• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.3 s.172
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• pp.335-346
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• 2005

In this study, core sediments and pore water were analysed to identify the origin of organic matter and Bas in late Quaternary sediments from the northwestern Ulleung Basin of the East Sea. C/N and C/S ratios in the sediments show that the organic matter in the study area originated predominantly from marine algae. However, the results of Rock-Eval pyrolysis indicate that the organic matter has an origin of the land-plant (Type III), locating in the immature stage. These different results might be due to the heavy oxidizing of the organic matter during sinking down to the seafloor or after deposition in the sediments. Concentration of sulfate in the pore water decreases gradually with core depth, while concentration of $CH_4$ increases gradually with core depth. This indicates that sulfate reduction and methanogenesis occurred actively in the sediments. Also, it is likely that the compositions of $CH_4$ are characterized as a more biogenic origin, mostly caused by microbial activity, rather than a thermogenic one.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.7-16
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• 2003

A 31m-long sediment core (SSDP-102) was taken from the inner shelf (about 40m water-depth) off the northwestern coast of the Korea Strait. Detailed lithofacies and organic-geochemical analyses were performed to establish a high-resolution stratigraphy in the Korea Strait shelf and to reconstruct the paleoenvironmental changes associated with the Holocene marine transgression. The stratigraphic framework of the core was primarily established using 6 AMS $^{14}C$ ages. The sedimentary record of the core SSDP-102 allows for the reconstruction of the paleoenvironmental changes during the last 12.1 ka BP. According to the high-resolution seismic reflection profiles, lithofacies and organic-geochemical data, the core SSDP-102 can be divided into three units (III to I in ascending order) above the acoustic basement. The three units reflect distinct changes of depositional environments resulted from the post-glacial marine transgression. Therefore, it is suggested that three phases of sea-level change have occurred within the inner shelf of the Korea Strait following the Holocene marine transgression. (1) estuarine environments from ca. 12.1 to 6.2 ka BP; (2) near-shore environments with a period of decreased rising of sea level between 6.2 and 5.1 ka BP; (3) near-shore to modem marine environments after 5.1 ka BP. In particular, the present marine conditions influenced by the warm Tsushima Current have been gradually established after ca. 5.1 ka BP.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.257-266
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• 2018

East China Sea (ECS) is known to be supplied with large amounts of sediments form Huanghe, Changjiang and various rivers in Korea. Many studies have been conducted to identify the effects of rivers and deposition process of ECS, but no consensus has been reached. In this study, clay minerals, rare earth elements (REEs) and grain size were analyzed to study the provenance and sedimentation environment of core 99MAP-P63 in ECS. Clay mineral contents of 99MAP-P63 are abundant in order of illite, chlorite, kaolinite, and smectite. The provenance of 99MAP-P63 sediments using clay minerals is interpreted as the Changjiang regardless of depth. As a result of REEs analysis, 99MAP-P63 sediments are very similar to Chinese rivers sediments. Therefore, the provenance of 99MAP-P63 is Changjiang, and the influence of Korean river seems to be insignificant. 99MAP-P63 sediments are generally classified as sandy silt, but the top of the core is divided into sand with a sand contents of 85 %. Compared with surrounding cores, sandy silt sediments arecorresponded to the low stand stage when sea-level was low, and the sediments were thought to have been supplied directly through the paleo-Changjiang. Sandy sediments in uppermost of core are corresponded to transgressive stage. Although distance from estuary was increased due to sea-level rise, it was possible to supply coarse sediments due to high bottom stress, and the paleo-Changjiang sediments deposited in study area were re-deposited.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.141-153
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• 2023

