• Title/Summary/Keyword: Marine sediments

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Large-scale, Miocene Mud Intrusion into the Overlying Pleistocene Coastal Sediment, Pohang City, SE Korea: Deformation Mechanism, Trigger, and Paleo-seismological Implication for the 2017 Pohang Earthquakes

  • Gihm, Yong Sik;Ko, Kyoungtae;Choi, Jin-Hyuk;Choi, Sung-ja
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.53 no.5
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    • pp.585-596
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    • 2020
  • The 2017 Pohang Earthquakes occurred near a drill site in the Pohang Enhanced Geothermal System. Water injected for well stimulation was believed to have reactivated the buried near-critically stressed Miocene faults by the accumulation of the Quaternary tectonic strain. However, surface expressions of the Quaternary tectonic activity had not been reported near the epicenter of the earthquakes before the site construction. Unusual, large-scale water-escaped structures were identified 4 km away from the epicenter during a post-seismic investigation. The water-escaped structures comprise Miocene mudstones injected into overlying Pleistocene coastal sediments that formed during Marine Isotope Stage 5. This indicates the vulnerable state of the mudstones long after deposition, resulted from the combined effects of rapid tectonic uplift (before significant diagenesis) and the development of an aquifer at their unconformable interface of the mudstone. Based on the detailed field analysis and consideration of all possible endogenic triggers, we interpreted the structures to have been formed by elevated pore pressures in the mudstones (thixotropy), triggered by cyclic ground motion during the earthquakes. This interpretation is strengthened by the presence of faults 400 m from the study area, which cut unconsolidated coastal sediment deposited after Marine Isotope Stage 5. Geological context, including high rates of tectonic uplift in SE Korea, paleo-seismological research on Quaternary faults near the study area, and historical records of paleoearthquakes in SE Korea, also support the interpretation. Thus, epicenter and surrounding areas of the 2017 Pohang Earthquake are considered as a paleoseismologically active area, and the causative fault of the 2017 Pohang Earthquakes was expected to be nearly critical state.

High-resolution Echo Facies Analysis of Sedimentary Deposits around Dok-Island Volcanoes (독도 화산군 주변 퇴적층의 고해상 탄성파상 분석)

  • Lee, Yong-Kuk;Han, Sang-Joon;Yoon, Seok-Hoon
    • The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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    • v.6 no.2
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    • pp.103-113
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    • 2001
  • This study presents Quaternary sedimentation pattern around Dok-Island volcanoes (Dok Island and Dok Seamount), based on analysis of high-resolution (chirp) echo characters. Echo facies If, showing sharp, continuous bottom echo without subbottom reflectors, is recorded mainly from the flat tops of the volcanoes. This facies indicates sands and gravels (re) deposited by shallow marine processes. Echo facies IIA in the basin floor and basal slopes of the volcanoes and Oki Bank is characterized by semi-prolonged bottom and several parallel subbottom echoes. This facies reflects hemipelagic settling with intermittent influences of turbidity currents in the slope areas. Echo facies IIC is recorded from acoustically-transparent debrite masses on the basal slopes of the volcanoes and Oki Bank. Echo facies IIIA is characterized by irregular hyperbolic echoes in the slope areas of the volcanoes. It suggests hard rock basement or irregular volcanic edifices. Echo facies IIIC shows regularly-overlapping hyperbolic bottom echoes. It is interpreted to represent rock-fall deposits (talus) accumulated in the mid-slope area. Echo characters and topography suggest that the tops of Dok-Island volcanoes were flattened and lowered by shallow-marine erosional processes. The eroded sediments were transported to and deposited in the base of slope and basin plain mainly by debris flows and turbidity currents along submarine canyons and valleys.

