• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.47-61
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• 2019

The Dokdo coast is known for its high biodiversity. However, few studies have examined the biodiversity and macrobenthic community on the subtidal soft-bottom. Therefore, we collected macrobenthos (> 1 mm) using a Smith-McIntyre grab ($0.1m^2$) at 15 stations along the Dokdo coast in September 2016. The sediments consisted of badly sorted (1.7) coarse sand with gravel and the mean sediment grain size was $-0.4{\phi}$. In total, 177 macrobenthic species were collected; their mean density was $1,566ind./m^2$. The number of species and density of macrobenthic fauna decreased significantly with the mean grain size. The dominant species were the amphipods Melita denticulata (16.5%) and Melita shimizui (5.5%), polychaete Salvatoria clavata (5.4%), bivalve Glycymeris aspersa (4.4%), and ophiuroid Ophionereis dubia (4.3%). The dominant macrobenthos species on the subtidal soft-bottom differed from the coastal areas of the East Sea, suggesting that the difference in the sediment grain size affected the macrobenthos. Cluster analysis was performed to divide the study area into four groups, and environmental factors which correlated with species composition and distribution in the study area were the combination of the four parameters of salinity, dissolved oxygen, total organic carbon and depth. A future seasonal investigation is needed to understand the species composition and characteristics of the Dokdo macrobenthos.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.5-10
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• 2018

In this study, the effect of physico-chemical factors (e.g., pressure, electrolyte, and organic matter) in the gas hydrate deposit on CH4-CO2 replacement process was investigated experimentally. The higher initial pressure during gas injection led the higher reaction rate at the first time, but finally it did not. Electrolytes and organic matter have some effects on reforming process after dissociation of gas hydrate. It is expected that further research using real marine sediments with actual gas hydrate will enable the development of technologies applicable to the characteristics of domestic seabed geology. Ultimately, it is expected that it will be possible to recover and utilize methane as an organic resource through application of domestic gas hydrate deposit in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.491-501
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• 2022

This study evaluated the contamination levels of inland pollution sources flowing into Taeanhaean National Park. The nutritional status of influents was assessed by analyzing water quality and trophic status index (TRIX) at 52 stations, and the contamination levels of sediments were evaluated by analyzing eutrophication cleanup index (CIET) and heavy metals at 36 stations. The results of the TRIX analysis showed that 26 of the 52 stations had influents with a TRIX value of 6-10 (poor water quality/very high trophic level), indicating atrocious water quality and high eutrophication levels. The results of the CIET analysis showed that 4 out of the 36 stations were highly contaminated with organic matter. Analysis of heavy metals showed that the copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) levels exceeded the threshold effects level (TEL) and probable effects levels (PEL) at several stations. In addition, the arsenic (As) level exceeded the threshold effects level at one station, and the levels of the other heavy metals (Cd, Cr⁶⁺, Ni, Pb, and Hg) were lower. Most inland pollution sources have been identified as small-scale, but long-term and continuous exposure can negatively affect the marine ecosystem; therefore, it necessary to prepare inland pollution source management standards and measures suitable for the characteristics of the coastal area.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.89-102
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• 2023

Climate and environmental changes in the Arctic Ocean due to global warming have been linked to extreme climate change in mid-latitude regions, including the Korean Peninsula, requiring a better understanding of the Arctic climate system based on the paleo-analog. This review introduces three paleoenvironmental research cases using neodymium isotopes (¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd, ε_Nd) measured on two different fractions of marine sediments: silicate-bound 'detrital' and Fe-Mn oxide-dominated 'authigenic' fractions. In the first case, detrital ε_Nd in core HH17-1085-GC on the continental shelf off northern Svalbard was used for tracing changes in sediment provenance and associated glacier behavior over the last 16.3 ka. The second case showed the potential use of authigenic ε_Nd as a quasi-conservative water mass tracer. Three prominent ε_Nd peaks and troughs observed in core PS72/410-1 from the Mendeleev Ridge in the western Arctic Ocean over the past 76 ka suggested episodic meltwater discharge events during 51~46, 39~35 and 21~13 ka BP. The last case proposed the use of the difference between authigenic and detrital ε_Nd as a proxy for reconstructing glacier fluctuation. The idea is based on the assumption that enhanced glacial erosion during glacier advances can supply sufficient freshly-exposed rock substrate for incongruent weathering, potentially leading to greater isotopic decoupling between bedrock and dissolved weathering products as recorded in detrital and authigenic ε_Nd, respectively. Thus, it would be worthwhile to take advantage of sedimentary ε_Nd to improve our understanding of past environmental changes in polar regions.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.680-690
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• 2022

