• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.428-435
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• 2019

In the shallow coastal area, located off the northwestern Taean Peninsula of the eastern Yellow Sea, geoacoustic models with two layers were reconstructed for underwater acoustic experimentation and modeling. The Yellow Sea experienced glacio-eustasy sea-level fluctuations during Quaternary period. Coastal sedimentation in the Yellow Sea was characterized by alternating terrestrial and shallow marine deposits that reflected the fluctuating sea levels. The coastal geoacoustic models were based on data from piston, grab cores and the high-resolution 3.5 kHz, chirp seismic profiles (about 70 line-kilometers, respectively). Geoacoustic data of the cores were extrapolated down to 3 m in depth for geoacoustic models. The geoacoustic property of seafloor sediments is considered a key parameter for modeling underwater acoustic environments. For simulating actual underwater environments, the P-wave speed of the models was adjusted to in-situ depth below the sea floor using the Hamilton method. The proposed geoacoustic models could be used for submarine acoustic inversion and modeling in shallow-water environments of the study area.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.154-163
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• 2018

Geoacoustic model comprises physical and acoustic properties of submarine bottom layers influencing sound transmission through sea water and underwater. This study suggested for the first time that we made a geoacoustic model of long-coring bottom layers at the SSDP-105 drilling site of the Ulsan coastal area, which is located in the southwestern inner shelf of the East Sea. The geoacoustic model of 52 m depth below seafloor with three-layer geoacoustic units was reconstructed in the coastal sedimentary strata at 79 m in water depth. The geoacoustic model was based on the data of a deep-drilled sediment core of SSDP-105 and sparker seismic profiles in the study area. For actual modeling, the geoacoustic property values of the models were compensated to in situ depth values below the sea floor using the Hamilton modeling method. We suggest that the geoacoustic model be used for geoacoustic and underwater acoustic experiments of mid- and low-frequency reflecting on the deep bottom layers in the Ulsan coastal area of the East Sea.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.24-36
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• 2019

In the mid-eastern Yellow Sea, glacio-eustatic sea-level fluctuations and a regional tectonic subsidence have combined to represent an aggradational stacking pattern of sedimentary units during late Pleistocene-Holocene. The accumulated sediments are divisible into two-type units of Type-A and Type-B in high-resolution air-gun seismic profiles and the deep-drilled core of YSDP-105. Type-A unit largely comprises clast-rich coarse-grained sediments of non-marine to paralic origin, whereas Type-B unit consists mostly of tidal fine-grained sediments. Based on a bottom model of the sedimentary units, this study suggested a geoacoustic model of long-coring bottom layers at the YSDP-105 drilling site of the mid-eastern Yellow Sea. The geoacoustic model of 64-m depth below the seafloor with four-layer geoacoustic units was reconstructed in continental shelf strata at 45 m in water depth. For actual modeling, the geoacoustic property values of the models were compensated to in situ depth values below the seafloor using the Hamilton modeling method. We suggest that the geoacoustic model will be used for geoacoustic and underwater acoustic experiments of mid- and low-frequency reflecting on the deep bottom layers in the mid-eastern Yellow Sea.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.247-258
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• 2016

Physical and acoustic properties of sediment on the southwestern Taean Penisula, the Yellow Sea, were studied using eight piston cores. The sediments in the study area are largely composed of sand which has been deposited with sea-level change after LGM(Last Glacial Maximum). After the sea-level rise, fine-grained sediments discharged from Keum River and neighboring coast area were deposited as muddy sand or sandy mud. Results of these sedimentary environment in this area, the texture of sediments are different from place to place with variable horizontal and vertical distribution of physical and acoustic properties. Correlations among the physical, geoacoustic properties, and mean grain size show slight deviations from those of the South Sea in spite of similar pattern. This is probably due to the differences in sedimentary environment, mineral composition, and measurement system.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.77-85
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• 2000

Laboratory determinations of acoustic and physical properties in Korea Strait sediment were carried out. Sediment sound velocimeter(SSV) was employed to measure the sound velocity of sandy sediment. Distribution patterns of the acoustic and physical properties are controlled by sediment texture. The study area is divided into three provinces(mid-shelf, shelf margin and enough) based on the acoustic and physical properties. This classification matches well with the previous result[14] based on the systems tracks and depositional systems. We suggest a geoacoustic model of the Korea Strait that replacing the old model of Briggs and Fisher[5].

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.289-302
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• 1991

Laboratory determination of acoustic property for unconsolidated sediment of Kwangyang Bay was carried out. The compressional wave velocity was correlated to other physical properties and sediment textures to establish a geoacoustic model of the bay. The model was compared to the North Pacific continental terrace sediment. Velocity of the bay is systematically lower(0.02-0.04km/s) than that of the North Pacific. Average velocity of the bay is 1.521km/s. The lowest velocity is measured at the southwestern part of the bay. This area coincides with high amount of fine-grained sediment related to slower circulation. The overall tendency is, however, similar to the North Pacific continental terrace sediment.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.20 no.2E
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• pp.30-45
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• 2001

This study considers the environmental factors affecting propagation loss and sonar performance in the continental regions of the East Coast Sea of Korea. Water mass distributions appear to change dramatically in a few weeks. Simple calculation with the case when the NKCW (North Korean Cold Water) develops shows that the difference in propagation loss may reach in the worst up to 10dB over range 5km. Another factor, an eddy, has typical dimensions of 100-200km in diameter and 150-200m in thickness. Employing a typical eddy and assuming frequency to be 100Hz, its effects on propagation loss appear to make lower the normal formation of convergence zones with which sonars are possible to detect long-range targets. The change of convergence zones may result in 10dB difference in received signals in a given depth. Thermal fronts also appear to be critical restrictions to operating sonars in shallow waters. Assuming frequency to be 200Hz, thermal fronts can make 10dB difference in propagation loss between with and without them over range 20km. An observation made in one site in the East Coast Sea of Korea reveals that internal waves may appear in near-inertial period and their spectra may exist in periods 2-17min. A simulation employing simple internal wave packets gives that they break convergence zones on the bottom, causing the performance degradation of FOM as much as 4dB in frequency 1kHz. An acoustic experiment, using fixed source and receiver at the same site, shows that the received signals fluctuate tremendously with time reaching up to 6.5dB in frequencies 1kHz or less. Ambient noises give negative effects directly on sonar performance. Measurements at some sites in the East Coast Sea of Korea suggest that the noise levels greatly fluctuate with time, for example noon and early morning, mainly due to ship traffics. The average difference in a day may reach 10dB in frequency 200Hz. Another experiment using an array of hydrophones gives that the spectrum levels of ambient noises are highly directional, their difference being as large as 10dB with vertical or horizontal angles. This fact strongly implies that we should obtain in-situ information of noise levels to estimate reasonable sonar performance. As one of non-stationary noise sources, an eel may give serious problems to sonar operation on or under the sea bottoms. Observed eel noises in a pier of water depth 14m appear to have duration time of about 0.4 seconds and frequency ranges of 0.2-2.8kHz. The 'song'of an eel increases ambient noise levels to average 2.16dB in the frequencies concerned, being large enough to degrade detection performance of the sonars on or below sediments. An experiment using hydrophones in water and sediment gives that sensitivity drops of 3-4dB are expected for the hydrophones laid in sediment at frequencies of 0.5-1.5kHz. The SNR difference between in water and in sediment, however, shows large fluctuations rather than stable patterns with the source-receiver ranges.