• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.39-54
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• 2019

In this paper, based on evidence of coastal sediment, we show that erosion and sedimentation environments are very sensitive to sea level changes during the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) and the Little Ice Age (LIA). We identified four sedimentary units(4.57-3.07m), which formed in the Dark Age Cool Period (DACP), MWP and LIA were classified based on the lithostratigraphy, grain size distribution, magnetic susceptibility and geochemistry of a drilling core taken from the west coast of Hwaseong City. The unconformity surfaces as boundaries of the units were also identified by the lithostratigraphy shown on the drilling core. We propoese that sedimentation was dominant in the area during the periods of sea level rise, whereas erosion prevailed during the periods of sea level fall. Particularly, extreme events, such as floods and typhoons are believed to have accelerated these processes, and we found the associated evidence in sediments of two units. This study provides an example of estimating the relative sea level variation using coastal sediments and may be useful for studying past sea level changes around the Korean Peninsula.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.18 no.2 s.23
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• pp.23-31
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• 2004

Temperature variations, and carbon dioxide and methane concentrations are summarized during the past 400,000 years. Atmospheric temperature varied approximately within $10^{\circ}C$ during the past 400,000 years. Most of the time during the past 400,000 years, temperature was lower than today except 410000, 320000, 250000, and 125000 years ago. Temperature was slightly higher or at least similar to today during the time period of 410000. 320000, 250000, and 125000 years ago. The carbon dioxide concentration varied between 180 and 300 ppm, and the methane concentration varied between 40 and 700ppb. The present atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide is 375 ppm and methane is 1750 ppb. Temperature was 5-$7^{\circ}C$ lower than today during the Last Glacial Maximum(18,000 years ago) and the Younger Dryas(10,000 years ago). Temprature was varied within $1^{\circ}C$ during the past 10,000 years. Especially Middle Holocene Climatic Optimum(6,000 years ago), Medieval Warm Period (500-1,000 years ago), and Little Ice Age(100-500 year ago) were global climatic events. In general, mechanism for the Middle Holocene Climatic Optimum, Medical Warm Period, and Little Ice Age can be explained by the solar insulation, however their exact mechnism is not well known. Carbon dioxide concentration during the past 400,000 years never reached the current value of 375 ppm. Furthermore, the current methane concentration never reached during the past 20Ma. However, current temperature value has happened several times during the past 400,000 years. The implication of this is unsolved question so far. This should be challenged in the near future.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.1 s.176
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• pp.95-102
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• 2006

To properly interpret and define climatic warming trends of the last $100\~150$ years.; climatic changes over the past several centuries must be constrained. High resolution surface air temperatures (SATs) to reconstruct global temperature trends extend back only to the late of 19th century. Fortunately, on long time scale and over large areas, ground surface temperatures (GSTs) track SATs. GST changes penetrate into the subsurface and are recorded as transient temperature perturbation. Therefore, borehole temperatures can be used to recover climate change over the last millennium in an area; paleoclimate change inferred from borehole temperatures can be used to interpret global warming over the last century, little ice age, and medieval warm period.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.287-293
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• 2006

We carried out pollen analysis and radiocarbon dating from sediments of Wangdeungjae moor (960 m a.s.l.) to clarify vegetation history of temperate broad-leaved deciduous forest zone of Mt. Jiri. Three local pollen zones and two sub-zones were recognized on the basis of variation in the palynofloral assemblage: I. Quercus zone (150-114 cm), II. Quercus-Pinus zone (114-43 cm): IIa. Quercus-Pinus subzone (114-83 cm), IIb. Quercus-Pinus-Herbs subzone (83-43 cm), III. Pinus-Quercus zone (43-27 cm). Radiocarbon date from sediment depth 111-116 cm was estimated $1,160{\pm}40yr$ B.P. From these results, overall vegetation around of Wangdeungjae moor and Mt. Jiri have changed from Q. mongolica dominant to steady decrease of Q. mongolica whereas steady increase of P. densiflora, finally abrupt increase of P. densiflora. 'Medieval Warm Period (MWP)' and 'Little Ice Age (LIA)' have not had an effect on change of vegetation around, at least, Mt. Jiri. But at maximum period of LIA, extension of grassland and steady increase of Pinus were recognized around the moor. After then, an abrupt increase of Pinus is supposed that vegetation change is reflected in human impact surging around foothills.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.101-115
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• 2013

11 alpine wetlands at the upper reaches of Bangtae River on a high flat summit around Mt. Jeombong were found. Two core samples(JB-1 and JB-2) among them were collected in order to reconstruct paleovegetation history and climate change using pollen analysis. Pinus and Quercus dominated at the wetland of JB-2 with a deep water depth were developed from 1,700 yr BP to 1,000 yr BP of the pollen zone I. Subsequently Quercus dominated in the pollen zone II from 1,000 to 400 yr BP, and it is supposed that warm weather prevailed with oak climax forest corresponding to the Medieval Warm Period. Moreover, sphagnum grew densely in the alpine wetlands and the wetlands were extended widely on the summit around Mt. Jeombong with the beginning of subzoneIIc at JB-2. The pollen zone III from 400 yr BP to the present with an increase in Pinus and a decrease in Quercus suggests cold climates under the Little Ice Age. Moreover, human disturbances at JB-2 were more significant than those at JB-1, based on the increase in Pinus.