• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
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• v.7 no.2 s.25
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• pp.53-63
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• 2007

This study is to evaluate the probable snowfall depth by the point frequency analysis and to draw the map of probable snowfall depth in Korea. The 14 probability distributions which has been widely used in hydrologic frequency analysis are applied to the annual maximum depth of snowfall data. The parameters of each probability distribution are estimated by method of moments, maximum likelihood method and method of probability weighted moments. The estimated parameters were checked by parameter validity conditions of each assumed probability distribution. Four tests that are $X^2-test$, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Cramer von Mises test and probability plot correlation coefficient test are used in this study to determine the goodness of fit of the distributions. Mostly the 2-parameter gamma distribution was determined as appropriate distribution for the annual maximum new snowfall depth. The probable snowfall depth were obtained from appropriate distribution for the selected return periods and the maps of probable snowfall depth were presented. It will be useful to specify the snowfall load for the design of agricultural facilities such as vinyl house and cattle shed.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.42 no.3 s.120
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• pp.332-343
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• 2007

This study aims to examine the distribution of heat waves and to understand its cause for 33 years$(1973\sim2005)$ from 60 weather stations in Korea. Heat wave is defined as a period of 3 or more days with a daily maximum temperature exceeds the 95th percentile. In the inland of Chungcheong region, the Chungcheong western costal region, the inland of Jeolla region, the inland of Gyeongsang region and the southern region of Jeju island, heat wave days appeared more than 160 days. In the middle region of eastern costal and the northern region of Jeju island, heat wave days were less than 110 days. In regions that were heavily influenced by southwesterly winds during the occurrence of heat waves, such as the inland of Chungcheong region, the Chungcheong western costal region, the inland of Jeolla region and the inland of Gyeongsang region, heat waves continued for the longer term.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.461-474
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• 2006

This paper aims to analyze regional characteristics of unusual temperature events on summer and winter. The major data used in this study are the daily mean temperature of summer (June-August) and winter (December-February) and wind field on 850 hPa height. Regions of unusual temperature are divided into five regions by the monthly frequency of unusual temperature occurrence. The divided regions are following as: the middle east coastal region (I) where the summer unusual high temperature occurrence frequency is highest; the Gyunggi west coastal and northern middle inland region (II) where winter unusual low temperature occurrence frequency is highest and winter unusual high temperature occurrence frequency is low; the western middle and south region (III) where unusual temperature occurrence ratio is not concentrated on specific season; the forest and southern east region (IV) where unusual high temperature is low; and the south coastal and Jeju island region (V) where winter unusual high temperature is highest.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.79-94
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• 2013

Gyeongju in Saro or Silla one of ancient kingdoms in Yeongnam region of southeast Korea, had been developed as a capital city for thousand years despite its unfavorable geographical location being leaned to the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula. Although this rare case in the world resulted from various facts relevant to political capability and intelligence of the ancient Gyeongju people, the geomorphic characteristics played a key role for its political development. In this paper, we discuss the establishment and growth of ancient kingdoms in Gyeongju area in terms of geomorphological factors such as the Taebaek and Sobaek mountain ranges, distribution of fault lines and alluvial fans along the eastern coast of the peninsula, characteristics of the coastal regions. That is, abundant grain supply from alluvial fans in Gyeongju and surrounding areas, high population-carrying capacity of land and positioning of an ancient supercity were made possible by the geomorphological contributions. Furthermore, Gyeongju could hold the lead in competition with surrounding kingdoms by accumulation of wealth and military superiority derived from production and circulation of salt and iron works. Gyeongju had become the capital of ancient kingdoms due to the geomorphic advantages during the ancient times in Korea.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.123-134
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• 2012

