• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.303-312
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• 2011

Analysis of high-resolution seismic profiles from the southeastern continental shelf of Korea reveals that the Holocene transgressive deposits consist of five sedimentary units characterized by retrograding or backstepping depositional arrangements. Unit I, forming a linear sediment body along the shelf margin, is an ancient beach/shoreface deposit formed during the early stage of transgression. During the transgression, the paleo-channels were backfilled with fluvial or coastal-plain sediments, forming Unit II as an incised-channel fill deposit. The near-surface sediment was reworked and eroded by shoreface erosion, forming a thin lag of sands (Unit III) on the midshelf. During the middle stage of the transgression, the shoreline may have stabilized at around 70 - 80 m below the present sea level for some period of time to allow the formation of sand ridge systems (Unit IV). Unit V in the inner shelf was deposited in an estuarine environment during the middle to late stage of transgression. Such transgressive stratigraphic architecture is controlled by a function of lateral changes in the balance among rates of relative sea-level rise, sediment input and marine processes at any given time.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.349-356
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• 2010

Analysis of high-resolution seismic profiles acquired from the southeastern continental shelf of Korea reveals that the late Quaternary transgressive deposits consist of six seismic units created in response to sea-level rise. These units with different seismic facies and geometry can be grouped into two distinct depositional wedges (paralic and marine) bounded by a ravinement surface. The paralic component underlying the ravinement surface consists of the sediment preserved from shoreface erosion and contains incised-channel fill, ancient beach-shoreface deposit and estuarine deposit. The top of paralic unit is truncated by a ravinement surface and overlain by marine component. The marine component consists of the sediment produced through shoreface erosion during landward transgression and contains mid-shelf sand sheet, mid-shelf sand ridge and inner shelf sand sheet. Such transgressive stratigraphic architecture of six sedimentary units is controlled by a function of lateral changes in the balance among rates of relative sea-level rise, sediment input and marine processes at any given time.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.307-320
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• 2021

Udo Rhodolith Beach is a small-scale, mixed sand-and-gravel beach embayed on the N-S trending rocky coast of Udo, Jeju Island, South Korea. This study analyzes the short-term topographic changes of the beach during the extreme storm conditions of four typhoons from 2016 to 2020: Chaba (2016), Soulik (2018), Lingling (2019), and Maysak (2020). The analysis uses the topographic data of terrestrial LiDAR scanning and drone photogrammetry, aided by weather and oceanographic datasets of wind, wave, current and tide. The analysis suggests two contrasting features of alongshore topographic change depending on the typhoon pathway, although the intensity and duration of the storm conditions differed in each case. During the Soulik and Lingling events, which moved northward following the western sea of the Jeju Island, the northern part of the beach accreted while the southern part eroded. In contrast, the Chaba and Maysak events passed over the eastern sea of Jeju Island. The central part of the beach was then significantly eroded while sediments accumulated mainly at the northern and southern ends of the beach. Based on the wave and current measurements in the nearshore zone and computer simulations of the wave field, it was inferred that the observed topographic change of the beach after the storm events is related to the directions of the wind-driven current and wave propagation in the nearshore zone. The dominant direction of water movement was southeastward and northeastward when the typhoon pathway lay to the east or west of Jeju Island, respectively. As these enhanced waves and currents approached obliquely to the N-S trending coastline, the beach sediments were reworked and transported southward or northward mainly by longshore currents, which likely acts as a major control mechanism regarding alongshore topographic change with respect to Udo Rhodolith Beach. In contrast to the topographic change, the subaerial volume of the beach overall increased after all storms except for Maysak. The volume increase was attributed to the enhanced transport of onshore sediment under the combined effect of storm-induced long periodic waves and a strong residual component of the near-bottom current. In the Maysak event, the raised sea level during the spring tide probably enhanced the backshore erosion by storm waves, eventually causing sediment loss to the inland area.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.262-269
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• 2012