Biological pump processes generated by diatom production in the surface water of the Southern Ocean play an important role in exchanging CO₂ gas between the atmosphere and ocean. In this study, the biogenic opal content of the sediments was measured to elucidate the variation in the primary production of diatoms in the surface water of the Southern Ocean since the last glacial period. A piston core (COR-1bPC) was collected from the Conrad Rise, which is located in the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean. The sediments were mainly composed of siliceous ooze, and sediment lightness increased and magnetic susceptibility decreased in an upward direction. The biogenic opal content was low (38.9%) during the last glacial period and high (73.4%) during the Holocene, showing a similar variation to that of Antarctic ice core ΔT and CO₂ concentration. In addition, the variation of biogenic opal content in core COR-1bPC is consistent with previous results reported in the Antarctic Zone, south of the Antarctic Polar Front, in the Southern Ocean. The glacial-interglacial biogenic opal production was influenced by the extent of sea ice coverage and degree of water column stability. During the last glacial period, the diatom production was reduced due to the penetration of light being limited in the euphotic zone by the extended sea ice coverage caused by the lowered seawater temperature. In addition, the formation of a strong thermocline in more extensive areas of sea ice coverage led to stronger water column stability, resulting in reduced diatom production due to the reduction in the supply of nutrient-rich subsurface water caused by a decrease in upwelling intensity. Under such environmental circumstances, diatom productivity decreased in the Antarctic Zone during the last glacial period, but the biogenic opal content increased rapidly under warming conditions with the onset of deglaciation.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.71-81
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• 2015

This study was carried out in order to investigate the mineralogical characteristics of the core sediments (03GHP-02 and HB13-2), obtained from the Ulleung Basin and Hupo Basin, Korea. The results on mineral compositions, clay mineral compositions, and the total contents and sequential extraction of different fractions of the phosphorus in core samples showed that those values are different in two cores and also at different depths. In both samples, mineral compositions were the same, composed mainly of quartz, microcline, albite, calcite, opal A, pyrite, and clay minerals (illite, chlorite, kaolinite, and smectite). However, the sample from Hupo Basin contains more opal A. Both samples, especially the ones from Hupo Basin contains more smectite than those reported from East Sea, indicating the influence of paleo-Hwangwei River and the Tertiary Formation of Korea Peninsula. For the samples from Uleung Basin, at 0.7-3.5 m range in depth, the low content of opal A and the low illite crystallinity index can be inferred to indicate the relatively cool climate, corresponding to the ice age. Also, the content of total phosphorus was low in those samples. It was reported that East Sea at that time was isolated from the neighboring seas due to the decrease of the sea level, and as a result, the influx of sediments was supposed to be little through the strait and rivers. For the samples from Hupo Basin, there is no significant changes in clay mineral composition and the distribution of phosphorus with increasing depth. This little change can be interpreted to indicate that the sediments comprising the core might be deposited in a relatively short period of time or deposited in sedimentary environment in which there's no significant changes in sediment supplies. The values of crystallinity index of clay minerals are high in those samples, indicating that it was relatively warm during that time. Although the increase of fluctuation pattern can be observed, showing that the climate of this period often changed, it is supposed that it was generally warm.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.43-57
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• 2005

Twelve bottom sediments and three cores were collected in Juam reservoir for a study on transportation, which was controlled by particle grain size (2mm-200{\mu}m,\;200-100{\mu}m,\;100-50{\mu}m,\;50-20{\mu}m,\;<20{\mu}m), and vertical distribution of heavy metals. Sediment cores were sliced into 2 to 5 cm intervals to measure heavy metal concentrations in interstitial water and sediments with depth. Pb isotopic compositions of core samples were determined to calculate sedimentation rate. Regardless of sampling sites, levels of heavy metals and trace elements in bottom sediments are nearly constant with mean values of $14.9\;{\mu}g/g\;for\;As,\;0.81{\mu}g/g\;for\;Cd,\;30.7{\mu}g/g\;for\;Cu,\;34.7{\mu}g/g\;for\;Ni,\;63.3{\mu}g/g\;for\;Pb\;and\;87.9{\mu}g/g\;for\;Zn$. In general, Cu, Pb, Zn, Wi, and Cr in fraction of $<20{\mu}m$ exhibit the highest concentration, but content of As is the highest in grain size of $2\;mm-200\;{\mu}m$ and $200-100\;{\mu}m$. Fe and Mn occur as the dissolved compositions of the highest concentrations in interstitial waters and increase in their concentrations toward lower part of cores. On the contrary, concentrations of Zn and Cu show the highest value in the uppermost part in cores, suggesting these elements are released from reductive dissolution of hydroxides and oxidation of organic matters under different redox conditions. The highest accumulations of Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn contents in the sediment cores are observed at 0-4 cm layers, and concentrations of Cu and Pb are especially high, implying these heavy metals are originated from anthropogenic sources. The apparent sedimentation rate estimated using unsupported $^{210}Pb$ is 0.91 cm $year^{-1}$, corresponding about 10 cm sedimentation in total depth since construction of Juam dam. These results will provide available information for management of bottom sediment in Juam reservoir.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.296-302
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• 2004