This work is to describe the geomorphological landscapes of of Dongcheon-gugok in Korea, and attempts to develop a basic data for traditional natural heritage. Dongcheon-gugok is a union of natural lanscape and human mind-activity. Therefore the study of natural landscape, which consists of geomorphological landscapes, provides a basic data for the use and conservation of traditional natural heritage. Dongcheon-gugok in Korea is almost distributed in the valley of mountainous areas of Taeback and Soback Mountain Ranges. The bedrocks of the areas of Dongcheon-gugok are almost granitic rocks and sedimentary rocks. The landscapes of Dongcheon-gugok is characterized by narrow meandering valley, so Gugok means nine-bended river. The elements of the geomorphological features is a broad flat rock with sheeting joints, joint-block seperated large blocks or tor, steep slope and rocky cliffs, pool, ripple, large or small scale waterfall, pot-hole, etc.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.433-449
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• 2006

Temporal and spatial variations of precipitation in South Korea are investigated using 60 observation data of the recent 30-years from 1976 to 2005. The area averaged annual precipitation amount is about 1310 mm and shows a strong spatial variation, maximum at the southern and Kyoungki province (>1300 mm) and minimum at the Kyungpook province(<1100 mm). The precipitation days show a strong spatial variation with maximum at the Sobaik mountain region(>100 days) and minimum at the Kyungpook province (<90 days). The interannual variations (IAV) of precipitation amount and days are more significant at the southern and eastern part of Sobaik and Taebaik mountain, and along the Sobaik mountain, respectively. So, the difference of annual precipitation amount reaches to about 800mm between wet and dry years at the southern part of Korean peninsula. Whereas, the IAV of precipitation intensity is strong at the southern and middle part of South Korea with a minimum between two maxima. Also, seasonal variations are closely linked with the geographic environments (elevation, distance from ocean, location relative to the Taebaik mountain). Therefore, maximum and minimum of seasonal variations of precipitation are occurred at the northern inland region (ratio of summer to the annual precipitation (RSAP) is greater than 60%), eastern and southern coastal regions (RSAP is less than 53%),respectively. And the RSAP is slightly increased from 50% to 55% comparing the Ho and Kang (1988). The consistent and strong positive relation between the heavy rainfalls, the ratio of heavy rainfalls to annual precipitation and the annual precipitation indicates that heavy rainfall is more frequent and strong at the maximum annual precipitation region.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.224-243
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• 2020

The rock-cut relief of two Buddhas seated side-by-side in Wonpungri is a large Buddha sculpture in relief on the side of a cliff in Wonpung-ri, Goesan. This Buddha sculpture is from the Buddhist scripture Sutra of the Lotus. <法華經> Two seated Buddhas statues were prevalent in the Balhae Kingdom, but this was not popular in Silla and Goryeo. In the main text, the time that the two seated Buddhas in Wonpung-ri was created is identified as being during the 10th century. King Gwangjong created a Buddha statue for political purposes. The relief of two seated Buddha image carved on a cliff is located on an important traffic route over the Sobaek Mountain Range. After King Gwangjong took the throne, he paid close attention to the reigning powers of Jincheon and Cheongju because the people of Jincheon and Cheongju were engaged in a power struggle against Gwangjong. The huge relief of two seated Buddhas statue shows the authority of King Gwangjong. In particular, the people of Jincheon and Cheongju had to see this Buddha statue when crossing the Sobaek Mountain Range. The image contained in the relief of the two seated Buddhas features many characteristics of the sculpture style of the Balhae Kingdom. After the fall of Balhae, many of the Balhae people settled in Mungyeong. Balhae people from Mungyeong participated in the production of the relief of the two seated Buddhas. Through the relief of the two seated Buddhas, King Gwangjong wanted to show the people of Jincheon and Cheongju that the Balhae people were supporting him. The relief of two seated Buddhas reflects the historical situation of the King Gwangjong era in the late 10^th century and the style of sculpture.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.276-295
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• 2008