We investigated the concentration levels and evaluated the distributions of 17 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans(PCDD/Fs), 12 dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls(DLPCBs) and 24 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediment and organism from various culturing grounds in Korean coast. The levels of PCDD/Fs, DLPCBs, and PBDEs in sediment samples ranged from 0.03 to 2.9(Mean${\pm}$SD, $1.2{\pm}0.89$) pg $WHO_{2005}$-TEQ $g^{-1}$ dry weight(dw), ND(not detected) to 1.1($0.09{\pm}0.19$) pg $WHO_{2005}$-TEQ $g^{-1}$ dw, and ND to 16.6($2.96{\pm}3.53$) ng $g^{-1}$ dw, respectively. Also, the levels of PCDD/Fs, DLPCBs, and PBDEs in culturing organisms ranged from ND to 0.24($0.07{\pm}0.06$) pg $WHO_{2005}$-TEQ $g^{-1}$ wet weight(ww), ND to 0.11($0.04{\pm}0.04$) pg $WHO_{2005}$-TEQ $g^{-1}$ ww, and 0.05 to 0.29($0.13{\pm}0.06$) ng $g^{-1}$ ww, respectively. The levels of total dioxins(PCDD/Fs+DLPCBs) and PBDEs in sediments from East and South sea were four to seven times higher than those from West sea. PCDD/Fs had dominant contribution(mean, 94%) for TEQ concentration in sediment, whereas relatively higher contribution of DLPCBs(33%) were shown in culturing organism than sediment. BDE209 was a dominant congener in both matrix. The concentrations of PCDD/Fs, DLPCBs and PBDEs were in decreasing trends in Korea coasts compared to previous results.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.149-157
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• 2003

Deep sea core samples were taken in the southwestern part of the Ulleung Basin in order to characterize the properties of shallow gases in the sediment. Amount of shallow gases in the sediments were calculated by head space techniques, and chemical and isotopic compositions of hydrocarbon gases were analyzed. Geochemical analyses were carried out on the gas bearing sediments to find out relationship between natural gas contents and organic characteristics of the sediments. Seismic characteristics of shallow gases in the sediments were also examined in this study. The amount of the hydrocarbon gases in the sediments range from 0.01% to 11.25%. Calculation of volume of gas per volume of wet sediment varies from 0.1 to 82.0 ml HC/L wet sediment. Methane consists 98% of the total hydrocarbon gases except for two samples. Based on the methane content and isotopic composition$(\delta^{13}c)$: -94.31$\textperthousand$~-55.5$\textperthousand$), the hydrocarbon gases from the sediments are generated from bacterial activities of methanogenic microbes. Contents of hydrocarbon gases are variable from site to site. Volume of shallow gases in the sediments shows no apparent trends vs. either characteristics of organic matter or particle sizes of the sediments. Gas concentration is high in the area of seismic anomalies such as blanking zone or chimney structures in the section. Physicochemically the pore water and the formation water systems are saturated with gases in these areas. Concentration of hydrocarbon gases in the sediments in these area shows favorable condition for generation of gas hydrate, as far as the other conditions are satisfied.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.299-309
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• 2005

The community structure of meiobenthos was studied in the sediment of Kongfjorden, Spitsbergen of Svalbard Island in the Arctic Sea. Samples of meiobenthos were collected in August, 2003. Meiobenthic organisms were collected by SCUBA and van veen grab or acryl sub-corers 34mm in internal diameter, and were taken from upper sediment to a depth of 3cm at each station. A total of 26 meiofaunal groups were found in the sediment of Spitsbergen in Svalbard Island. Nematodes were the most dominant faunal group. Sarcomastigophorans, benthic harpacticoids, and nauplius larvae of crustaceans, were also important components of the meiobenthic community of Kongsfjorden. All of these low faunal groups were comprised of more than 90% of total meiobenthos at every station. The total density of meiobenthos at each station was highest at station MeG 6 $(3,583{\pm}1,137inds./10cm^2)$, and lowest at station $MeG9(28{\pm}1inds./10cm^2)$. Meiobenthos in general showed the highest density in the upper 1cm layer. This may be associated with food and oxygen supply to subsurface. Harpacticoids showed extreme preference at the surface and little presence in layers deeper than 2cm. These animals may be less resistant to oxygen deficiency, and nauplius also showed the same trend. However, in St. MeG 8 and 9, meiobenthos were dense at depths of more than 0-1cm, at especially at depths of 2-3m because of relatively easy penetration of oxygen. Based on the results of cluster analysis, three meiobenthos assemblages were distinguished: one was in the outer and two were in the inner fjord. Station SCU 5 was grouped with the meiobenthos assemblage located in the outer fjord. The outer ford community was characterised by : 1) a relatively low mean number of meiobenthos taxa, 2) a relatively high density of harpacticods and nauplius. One of the inner ford communities (a group of four nation: MeG 2, 3, 8, 9) was in the proximity of the glaciers. Specifically, it was characterised by : 1) a low mean number of meiobenthos taxa, 2) a low density. The other inner ford community was characterised by both a high density and great mean number of meiofaunal taxa.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.519-536
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• 2008

