• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.69-91
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• 1993

A total of 76 surface sediment samples, collected from the Korean west coast and the eastern Yellow Sea areas, were analyzed for their elemental composition in order to understand the geochemical characteristics of these deposits. The analyzed elements included 9 major elements (Al, Fe, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Ti, P, Mn), 8 minor elements (Sr, Ba, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn), organic carbon and calcium carbonate. Contents of most analyzed elements, excluding K and Ba, were generally low compared to those of average crust. Contents of most elements, except K and Ca, also correlated with sediment grain size, though the degree of relationship varied widely from one element to another. For fine-grained sediments, a distinction could be made between those in the central Yellow Sea and those in the Keum Estuary based on their characteristic elemental composition: the former were rich in Fe, Na, K, Mg, Ca and V, and the latter in Mn, Co and Ni. The element/aluminium ratios, on the other hand, showed that the central Yellow Sea muds were enriched in Fe, Mg, V, Ni, Cu and Zn and depleted in K, Mn, Ba and Sr relative to the mud located near the Korean Peninsula. Based on the analysis of these results, as well as of the influences of particular mineral phases or pollution effects, we could suggest geochemical criteria which can be used in distinguishing muds from the two different sources, the Keum River and the Yellow River: the former by the higher Mn content and the latter by the higher Mg and V contents, relative to each other.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 1995

우리나라의 서해(West Sea)는 일명 황해(Yellow Sea)라고 일컬어지는 약 40여 m의 평균 수심을 갖는 대륙붕 해저지형 분지에 의하여 지배되는 전형적 육연해이다, 그런데 이 바다는 중심부(황해의 중심부)를 기준으로 하여 중국 대륙의 산동반도에서 양가강 하구에 이르는 서부 해안을 가지며 북부에는 발해만의 해안이 있고 동부에는 서해(황해) 특유의 넓 은 조수환경(tidal environment)과 조수해안이 발달한다. 그러나 남쪽으로는 북서태평양과 연결된다. 한국 서해안이 평균 4m 이상의 조차(tidal range)를 나타내는 조간대 조수환경이 며 조간대 해저지형(intertidal morphology)이 전형적인 퇴적층(체)에 의하여 지배되는 여러 가지 특징을 나타낸다. 서해안 조수환경은 네델란드, 독일 또는 지배되는 여러 가지 특징을 나타낸다. 서해안 조수환경은 네델란드 독일 또는 미국의 경우와 같이 연구가 잘되어 세계 적으로 널리 알려진 소위 barrier island system and tidal depositional environments와는 크 게 다른 퇴적과정과 환경이다. 경기도 남양만의 조수 환경의 경우, 조간대 해저지형 요소인 조류로(tidal channel)와 조간대 정규해저(intertidal zone proper)에 관한 동력적 퇴적과정 연 구결과 조간대 특유의 lateral sedimentation 과 vertical sedimentation 2가지 퇴적과정중 후 자의 퇴적과정이 우세한 것으로 밝혀졌고 이러한 퇴적과정의 진행이 매우 안정한 지속성을 가지는 것이 특징이다, 이러한 퇴적과정의 조간대 퇴적물의 쇄설 입자는 약 20% 미만의 모 래(sand) 입자 50~70%의 실트(silt) 와 점토(clay) 입자가 20~30%에 달하는 입자조직 (grain texture)의 퇴적상을 나타낸다. 결과적으로 조간대의 동력적인 조수수괴의 수위(level of tidal water)는 평균 만조선과 평균 저조선으로 한정되며 이것은 퇴적과정과 퇴적작용의 조정(control) 요인으로 조간대 퇴적상의 발달과 분포에 큰 영향을 미친다, 예를들면 남양만 등의 대부분의 서해안 조간대 표층 퇴적상(녁\ulcorner미 sedimentary faci-es)은 만조선에서 간조 선에 가까울수록 조립화현상(coarsening trend)을 나타낸다. 이러한 퇴적상 변화는 저조선에 서 만조선으로의 조간대 지형과 주조수로의 지형.수력학적 특성이 다음과 같기 때문이다. a) a general decrease in width b) a general decrease in depth c) a general decrease in maximum and average current velocities d) a general increase in contents of suspended mud e) a general decrease in grain size of the bottom sand and an increasing abundance of muddy deposits. 우리나라 서해안 조간대 퇴적층(체)의 수직 층서(vertical stratigraphy)는 지난 3여년동안의 수십개의 vibracoring(주상시추)에 의하여 매우 흥미롭고 중요하게 밝혀지고 있는바 이것은 현세(Holocene)와 선현세(preHolocene: 11000 years BP)의 오랜시간 경과에 따른 조수환경 변화의 수직퇴적 과정과 기후 해수면 변화의 현상에 원인이 있다고 해석된다.(박용안 외, 1992-1995)결과적으로 서해안 조수퇴적체(층)의 분지주변(basim margin)진화과정이 밝혀지 고 있다.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.87-101
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• 1989