Recent disputes on mountain ranges in Korea have partially been derived from the discordance of the spatial distribution and the extent of mountain ranges presented by different researchers and school textbooks. The lack of consensus on the definition and genesis of mountain ranges adds further confusion. In order to overcome these problems, it is necessary to provide genetically classified mountain range maps for different usages, map scales and educational purposes. This paper first argues that mountain ranges and mountain ridges should separately be used as different conceptual frameworks to explain complex spatial distribution of mountains in Korea. The new mountain range map (sanmaekdo) proposed in this research puts strong emphasis on tectonic movement and denudational processes to explain the spatial distribution of mountains. The new mountain range map has 15 mountain ranges (sanmaek: in total, which are further divided into 7 primary and 8 secondary mountain ranges. The new mountain range map eliminates Jeogyuryeongsanmaek, Myohyangsanmaek, Myeoraksanmaek, and Masingnyeongsanmaek from the existing map, since these have a vague definition and obscure spatial distribution. On the contrary, few new primary mountain ranges (Gilju-Myeongcheonsanmaek, Yangsansanmaek, Jirisanmaek) and secondary mountain ranges (Wolchulsanmaek and Buksubaeksanmaek) are added to the new mountain range map. Other mountain ranges also show a large difference both in their spatial distribution and the extent of mountain ranges, compared with the previous map. This is especially the case for Nangnimsanmaek, Hamgyeongsanmaek, Taebaeksanmaek, and Sobaeksanmaek. A few new names are also assigned to Macheollyeongsanmaek (Baekdusanmaek), Gwangjusanmaek (Hwaaksanmaek), Charyeongsanmaek (Chiaksanmaek), and Horyeongsanmaek (Naejangsanmaek), even though they show similar spatial distribution patterns with the ones in the existing map.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.199-226
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• 2020

Hwangmaesan Mt. (1,108 m) is rich in forest biodiversity and is a part of the Sobaek mountain range located in Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsang-do in Korea. Unfortunately, the biodiversity and ecosystem integrity of Hwangmaesan Mt. have recently been threatened by heavy human disturbances. We conducted thirteen field surveys between March and October of 2019 to investigate the vascular flora in Hwangmaesan Mt. Through this extensive survey, we found 628 taxa consisting of 106 families, 349 genera, 554 species, 16 subspecies, 48 varieties, and 10 forma. Based on a comparative analysis between the present findings and former flora reports, our results showed an increase by 28 percent in the number of taxa observed. Of the 628 taxa, dicotyledons made up the largest group (477 taxa, 76.0%) followed by monocotyledons (120 taxa, 19.1%). Endemic plants consisted of 16 taxa, with rare plants designated by the Korea Forest Service numbering 14 taxa. Ten taxa were listed on the Red list by the Ministry of the Environment. The floristic target species designated by the Ministry of the Environment numbered 75 taxa, whereas there were 42 taxa of invasive plants.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.686-700
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• 2003

In Korea, aside from their official administrative names, aliases of each province or some regions are widely used not only today but also during the Joseon period when the provincial system as local administrative system was firmly implemented. Of aliases, the most representative were Giho, Gwandong, Hoseo, Haeseo, Honam, Yaeongnam, Gwanseo, and Gwanbuk representing the eight provinces (precisely, Gyeonggi and seven provinces) of Chosun Dynasty, as well as Yeongdong and Yeongseo that represent the east and the west of Gangwon-do. These aliases are mostly based on topographical features and physiographical elements, and compared to the official names of eight provinces which depended solely on city names. Of aliases, some appeared in literature during 13-l4th centuries, and all provincial aliases seem to have been widely used after the late 15th century. Aliases continued to be used for 500 to over 700 years. Aliases of eight provinces, geographically, played not lesser role than their official names. Aliases of the eight provinces and regions during the Chosun Dynasty that have been handed down are considered as holding their places' cultural and historical backgrounds, and have become important enough to be accepted as a unit of geographical regional division. The origin and meaning of aliases of each province have been partially disclosed to the geographical circle and the general public. However, the details should be reviewed. First of all, Gwan in Gwanbuk, Gwanseo and Gwandong, as well as Yeong in Yeongnam, Yeongdong and Yeongseo, are each considered as meaning Sobaek Mountain Range and Taebaek Mountain Range with many borderline areas (borders) and military strategic hubs. Also, Ho in Honam, Hoseo, and Giho, are considered as based on the Geum River and Eurimji, and Haeseo are considered as meaning the west of the Gyeonggi Bay, and having relevancy with the first letters of Haeju and Seoha (Pungcheon).