Spatial and seasonal variations of organic carbon level in four major rivers in Korea

Abstract

Regionally the lowest average concentration of TOC was observed with 0.66 mg/L in Nakdong river, while the highest concentration of TOC was observed with 0.91 mg/L in Yeongsan river. The average concentration of TOC for national water quality monitoring site showed that the lowest average concentration of TOC was 1.58 mg/L in Han river, while the highest concentration of TOC was 3.37 mg/L in Yeongsan river. Seasonally, the average concentration of TOC at six upstream sites showed 0.77 mg/L and 0.56 mg/L, 0.69 mg/L and 0.63 mg/L, 0.80 mg/L and 0.73 mg/L, and 1.21 mg/L and 0.68 mg/L between wet season and dry season in Han river, Nakdong river, Gem river and Yeongsan river, respectively. For the national water quality site, the average concentration of TOC between wet season and dry season was 1.70 mg/L and 1.45 mg/L in Han river, 2.01 mg/L and 1.75 mg/L in Nakdong river, 2.01 mg/L and 1.60 mg/L in Gem river, and 3.75 mg/L and 3.00 mg/L in Yeongsan river. The distribution of TOC in upstream and national water quality monitoring sites on four major rivers have been influenced by seasonal and regional characteristics in Korea.