The development of the Hantan river basin can be divided into three stages. The first stage include the ancient Hantan channel system prior to the Chongokni basalt which yield dates of about 0.6 mya from the K/Ar dating method. During this period the Baekuyri formation was formed. The Baekuyri formation is widely observed under the Chongokni basalt along the current river system. The second stage is the period when stream channels stayed on the top of the basalt plateau. Aggradation and deggradation were continued by meandering and braiding channel systems until major stream channel was formed. The currently remaining deposit on the top of the basalt was formed by lacustrine and fluvial systems in this period. During this period Pleistocene hominid was present on edge of water and flood plain and left Paleolithic material. This period was begun at the time of the final basalt flow dated about 300,000 BP. The third stage is designed for the time when the Hantan river channel was dropped down to a level from which the channel could not influence the top of the basalt any more No more deposit could be formed but erosion by surface water has been continued on the top of the basalt since then. The dropping of the Hantan river channel was probably not very long after the final flow of the basalt. Because of frost action and heavy concentrated precipitation in the basin area along with blocky and clumnar joint structure of the basalt, erosional process of the basalt is believed to have been carried out within a relatively short time. The lowering of the Hantan river channel was probably completed in a cycle of major fluctuation of world cimate. Also, the redclay on the top of the basalt is believed to have been formed during a warm period around 200,000 BP, which accords with the climatic change suggested above fair1y well. The Paleolithic materials in tile deposits fell accordingly into approximately same time period.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.17-34
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• 1989

The distribution characteristics of incised meander river are analysed concerning topography, geology, stream order and altitude. Additionally geomorphological development of the Korean peninsular is considered with incised meander. The main findings are as follows: 1. The incised meander is intensively distributed on the west and north slope of T'aebak and Sobaek mountain range, but sparsely distributed on the opposite slopes. 2. Geologically, the occurrence rate of incised meander is high orderly as follows: Joseon supergroup, Pyeongan supergroup, Daedong supergroup metamorphic rock, Gyeongsang supergroup, and granite. The incised meander is developed well on the following conditions: hard rocks against weathering, stratified structure, geologic arrange across the river channel and contacting zone of geological formations. 3. The higher stream orders are, the higher occurrence of incised meander is. 4. Comparing the altitude of present river bed with the summit level of restored map, it is supposed that the incised meander rivers have been dissected about 300-500m down ward. 5. Considering the distribution characteristic of incised meander, it is suggested that not only T'aebak mountain range but Sobaek mountain range is the axis of asymmetrical up-warping in the Korean peninsular. 6. Considering the distribution characteristic of incised meander on the restored map and the stream order, it seems that present incised meander channel was inherited from antecedent meander river that had flowed on High and Middle level erosion surface. But the channel pattern has been modified.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.41-57
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• 1990

Gravel shapes of the terrace gravel sequences are compared with the present river gravels and beach gravels in the Pohang and its surrounding areas. Seventeen gravel textural parameters are divided into 5 groups based on R-mode factor analysis. Among them, three parameters (RDm, MPSm, SZstd) are selected for a test of discriminant possibility of palaeoenvironment of the terrace gravel deposits. Marine gravels are in the range of 0.49 to 0.75 in mean roundness, 0.46 to 0.78 in mean maximum projection sphericity and 0.39 to 1.85 in standard deviation of size, whereas river gravels are 0.28 to 0.51 in mean roundness, 0.66 to 0.72 in mean maximum projection sphericity and 1.04 to 1.81 in standard deviation of size. For practical access to the palaeoenvironment discrimination, a bivariant diagram between mean roundness and mean maximum projection sphericity is the most effective. The marine terrace gravels are plotted within the variation range of present beach gravels and show 0.49 to 0.71 in mean roundness and 0.59 to 0.66 in mean maximum projection sphericity. The gravels of river terrace vary within the range of gravels derived from present river bed and are characterized as 0.36 to 0.48 in mean roundness and 0.66 to 0.71 in mean maximum projection sphericity.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.48-55
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• 2009

To investigate the paleoceanographic environmental changes around the Okinawa Trough, Japan, a piston core (RN88-PC5) was conducted on benthic foraminiferal species composition, assemblage, sedimentological and geochemical analyses. Trubidite sediment intercalated in studied core contains different benthic foraminiferal species, dwelling in shallow coral reef species, from normal hemipelagic sediment. These different benthic foraminiferal species and its assemblage are interpreted as reworked sediment when turbidite current occurred, synchronically. Grain size analysis clearly showed that mean grain size difference occurred between trubidite and hemipelagic sediments. Geochemical analysis also showed the difference of chemical composition between two sedimentary facies. Results of the foraminiferal oxygen isotope analysis showing global surface water warming records since the last 10 ka. The geochemcial analysis and previous works showed that turbidite sediment of studied core indicating sporadic occurrence of regional paleoceanographic events. Assemblage of shallow coral reef benthic foraminifera especially occurred with turbidite layer clearly support the sporadic occurrence of paleoceanographic events such as regional earthquake.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.34-47
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• 2009

