Abstract. Previous studies based on multiple paleoclimate archives suggested a prominent intensification of the South Asian Monsoon (SAM) during the mid-Holocene (MH, ∼6000 years before present). The main forcing that contributed to this intensification is related to changes in the Earth's orbital parameters. Nonetheless, other key factors likely played important roles, including remote changes in vegetation cover and airborne dust emission. In particular, northern Africa also experienced much wetter conditions and a more mesic landscape than today during the MH (the so-called African Humid Period), leading to a large decrease in airborne dust globally. However, most modeling studies investigating the SAM changes during the Holocene overlooked the potential impacts of the vegetation and dust emission changes that took place over northern Africa. Here, we use a set of simulations for the MH climate, in which vegetation over the Sahara and reduced dust concentrations are considered. Our results show that SAM rainfall is strongly affected by Saharan vegetation and dust concentrations, with a large increase in particular over northwestern India and a lengthening of the monsoon season. We propose that this remote influence is mediated by anomalies in Indian Ocean sea surface temperatures and may have shaped the evolution of the SAM during the termination of the African Humid Period.

The objective of this study was to identify beauty food activity of Polygala japonica Houtt., which were widely used as a folk medicinal plant to treat inflammatory diseases. Both hot water and 50% ethanol extract of P. japonica Houtt. were evaluated for their anti-oxidant, whitening, anti-wrinkle and antiinflammatory effect based on their phenolic concentration. To measure anti-oxidant activity, four experiments were carried out. 1,1-diphenyl-3-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances all showed more than 80% efficacy in both hot water and 50% ethanol extract of P. japonica Houtt. and likewise antioxidant protection factor value more than 2. To investigate the whitening effect of P. japonica Houtt., the inhibition effect of tyrosinase on hot water and 50% ethanol extract was inhibited by 12.46 and 22.10%, respectively. To examine the anti-wrinkle effect, the inhibition effect of elastase and collagenase on hot water and 50% ethanol extract were inhibited by 28.28, 58.36% and 59.73, 78.90% respectively. To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect and moisturizing effect by hyaluronidase inhibitory effect, hot water and 50% ethanol extract were 35.65 and 86.80%, respectively. The result of all the above experiments show values at a concentration of 200 µg/mL, and based on these experimental results, P. japonica Houtt. can be expected as a functional material in beauty foods.

To predict the influence of volcano eruption on agriculture in South Korea we evaluated the dispersal ranges of the volcanic ashes toward the South Korea based on the possibilities of volcano eruption in Mt. Baekdu. The possibilities of volcano eruption in Mt. Baekdu have been still being intensified by the signals including magmatic unrest of the volcano and the frequency of volcanic earthquakes swarm, the horizontal displacement and vertical uplift around the Mt. Baekdu, the temperature rises of hot springs, high ratios of N 2 /O 2 and 3 He/ 4 He in volcanic gases. The dispersal direction and ranges and the predicted amount of volcanic ash can be significantly influenced by Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) and the trend of seasonal wind. The prediction of volcanic ash dispersion by the model showed that the ash cloud extended to Ulleung Island and Japan within 9 hours and 24 hours by the northwestern monsoon wind in winter while the ash cloud extended to northern side by the south-east monsoon wind during June and September. However, the ash cloud may extent to Seoul and southwest coast within 9 hours and 15 hours by northern wind in winter, leading to severe ash deposits over the whole area of South Korea, although the thickness of the ash deposits generally decreases exponentially with increasing distance from a volcano. In case of VEI 7, the ash deposits of Daejeon and Gangneung are 1.31 × 10 4 g m -2 and 1.80 × 10 5 g m -2 , respectively. In addition, ash particles may compact close together after they fall to the ground, resulting in increase of the bulk density that can alter the soil physical and chemical properties detrimental to agricultural practices and crop growth.

Abstract. Previous studies based on multiple paleoclimate archives suggested a prominent intensification of the South Asian Monsoon (SAM) during the mid-Holocene (MH, ~ 6000 years before present day). The main forcing that contributed to this intensification is related to changes in the Earth’s orbital parameters. However, other key factors likely played important roles, including remote changes in vegetation cover and airborne dust emission. In particular, northern Africa also experienced much wetter conditions and a more mesic landscape than today during the MH (the so-called African Humid Period), leading to a large decrease in airborne dust globally. However, most modelling studies investigating the SAM changes during the Holocene overlooked the potential impacts of the vegetation and dust emission changes that took place over northern Africa. Here, we use a set of simulations for the MH climate, in which vegetation over the Sahara and reduced dust concentrations are considered. Our results show that SAM rainfall is strongly affected by Saharan vegetation and dust concentrations, with a large increase in particular over northwestern India and a lengthening of the monsoon season. We propose that this remote influence is mediated by anomalies in Indian Ocean sea-surface temperatures and may have shaped the evolution of the SAM during the termination of the African Humid Period.