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Seasonal Variation of Bacterial Community Composition in Sediments and Overlying Waters of the South East Sea (동해 남부 해역 퇴적물과 저층 해수 세균 군집 조성의 계절적 변화 연구)

  • Choi, Dong Han;Gim, Byeong-Mo;Choi, Tae Seob;Lee, Jung-Suk;Noh, Jae Hoon;Park, Young-Gyu;Kang, Seong-Gil
    • The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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    • v.19 no.2
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    • pp.147-154
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    • 2014
  • Bacteria play an important role in biogeochemical cycles in marine environments and their functional attributes in ecosystems depend primarily on species composition. In this study, seasonal variation of bacterial diversity was investigated by pyrosequencing of 16S rDNA in surface sediment and overlying seawater collected in the south East Sea, planned for the site of $CO_2$ sequestration by the carbon capture and storage (CCS) project. Gammaproteobacteria was dominant in the sediment in most seasons, whereas Alphaproteobacteria was a most dominant group in the overlying water. Thus, the bacterial diversity greatly differ between sediment and seawater samples. On the genus level, bacterial diversity between two habitats was also different. However, the number of genera found over 5% were less than 10 in both habitats and the bacterial community was composed of a number of diverse minor or rare genera. Elevation of $CO_2$ concentration during a $CO_2$ storage process, could result in change of bacterial diversity. Thus, this study will be very useful to access the effect of $CO_2$ on bacterial diversity and to predict functional change of the ecosystem during the process of CCS project.

Estimation of verticle fluxes of nitrogen compounds in tidal flats of the Keum river estuary (금강하구 갯벌내 질소화합물질의 연직적인 플럭스 평가)

  • Kim Do Hee;Yang Jae Sam
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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    • v.3 no.2
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    • pp.3-10
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    • 2000
  • The main purpose of this study were to estimate the benthic fluxes of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) from the sediment and denitrification rates in tidal flats of the Keum river estuary. Sediment specimens were collected by a core sampler from three stations along the Keum river estuary in April, August and December, 1999. The sediments were composed of 1.18 %, 29.34 % and 69.49 % of gravel and sand, sand and silt, respectively. The mean ignition loss of the sediment was found 6.7 % and its Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) was measured -12 mV. The total hydrogen sulfides was determined about 0.26 mg/gㆍdry. The estimated outflux of ammonium was found 11.2 m mole N/m²ㆍday from the sediment, whereas -1.09 m mole N/m²ㆍday of influx was obtained for nitrate and nitrite through the incubation experiment of sediment cores. Total DIN flux was 10.2 m mole N/m²ㆍday outflux from the sediment. From the incubation experiments executed with the flux studies, mean denitrification rate was found 30.6 m mole N₂/m²ㆍday measured by the direct assay of N₂ production technique. On the basis that DIN flux and denitrification rate in sediment of tidal flat of the Keum river estuary are may be effects to control the algal biomass in the coastal environment, it seems inevitable to pay more attention to investigate the flux of DIN and denitrification rate in tidal flat of the Keum river estuary.

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The Spatial Distribution of Harmful Chemical Substance in Sediment Around Busan Southern Port (부산 남항 해저퇴적물 중 유기오염물질 분포 특성에 관한 연구)

  • Min, Byeong-kyu;Lee, Jong-Hyuk;Ju, Mijo;Cho, Chonrae;Cho, Hyeon-Seo
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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    • v.26 no.2
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    • pp.206-218
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    • 2020
  • Located mostly inside the megacity of Busan, the Busan Southern Port is a multifunctional port with various nearby industry activities, including a joint fish market, ship repair facilities, and fishing boat facilities. If toxic chemicals generated by the industrial activities continue to flow into and accumulate in the sediment of the port, they can affect aquatic ecosystems and humans. Therefore, in this study, distribution levels and potential influent sources of organic pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and butyltin compounds (BTs), in the sediment were investigated. The sediment samples were collected from eight sampling sites in November 2013 (first phase) and November 2014 (second phase). The mean concentrations of PAHs, PCBs, and BTs in the first and second sampling phages were 4174.0 ng/g-dry wt. and 1919.0 ng/g-dry wt., 166.3 ng/g-dry wt. and 21 ng/g-dry wt., and 50.9 ng/g-dry wt. and 30.8 ng/g-dry wt., respectively. The concentrations of the organic pollutants detected in the seabed sediments were lower in the second phase than in the first phase. In this study, the inflow sources of PAHs, PCBs, and BTs were found to be combustion, land, and municipal sewage or industrial wastewater, respectively.

