• Title/Summary/Keyword: Hydrogeography

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Recent Research Trends in American Geomorphology and Hydrogeography (미국에서의 지형학과 수문지리학의 최근 연구동향)

  • Chang Heejun;Kim Changhwan
    • Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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    • v.39 no.6 s.105
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    • pp.873-887
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    • 2004
  • We examined research trends in geomorphology and hydrogeography in America based on papers presented at the annual meetings of the Association of American Geographers(AAG) and papers published in two AAG journals between 2002 and 2004. Among the 437 papers in geomorphology, $40\%$ of the papers concerned fluvial geomorphology, followed by environmental geomorphology and glacial and periglacial geomorphology concern. Among the 452 papers in hydrogeography, about $20\%$ of the papers focused on water, law and institutional aspects, followed by hydrogeomorphology and hydrologic modeling. Twenty one papers examining geomorphology and hydeogeography were published in two AAG journals, and fluvial geomorpholoy was the dominant theme. GIS was used for $29\%$ papers in geomorphology and $35\%$ of papers in hydrogeography($35\%$), suggesting that other methods, including geostatistics, field survey, and qualitative methods, are employed as well. This methodological diversification seems to be associated with solving such complex environmental problems as integrated watershed management and implies that geomorphologists and hydrogeographers are expanding their traditional territories and are making close connections with human-environment geographers and human geographers. Geomorphologists and hydrogeographers are likely to continue examining the causes of and solving environmental problems that humans are currently facing and might face in the future.

The physical geography in general:yesterday and tomorrow (자연지리학 일반: 회고와 전망)

  • Son, Ill
    • Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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    • v.31 no.2
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    • pp.138-159
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    • 1996
  • There has been a tendency for Geomorphology and Climatology to be dominant in Physical Geography for 50 years in Korea. Physical Geography is concerned with the study of the totality of natural environment through the integrated approaches. But, an overall direction or a certain paradigm could not be found, because major sub-divisions of Physical Geography have been studied individually and the subjects and the approaches in studying Physical Geography are enormously diverse. A consensus of opinion could not also exist in deciding what kind of the sub-divisions should be included in the physical geography in general and how those should be summarized. Furthermore it would be considered imprudent to survey the studies of Physical Geography besides those of Geomorphology and Climatology due to the small number of researchers. Assuming that the rest of Physical Geographical studies with the exception of Geomorphological and Climatological studies are the Physical Geography in general, the studies of Physical Geogrpahy in general are summarized and several aspects are drown out as follows. First the descliption of all possible factors of natural environments was the pattern of early studies of Physical Geography and the tendency is maintained in the various kinds of research and project reports. Recently Physical Geographers have published several introductory textbooks or research monographs. In those books, however, the integrated approaches to Physical Geography were not suggested and the relationship between man and nature are dealt with in the elementary level. Second, the authentic soil studies of Physical Geographers are insignificant, because the studies of soil in Physical Geography have been mostly considered as the subsidiary means of Geomorphology Summarizing the studies of Soil Gegraphy by physical geographers and other Pedologists, the subjects are classified as soil-forming processes, soil erosions, soil in the tidal flat and reclaimed land, and soil pollution. Physical Geographers have focused upon the soil-forming processes in order to elucidate the geomorphic processes and the past climatic environment. The results of other subjects are trifling. Thirdy Byogeygrayhers and the results of studies are extremely of small number and the studies of Biogeography in Korea lines in the starting point. But, Biogeography could be a more unifying theme for the Physical-human Geography interface, and it would be expected to play an active part in the field of environmental conservation and resource management. Forth, the studies of Hydrogeography (Geographical Hydrology) in Korea have run through the studies of water balance and the morphometric studies such as the drainage network analysis and the relations of various kinds of morphometric elements in river. Recently, the hydrological model have introduced and developed to predict the flow of sediment, discharge, and ground water. The growth of groundwater studies is worthy of close attention. Finally, the studies on environmental problems was no mole than the general description about environmental destruction, resource development, environmental conservation, etc. until 1970s. The ecological perspectives on the relationship between man and nature were suggested in some studies of natural hazard. The new environmentalism having been introduced since 1980s. Human geographers have lead the studies of Environmental Perception. Environmental Ethics, Environmental Sociology, environmental policy. The Physical geographers have stay out of phase with the climate of the time and concentrate upon the publication of introductory textbooks. Recently, several studies on the human interference and modification of natural environments have been made an attempt in the fields of Geomorphology and climatology. Summarizing the studies of Physical Geography for 50 years in Korea, the integrated approaches inherent in Physical Geography disappeared little by little and the majol sub-divisions of Physical Ceography have develop in connection with the nearby earth sciences such as Geology, Meteorology, Pedology, Biology, Hydrology, etc been rediscovered by non-geographers under the guise of environmental science. It is expected that Physical Geography would revive as the dominant subject to cope with environmental problems, rearming with the innate integrated approaches.

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