Tephrochronology uses regional tephra for age dating and stratigraphic correlations. Regional tephras are important in Quaternary geology and archaeology because they can be used as stratigraphic time-markers. In this review, identification and dating methods of tephra are summarized. In addition, the characteristics of regional tephras in terrestrial deposits of the Korean Peninsula are elaborated, and geological applications and limitations of the regional tephra layers are also discussed. So far, AT, Ata, and Kb-Ks tephra layers from Kyushu, Japan have been found in Pleistocene paleosol, marine terrace deposits, and lacustrine deposits in Korea. Also, although not officially confirmed, Aso-4 tephra is likely to occur in terrestrial deposits. The regional tephra layers are vital for dating, especially with regard to sediments over 50 ka beyond the range of radiocarbon dating, and for dating of active faults. Furthermore, it can provide important information for preparing countermeasures against volcanic disasters. However, in order to use the tephra layer geologically, it must be confirmed whether it is a primary deposit based on sedimentological study.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2006

A field survey on the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics and origins of organic matter in surface sediments was carried out monthly at six stations in Gamak Bay, South Korea from April 2000 to March 2002. The range of ignition loss(IL) was $4.6{\sim}11.6%(7.1{\pm}1.6%)$, while chemical oxygen demand(CODs) ranged from $12.25{\sim}99.26mgO_2/g-dry(30.98{\pm}19.09mgO_2/g-dry)$, acid volatile sulfide(AVS) went from no detection(ND)${\sim}10.29mgS/g-dry(1.02{\pm}0.58mgS/g-dry)$, and phaeopigment was $6.84{\sim}116.18{\mu}g/g-dry(23.72{\pm}21.16{\mu}g/g-dry)$. The ranges of particulate organic carbon(POC) and particulate organic nitrogen(PON) were $5.45{\sim}23.24 mgC/g-dty(10.34{\pm}4.40C\;mgC/g-dry)$ and $0.71{\sim}2.99mgN/g-dry(1.37{\pm}0.58mgN/g-dry)$, respectively. Water content was in the range of $43.1{\sim}77.6%(55.8{\pm}5.6%)$, and mud content(silt+clay) was higher than 95% at all stations. The spatial distribution of organic matter in surface sediments was greatly divided between the northwestern, central and eastern areas, southern entrance area from the distribution characteristic of their organic matters. The concentrations of almost all items were greater at the northwestern and southern entrance area than at the other areas in Gamak Bay. In particular, sedimentary pollution was very serious at the northwestern area, because the area had an excessive supply of organic matter due to aquaculture activity and the inflow of sewage from the land. These materials stayed longer because of the topographical characteristics of such as basin and the anoxic conditions in the bottom seawater environment caused by thermocline in the summer. The tendency of temporal change was most prominently in the period of high-water temperatures than low-water ones at the northwestern and southern entrance areas. On the other hand, the central and eastern areas did not show a regular trend for changing the concentrations of each item but mainly showed a higher tendency during the low-water temperatures. This was observed for all but AVS concentrations which were higher during the period of high-water temperature at all stations. Especially, the central and eastern areas showed a large temporal increase of AVS concentration during those periods of high-water temperature where the concentration of CODs was in excess of $20mgO_2/g-dry$. The results show that the organic matters in surface sediments in Gamak Bay actually originated from autochthonous organic matters with eight or less in average C/N ratio including the organic matters generated by the use of ocean, rather than terrigenous organic matters. However, the formation of autochthonous organic matter was mainly derived from detritus than living phytoplankton, indicated the results of the POC/phaeopigment ratio. In addition, the CODs/IL ratio results demonstrate that the detritus was the product of artificial activities such as dregs feeding and fecal pellets of farm organisms caused by aquaculture activities rather than the dynamic of natural ocean activities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.594-604
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• 2021