AMS radiocarbon dates indicated that Eurimji reservoir, located at Jecheon City, Chungbuk Province, has been formed during the late Holocene Epoch. The sedimentary sequence at bottom reveals histories in hydrology, climate conditions and past vegetation dynamics. Ages controlled sedimentological and palynological analyses on ER 3-1 Core contribute to reconstruct paleoclimate and past hydrological conditions. These analyses suggest that lower interval (307.5m~309.5m elevations) of the ER 3-1 Core was deposited in stable from 1,920 yrBP to 1,420 yrBP, but upper layer sediment above these elevations was composed of reworked sediments during the pre and post 2,000 yrBP. Pollen assemblage indicates that watershed vegetation of the Eurimji reservoir, during the period of 1,920 yrBP~1,420 yrBP, was closely comparable to modern vegetation dominated Pinus and Quercus mixed vegetation. Also, riparian including Alnus, Fraxinus and Salix were inhabited along the banks of stream, and aquatics such as Typha, Nymphaea and Persicaria flourished at shore of the reservoir. According to cultural chronicle, it infers that the Eurimji reservoir was formed from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age or the beginning of ancient society. An integrated data suggested that Quercus-Pinus-Abies mixed forest flourished under cool and dry climate conditions during 3,200 yrBP~200 yrBP.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.11-24
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• 2010

Seongnyu Cave have developed along the NE-SW direction in carbonate rocks of the Joseon Supergroup. The cave mostly shows horizontal passages and contains three lakes. The main passage is about 330 m long with 540 m-long branches, thus the total length of the cave is about 870 m. Through cave diving, about 85 m-long new passages were discovered. Numerous speleothems such as soda straws, stalactites, stalagmites, columns, flowstones, rimstones, cave shields, cave corals, curtains (and bacon sheets), cave pearls, cave flowers, helictites and calcite rafts can be found in the cave. Especially, some speleothems which were believed to have grown in the past were discovered in the submerged passage, and a few stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones and columns were eroded (or corroded) by the cave stream that flowed on the floor. Because these speleothems only grow in subaerial environments within limestone caves, it appears that they grew when there was no lake in the cave and became submerged as the lake level rose in the cave. The presence of these speleothems in the lakes indicate that they only grew during glacial periods when sea-level was lower. Therefore, detailed investigation of these speleothems will provide invaluable information on paleoclimatic evolution around the Korean peninsula in the future.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2010

Holocene vegetation and climate changes were assumed on the basis of pollen records from Wonpyeong Trench II-3 of the Osong archaeological site, Cheongju, Chungbuk Province, Korea. An organic matter beared in coarse sediments appeared to be low throughout the succession. Although an occurrence of pollen grains is not high, some dominant and principal taxa may indicate vegetation changes response to climate changes in central inland area of the Korean Peninsula. The age determination can be estimated with indirect way by comparing with previous age-controlled pollen studies. It is assumed that the former last glacial conifer forests had been changed into open mixed conifers and deciduous broadleaved forest during the early Holocene period. Warmer and more humid climate conditions, during the mid-Holocene, might have allowed the hardwoods including deciduous- and evergreen-broadleaved trees, and warm-preferring pine tree to flourish. Subsequently, the former forests were replaced by mixed of conifer and deciduous broadleaved forest owing to deterioration of climate conditions during the late Holocene. Human activity is also detected by agricultural indicators, such as buckwheat and large pollen grains comparable to corn, in upper most pollen profile. During this time, the forests in studied area were primarily affected by human disturbance rather than natural environment.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2001

Morphometric parameters such as cone height, cone height/width ratio($H_{co}$/$W_{co}$), cone height/difference between cone width and crater width ratio($H_{co}$/$W_{co-cr}$) and slope angle are measured to investigate the rates of slope development of scoria cones in Cheju Island. The parameters systematically decrease with increasing age of scoria cones, suggesting that comparative morphology of scoria cones is a useful age indicator. Cone age is most highly correlated with $H_{co}$/($W_{co-cr}$ or average slope angle because summit craters are infilled and eventually removed by erosional processes. The average slope angle is estimated as $\theta_{ave}$= $tan^{-1}$/〔2.$H_{co}$/$W_{co-cr}$〕. Cheju Island was formed through four eruptive stages during Pleistocene. The youngest cones of stage 4(0.1~0.025Ma) have a mean average slope angle of 23.6$\pm$1.7$^{\circ}$, whereas stage 3(0.3~0.1Ma) and stage 2(0.6~0.3Ma) cones have mean values of 18.9$\pm$$1.7^{\circ}C$and 12.6$\pm$$1.9^{\circ}C$, respectively.