The Controlling factors of Ra Isotopes in Masan Bay (마산만에서 Ra 동위원소의 농도를 결정하는 인자)

  • Kim Young Ill;Chung Chang Soo;Kim Suk Hyun;Moon Duk Soo;Park Jun Kun;Seo Sung Mo;Choi Jun Sun;Yang Dong Beom;Hong Gi Hoon
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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    • v.4 no.2
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    • pp.25-34
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    • 2001
  • /sup 226/Ra and /sup 228/Ra analysis were carried out at the representative station of Masan Bay from May to August, 1999. The high activities of /sup 226/Ra and /sup 228/Ra in the surface water were appeared in rainy season (August, 1). However, there is no significant variation in concentrations in the other season. A high negative linear correlation between /sup 226/Ra activities and salinity in the surface water suggests that /sup 226/Ra activity in the surface water was controlled by simple mixing between the two end-members low salinity high /sup 226/Ra activity water of inner Bay and a high salinity low /sup 226/Ra activity water of the continental shelf water out of Bay. /sup 226/Ra activities below the surface mixed layer were higher than those of expected level from the /sup 226/Ra versus salinity. And also /sup 228/Ra//sup 226/Ra ratios in the bottom water were lower compared to those in surface water due to the presence of potential source of /sup 226/Ra below the surface mixed layer. However, it is known that /sup 228/Ra compared to /sup 226/Ra is enriched in bottom sediments and pure water. Therefore, the most probable sources for low /sup 228/Ra//sup 226/Ra activity ration is submarine ground water discharge. Further studies are required to quantify the various sources of /sup 226/Ra and /sup 228/Ra and their relative contributions.

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Studies on the Ecological Characteristics of Marine Bacteria Isolated from Deep Sea (심해 해양미생물의 분리 및 분리균의 생태적 특징에 관한 연구)

  • LEE Won-Jae;OHWADA Kouichi
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.28 no.4
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    • pp.401-411
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    • 1995
  • Flavobacterium spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Vibrio spp. were isolated from samples(sediments) of Sagami Bay and Suruga Bay(in Japan) at 810-4,000m in depth. Among isolated strains, Vibvio sp.-86 and sp.-87 strains were identified as barophilic and psychrophilic ones. They grew in 400 atm and showed best growth at 100 atm. Marine bacteria grown at 400 atm were long rod shape and 30 to 50times longer than those grown at 1 atm. which were short rod shape and formed flocks (aggregates). Vibrio sp,-86 strain grew at $5-37^{\circ}C\;and\;0,5-9.0\%\;NaCl\;(3.0\%\;of\;optimum\;concentration),$ while Vibrio sp.-87 strain grew at $1-7\%\;NaCl\;(2,0\%\;of\;optimum\;concentration).$ The fatty acid compositions of Vibrio sp.-86 strain grown at 1 atm were $C_{20}-C_{22:0},\;C_{l6:1},\;and\;C_{16:0}$ in the order of their abundance and at 400 atm the order were $C_{18:1},\;C_{18:0},\;and\;C_{20}-C_{22}$, whereas those of Vibrio sp.-87 strain at 1 atm were $C_{6:1},\;C_{14:1},\;and\;C_{20}-C_{22}$ and at 400 atm the order were $C_{14:1},\;C_{12:0},\;and\;C_{16:1}$ The amino acids compositon of Vibrio sp.-86 strain grown at 1 atm were abundant in the order of aspartic acid, methionine, and glutamic acid and those at 400 atm were abundant in the order of methionine, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid. The amino acids composition of Vibrio sp.-87 strain grwon at 1 atm were abundant in the order of methionine, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid and those at 400 atm were abundant in the order of methionine, glutamic acid, and isoleucine.

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Analysis and Quantification of Seawater Infiltration by Wave Action in Coastal Zone (연안해역에서 파도에 의한 해수 침투이론의 비교와 정량화)

  • Cheong Cheong-jo;Choi Doo-hyoung;Kim Tae-keun;Okada Mitsumasa
    • Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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    • v.4 no.4
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    • pp.3-11
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    • 2001
  • To know the seawater infiltration into tidal flat sediment in coastal area is very important, because it is significantly correlated with the infiltration and transportation of pollutants in soil, the supply of dissolved oxygen, nutrients and organic matter to benthic organisms for survival of benthic organisms and the seawater purification. So, we set up purpose to clarify the infiltration behavior of seawater by wave action in tidal flat, to clear the effects of slope of tidal flat and breaking wave height on seawater infiltration and to quantify the infiltration volume of seawater. For purpose, the seawater infiltration was studied with visualization method by using coloring tracer and transparent glass beads replaced as natural sediment in model tidal flat. Specific conclusions derived from this study are as follows. The semi-circular type infiltration of seawater by wave action into saturated sediment was a new infiltration behavior that was not considered in previous studies. The infiltration rate of seawater was increased with increasing of breaking wave height and slope of tidal flat. However, the effects of the slope was bigger than that of breaking wave height on seawater infiltration into tidal flat sediments. It was possible to calculate the infiltration volume of seawater by wave action in natural tidal flat sediment and in fields. Therefore, we can point out that wave action play an important role in the supply of dissolved oxygen, nutrients and organic matter to benthic organisms, transportation or diffusion of pollutants and seawater purification. So, we hope to be studied the supply of food to benthic organism, pollutant transport and seawater purification on the base of these results.