To evaluate the causes of beach erosion in Sinji-Myeongsasimni Beach, external forces, such as tides, tidal currents, and waves, were observed seasonally from March 2019 to March 2020, and the surface sediments were analyzed for this period. In addition, the shoreline positions and beach elevations were regularly surveyed with a VRS GPS and fixed-wing drone. From these field data, the speed of the tidal currents was noted to be insufficient, but the waves were observed to af ect the deformation of the beach. As the beach is open to the southern direction, waves of heights over 1 m were received in the S-SE direction during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. Large waves with heights over 2 m were observed during typhoons in summer and fall. Because of the absence of typhoons for the previous two years from July 2018, the beach area over datum level (DL) as of July 2018 was greater by 30,138m² compared with that of March 2019, and the beach area as of March 2020 decreased by 61,210m² compared with that of March 2019 because of four typhoon attacks after July 2018. The beach volume as of March 2019 decreased by 5.4% compared with that of July 2018 owing to two typhoons, and the beach volume as of September 2019 decreased by 7.3% because of two typhoons during the observation year. However, the volume recovered slightly by about 3% during fall and winter, when there were no high waves. According to the sediment transport vectors by GSTA, the sediments were weakly influxed from small streams located at the center of the beach; the movement vectors were not noticeable at the west beach site, but the westward sediment transport under the water and seaward vectors from the foreshore beach were prominently observed at the east beach site. These patterns of westward sediment vectors could be explained by the angle between the annual mean incident wave direction and beach opening direction. This angle was inclined 24° counterclockwise with the west-east direction. Therefore, the westward wave-induced currents developed strongly during the large-wave seasons. Hence, the sand content is high in the west-side beach but the east-side beach has been eroded seriously, where the pebbles are exposed and sand dune has decreased because of the lack of sand sources except for the soiled dunes. Therefore, it is proposed that efforts for creating new sediment sources, such as beach nourishment and reducing wave heights via submerged breakwaters, be undertaken for the eastside of the beach.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.145-153
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• 2013

High-resolution chirp profiles were analyzed to investigate the echo types of near-surface sediments in the Yellow Sea off the Baegryeong Island. On the basis of seafloor morphology and subbottom echo characters, 7 echo types were identified. Flat seafloor with no internal reflectors or moderately to well-developed subbottom reflectors (echo type 1-1 and 1-2) is mainly distributed in the southern part of the study area. Flat seafloor with superposed wavy bedforms (echo type 1-3) is also distributed in the middle part. Mounded seafloor with either smooth surface or superposed bedforms (echo type 2-1, 2-2, and 2-3) occurs in the middle part of the study area. Irregular and eroded seafloor with no subbottom reflectors (echo type 3-1) is present in the northern part of the study area off the Baegryeong Island. According to the distribution pattern and sedimentary facies of echo types, depositional environments can be divided into three distinctive areas: (1) active erosional zone due to strong tidal currents in the northern part; (2) formation of tidal sand ridges in response to tidal currents associated with sea-level rise distributed in the middle part; and (3) transgressive sand sheets in the southern part. Such a depositional pattern, including 7 echo types, in this area reflects depositional process related to the sea-level rise and strong tidal currents during the Holocene transgression.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.69-74
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• 2016

Bathymetric changes were studied in the southern sea off the Jinwoo-do Island, which is one of the deltaic barrier islands surrounding the Nakddong river estuary. In this study, 16 bathymetry data sets were obtained from June 2006 to April 2015. Two narrow channels, the one lying between Jinwoo-do and Shinja-do, and the other one lying between Nulcha-do and Jinwoo-do extended into the eastern and western parts of the study area, respectively. The eastern extension of the channel contained a passage of mixed estuarine waters of seawater and river water discharged from the Nakdong river barrier and the west Nakdong River. The western channel connected the Nakdong River estuary with the Busan New Port via a connecting pier. Total volumetric changes of sediments in study area and discharge flow of the Nakdong river barrier were analyzed. Bottom topographical changes occurred mainly in the eastern extension of the channel. These changes were initially characterized by gradual erosion or deposition followed by rapid restoration. The total volume of sediment gradually increased from June 2006 to March 2013, but experienced a sudden decrease in October 2013 because of typhoon Danas. Few fluctuations were observed from October 2013 to April 2015. Analysis of the cross-sectional bathymetry of the north-south direction showed that the deepest point of the eastern channel moved 100-130 m westward and 200 m northward between June 2006 and April 2015.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.551-564
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• 2012

This study carried out palynological analysis and seismic interpretation to establish a stratigraphic and environmental reconstruction mainly based on fossil palynomorphs and seismic reflection data correlated with the oil exploation well (BP-1) located in the Sora Sub-basin. There were frequent environmental and floral changes due to sea level change in the Sora Sub-basin. The palynomorph assemblages found in the well sediments enabled paleoecological zonation of the well sediment sequence resulting in 4 zones: Ecozone III, Ecozone IV, Ecozone V, Ecozone VI. Index fossils among palynomorphs indicate geological ages of the units within the well ranging from Eocene to Pleistocene, and paleoenvironment varies from freshwater to inner neritic marine. Previous studies suggest that the marine deposits were slightly different in stratigraphic range from well to well. It is considered the difference is credited to geomorphological setting. This study also shows stratigraphic correlation between existing wells and BP-1 well to establishes a standard stratigraphy of the Domi Basin.