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The Korean Earth Science Society (한국지구과학회)
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Holocene Sea Level Changes in the Eastern Yellow Sea: A Brief Review using Proxy Records and Measurement Data

황해 동부 연안의 홀로세 해수면 변화: 대리기록과 관측자료를 통한 재검토

  • Lee, Eunil (Ocean Research Division, Korea Hydrographic & Oceanographic Agency) ;
  • Chang, Tae Soo (Petroleum and Marine Research Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources)
  • 이은일 (국립해양조사원 해양과학조사연구실) ;
  • 장태수 (한국지질자원연구원 석유해저연구본부)
  • Received : 2015.09.04
  • Accepted : 2015.10.24
  • Published : 2015.10.30
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Abstract

In order to understand the Holocene sea level changes in the eastern Yellow Sea, the west coast of Korea, and to compare the rates of sea level rise in each period of time, the geological proxy records for pre-instrumental era and measurement data for the present day were combined and analysed. The sea level in the Yellow Sea rose fast with a rate of about 10 mm/yr during the early Holocene, and decelerated down to 1 mm/yr since the mid to late Holocene. The rising rates of sea level in the 20th century were slightly higher than those in the late Holocene. The present-day rates of sea level rise, known as the 'rapid' rise, are in fact much lower or similar, compared to the early to mid Holocene sea levels in the study area. Recent tide-gauge data show that sea level rise in the eastern Yellow Sea has been accelerating toward the 21st century. These rising trends coincide well with global rising patterns in sea level. Additionally, the present-day rising trends of sea level in this study are correlated with increased rates of carbon dioxide concentrations and sea surface temperatures, further indicating a signal to global warming associated with the human effect. Thus, the sea level changes induced by current global warming observed in the eastern Yellow Sea and world's oceans can be considered as 'Anthropocene' sea level changes. The changes in sea level are based on instrumental measurements such as tide-gauges and satellite altimetry, meaning the instrumental era. The Holocene changes in sea level can thus be reconstructed from geological proxy records, whereas the Anthropocene sea-level changes can be solely based on instrumental measurements.

황해 동부 해안의 홀로세 해수면 변동 특성을 이해하고 시기 별 상승추세를 비교하기 위하여 지질학적 대리기록과 기기관측 자료를 통합하여 분석하였다. 홀로세 동안 황해의 해수면은 초기에 약 10 mm/yr의 속도로 빠르게 상승하고 중기를 거쳐 후기로 갈수록 해수면 상승률은 1 mm/yr 정도로 둔화되며, 20세기 해수면은 홀로세 후기보다 다소 빠르게 상승하였다. 빠른 상승으로 알려진 현재 해수면 상승률은 홀로세 초기와 중기의 상승추세와 비교할 때 사실 훨씬 낮거나 비슷하게 나타난다. 최근 조위계 자료는 황해 해수면이 21세기로 갈수록 상승률이 높아지고 있음을 나타낸다. 이러한 상승 추세는 전 지구적 해수면 변화와 일치한다. 추가적으로, 연구지역에서 현재의 해수면 상승 추세는 이산화탄소 농도와 해수표층온도의 증가율과 대비되며, 이는 인간활동에 수반된 지구온난화의 신호이다. 그러므로 황해 동부와 전세계의 해양에서 관찰되는 현 지구온난화에 의해 야기된 해수면 변화를 '인류세' 해수면 변화라고 제안한다. 이 해수면변화는 조위계와 인공위성 고도계 같은 기기관측을 기반으로 하며, 계측시대를 의미한다. 이와 같이, 황해의 홀로세 해수면 변동은 대리기록으로, '인류세' 해수면은 기기관측을 기반으로 한다.

Keywords

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