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Sustainable Yield of Groundwater Resources of the Cheju Island (제주도 지하수자원의 최적 개발가능량)

  • Hahn, Jeong-Sang;Hahn, Kyu-Sang;Kim, Chang-Kil;Kim, Nam-Jong;Hahn, Chan
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
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    • v.1 no.1
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    • pp.33-50
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    • 1994
  • The Hydrogeologic data of 455 water wells comprising geologic log and aquifer test were analyzed to determine hydrogeologic characteristics of the Cheju island. The groundwater. of the Cheju island is occurred in unconsolidated pyroclastic deposits and crinker interbedded in highly jointed basaltic and andesic rocks as high level, basal and parabasal types under unconfined condition. The average transmissivity and specific yield of the aquifer are at about 29,300㎡/day and 0.12 respectively, The total storage of groundwater is estimated about 44 billion cubic meters. Average annual precipitation is about 3,390 million ㎥ among which average recharge is estimated for 1,494 million ㎥ being equivalent 44.1% of total annual precipitation with 638 million ㎥ of runoff and 1,256 million ㎥ of evapotranspiration. Based on groundwater budget analysis, the sustainable yield is about 620 million ㎥(41% of annual recharge)and rest is discharging into the sea. The geologic logs of recently drilled thermal water wells indicate that very low-permeable marine sediments(Sehwa-ri formation) composed of loosely cemented sandy silt derived from mainly volcanic ashes at the 1st stage volcanic activity of the area is situated at the 120${\pm}$68m below sea level. Another low-permeable sedimentary rock called Seogipo-formation which is deemed younger than the former marine sediment is occured at the area covering north-west and western part of the Cheju island at the ${\pm}$70m below sea level. If these impermeable beds art distributed as a basal formation of fresh water zone of the Cheju island, the most of groundwater in the Cheju island will be para-basal type. These formations will be one of the most important hydrogeologic boundary and groundwater occurences in the area.

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Characteristics of accretion and scour around artificial reefs in the southern waters of Korea (한국 남해안에 시설된 인공어초 주위의 퇴적과 세굴 특성)

  • Kim, Chang-Gil;Suh, Sung-Ho;Oh, Tae-Gun;Kim, Byung-Gyun;Choi, Yong-Suk;Sheehy, Daniel J.
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Marine Engineers Conference
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    • 2011.06a
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    • pp.233-233
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    • 2011
  • This study describes the characteristics of accretion and scour around artificial reefs in Korea. The survey for accretion and scour was made at a dice reef set consisting of 137 dice reefs. The volume of a dice reef unit is 8 $m^3$. The reef set was placed on the muddy sand at 21.6 m in November of 1999. Equipment used in the survey includes Side Scan Sonar, Multi Beam Echo Sounder, Sub-Bottom Profiler and water current meter. According to the results, the artificial reefs are heaped up at two to three times (4 m) the height of the dice reef. The maximum current around the artificial reefs was 81.5 cm/sec at the ebb tide and 72.7 cm/sec at the flood tide. Scour around artificial reefs occurs upstream to the flow while accretion is formed at wake zone in the downstream. The height of accretion ranges from 2.4 to 3.0 m. The crest of the accretion is formed at the distance of about 10 m from the edge of the reef. The slope of accretion is formed steeply at the vicinity of the reef which is at right angles to the direction of main current, and grows gently lower with the increased distance from the reef. Scour is continuously caused by upwelling from the reef set and by side currents that flow parallel to side of the accretion. Also, scour takes place on the deposited sediment rather than on the remaining bottom sediments. This means that, once fully formed, the depth of scour gully on both sides to the direction of main current hardly changes.

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