Acoustic experiments are performed for a seafloor classification from 19 May to 25 May 2003. The six different sites of bottom composition are settled and the bottom reflection losses with frequencies (30, 50, 80. 100, 120 kHz) are measured. Sediment samples were collected using gravity core and the sample was extracted for grain size analysis. The fuzzy logic is used to classify the seabed. In the fuzzy logic. Bottom 1083 model of frequency dependence is used as the input membership functions and the output membership functions are composed of the Wentworth grain size of the bottom. The possibility of the seafloor classification is verified comparing the inversed mean grain size using fuzzy logic with the results of the coring.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.25-32
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• 2003

Mongolia, a land-locked country in Central Asia, is located in the region of the highest degree of seasonal contrast on Earth. This paper presents sedimentologic and geomorphic data used to infer Holocene climate change in North-Central Mongolia. Correlation of data show that the climate was cold and dry before 10500 years BP. The post glacial warming occurred from 10500 to 8700 yr BP. The climate was characterized by becoming warmer and dry from 7300 to 6090 radiocarbon years. Between 6100 and 5500 years ago, conditions were hyper arid. Increased effective moisture balance but still arid conditions prevailed between 5500 and 3900 years ago. Since 3900 years ago, generally more humid conditions prevailed and originated varved sediment accumulation. Between about 2300 to 1300 years ago, greater than present day effective moisture balance. Since 1200 years ago climate was cooler and since 600 years ago becoming warmer.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.80-88
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• 2016

The main purpose of this study was to derive managerial priority for pollutants in drinking water using the Delphi technique and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. We collected fundamental existing items based on a literature review for water pollutants, and deduced a total of 36 sub-items from nine core sectors, as follows: organic matter; inorganic substances; pathogenic organisms; chemicals; heavy metals; radioactive substances; sediment deposits; heat; and oil, and then conducted the first round of an expert study to ensure that objective indicators properly evaluate major issues for management of for drinking water quality. In the following round, the necessity and importance assessments of adjusted items were implemented using a content validity ratio index. Finally, items modified by Delphi surveys were applied to AHP. We computed weighted values by pair-wise comparison of sub-items and each of five sectors modified by the second round. According to the results of AHP, the managerial priority for pollutants in drinking water was as follows; while heavy metal placed first in importance, pathogenic organisms came second, followed by inorganic substances, organic matter and chemical substances from the sector perspective.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.881-889
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• 2003

Spatial and vertical variations of butyltins(BTs) were investigated in polluted sediments from Jinhae, Busan, Ulsan and Yeongil Bays located in the southeastern part of Korea. Tributyltin(TBT) as a dominant species was detected in 18 of the 20 surficial sediments, and TBT levels were lower that for those in heavily polluted areas worldwide, ranging from 12 to 766 ng Sn/g dry wt. Distribution of TBT levels among bays was not significantly different (p=0.286, ANOVA). The horizontal distributions observed at 20 sites suggests that TBT concentrations are still high in polluted sites around harbors and industrial complexes. The sedimentary records a peak in the early 1990s in Jinhae Bay, in the mid 1980s in Ulsan Bay and in the late 1970s in Yeongil Bay except for Busan Bay which had a homogenous profile. In paricular, TBT at the surface sediments of four core samples still had high levels. From the horizontal and vertical results, it could be assumed that TBT inputs in the sediments were not reduced significantly compared to past levels. The annual accumulation rates estimated using the sedimentation rates and the concentration of surficial sediments exhibited that the accumulation rate of Ulsan Bay was greater than the rates for Jinhae and Yeongil Bays.