground were investigated via triaxial compression tests on SCP-inserted clay specimens. Tests were performed elaborately with four specimens with different replacement ratios. Based on the comparisons of consolidation and shearing behaviors of tested SCP-inserted clay specimens, the SCP effects on the stiffness and strength are also investigated. Even though the SCP-inserted clay specimens show stronger and stiffer behaviors than clay-only specimens, the effects vary on strength, stiffness, and volume change with regard to the applied replacement ratios.     

Rare earth element fingerprints in Korean coastal bay sediments: Association with provenance discrimination

Rare earth elements (REEs: La-Lu) in surface sediments collected from the mouth and middle tidal flats of Gomso Bay, South Korea, in August 2011 and May 2012 were analyzed to investigate the fine-grained sediment provenance. The upper continental crust (UCC)-normalized light REEs (LREEs: La to Nd) were more enriched than the middle REEs (MREEs: Sm to Dy) and heavy REEs (HREEs: Ho to Lu), resulting in large (La/Yb)_UCC (1.9 ± 0.4) to (Gd/Yb)_UCC (1.4 ± 0.2) ratios. The monthly (La/Yb)_UCC values differed between the mouth and middle tidal flats due to deposition of fine-grained sediments that originated from distant rivers (the Geum and Yeongsan) and the Jujin Stream, located on the southern shore of the inner bay. We observed relative reductions in the (La/Yb)_UCC value and REE content in the sediments from the mouth of the bay compared with those from Jujin Stream sediments. Confined to the middle tidal flat around the KH Line of Jujin Stream, the sediments, most enriched in LREEs but depleted in Eu, were distributed in August as strong Jujin Stream runs. Here, we suggest that an increase in LREE/HREE and decrease in MREE/LREE ratios can be used as a proxy to identify the Jujin Stream provenance in mixed riverine sediments and to trace Jujin Stream sediments within the Gomso Bay tidal flat, especially in the summer rainy season.     

Effects of flexibility on propulsive force acting on a heaving foil

The hybrid Cartesian/immersed boundary method is applied to simulate effects of flexibility on propulsive force acting on a heaving foil in a viscous flow. Immersed boundary nodes are distributed inside an instantaneous fluid domain. Velocity vector is reconstructed at the immersed boundary node based on an interpolation along a local normal line. Using the staggered/non-staggered grid method, the demand for pressure at boundary nodes is removed. Elastic deformation of the flexible foil is modelled based on the dynamic thin-plate mechanics. The developed code is validated through comparisons with other computations on flow fields around a flapping foil. The generation of the reverse Karman vortex street is investigated. Forces acting on heaving foils are compared for flexible and rigid cases and the increased thrust of the flexible foil is attributed to the deformed configuration near the tip. The flexibility of the heaving foil decreases vertical force and improves propulsion efficiency. The variations of force and deformation are investigated according to bending stiffness of the foil.     

Molecular expression of opsin gene in growing juvenile mackerel (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Scomber japonicus</Emphasis> Houttuyn)

Fish have developed color vision that is closely adapted to their photic environments, where both spectral sensitivity and the number of visual opsins are influenced. The mackerel used in this study is one of the most important fishery stocks in Korea. The opsin gene of the mackerel juveniles after 20 days in hatching was isolated and characterized based on the molecular study of visual photoreceptor. The full-length mackerel opsin gene was obtained by PCR amplification of genomic DNA, as well as cDNA synthesis. Sequence analysis of the opsin gene showed that it contained a 1,080 bp open reading frame encoding 360 amino acids. Based on Schiff’s base formation (S114, K119), glycosylation (E3, F37) and palmitoylation (S281, 282), the deduced amino acid sequence had a typical rod opsin. The mackerel and Gempylus serpens showed 73.7% DNA homology on opsin gene, which was higher than any other of investigated species. In the analysis of phylogenetic relationship, the genetic placement of the mackerel is closer to that of Scombroidei than Labroidei, with supporting somewhat strong bootstrap value. In the analysis of Northern and RT-PCR, the probed products were observed only in rapidly growing juveniles. These findings indicate that in mackerel opsin mRNA expression can be detected in day-20 hatching larvae. It may play an important role in stimulating growth hormone.     

A review of the ocean science and technology partnership between US and Korea

In 2001, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Integrated Coastal and Ocean Resources Scientific and Technical Arrangement was signed to pursue scientific and technical cooperation in integrated coastal and ocean resources management in the mutual interest of the participants. Over the last 6 years, the cooperation has been very beneficial, particularly for advancing marine science and management programs in Korea, such as Deep Sea Aquaculture, Sea Grant College Program, Marine Protected Areas, and Ocean Observations. The benefits to NOAA from the cooperation include Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) buoys, ocean and coastal observations, GEOSS program, and Global Program of Action. Also the cooperation has spillover effects on other ocean science and technological arrangement between US and Korea. This article reviews purpose, obstacles, and achievement of the cooperation and suggests recommendations for the future steps.