The relatively tranquil area within the Gogunsan Archipelago was for the first time investigated preliminarily with respect to modern sedimentological processes in association with the emplacement of the Saemangeum Dyke. Basic sedimentological observations, bathymetry and surface sediments were performed twice during 2006-2008 to compare the results and elaborate changes during that period of time. In addition, sediment dynamical observations were carried out with latest measuring equipment along two transects crossing the entrances of the archipelago, including 12-hour onboard measurements of current, suspended sediments, temperature, and salinity. This dataset was used to reveal hydrodynamic characteristics for spring season April-May and to estimate the direction and relative magnitude of the net flux of suspended sediments. There occurred three depositional areas (A to C) within the archipelago, where sediment texture was also changed. In area A, around Yami Island and the dyke, and area B, in the center of the archipelago, surface sediments became coarsened over the two-year period; sand content increased 5% at the expense of silt content in the former, whereas silt content increased 3% at the expense of clay content in the latter. By comparison, area C in the western entrance of the archipelago shows a textural trend of fining with more silt and clay (combined increase of 5%) at the expense of sand content. The accumulation of sediments in areas A and B is attributable to the sand and silt resuspended from the seabed sediments off sector 4 of the dyke during the winter. The origin of the fine materials depositing on area C is uncertain at present, although suspended sediments moving offshore around the archipelago may be one of the most likely candidates for the source. The temperature of seawater increased rapidly from $9-10^{\circ}C$ in April to $14-16^{\circ}C$ in May, whereas salinity remained more or less constant at 31-32%o during the two months. Both of these parameters showed little variations with depth through a tidal cycle, suggesting good mixing of seawater without any help of significant waves. The consistency of salinity during a tidal cycle also indicates no insignificant effects of freshwater from the rivers Mangyung and Donjin emitting through the opening gap near Sinsi Island. The suspended sediment concentrations were higher at the entrance between Sunyu and Sinsi islands than at the entrance between Hoenggyong and Sinsi islands, ranging from 20 and 30 mg/l and from 5 and 15 mg/l, respectively at the sea surface. Although tidal currents were variable across a transect between Sunyu and Sinsi islands, the currents across the entrance between Hoenggyong and Sinsi islands flowed consistently in the same direction all over the transect during a tidal cycle. The estimation of net flux of suspended sediments indicates that suspended sediments are transferred to the Gogunsan Archipelago mainly through a relatively deep trough adjacent to Sinsi Island toward the shallow area around Yami Island and the dyke.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.221-229
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• 1992

A series of experiments on the resuspension of deposited fine-grained sediments were carried out in a recirculating straight flume to investigate the influence of the sediment type, water content and bed shear stress (${\tau}_b$) on the resuspension characteristics of the sediments. The sediments were sampled from Youngkwang coast and Youngdo coast which are located in the western sea and southeastern sea of Korea, respectively. Critical bed shear stress (${\tau}_c$) for resuspension was deduced for each experimental series. For the same sediment, critical bed shear stress for resuspension decreased but suspension mass or rate increased with increasing water content. The resuspension of deposited fine-grained sediments depended strongly on the water content, and the sediment type characterizing the inter-particle bond strength. It has been found that critical bed shear stress for resuspension in the unidirection flow is about 4 times higher than that in the combined wave-current flow, In case of lower bed shear stress, after an initially high suspension, suspension mass approaches a constant value due to the bed hardening with increasing time, but in case of higher bed shear stress, suspension mass increased successively due to the bed softening with time. Initial suspension rate, $E={\alpha}_3({\tau}_b/{\tau}_c-1)^{\beta}$ (where ${\alpha}_3$ and ${\beta}$=empirical constants), was estimated for each experimental series, ${\alpha}_3$ and ${\beta}$ values for the same sediment increased with water content.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.101-106
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• 1999

The down-core distribution of chlorophyll a, organic carbon contents and ${\delta}^{13}C$ in the bottom sediments were measured to understand the evolution of eutrophication in Masan Bay. Bottom sediment were collected in January 1994. The chlorophyll a and organic carbon contents in the sediment core decreased with increasing sediment depth, respectively. Bottom sediments (0~20 cm) in Masan Bay was rich in chlorophyll a (avg. 9.6 ${\mu}g\;g^{-1}$ dryweight) and organic C (avg. 2.5%). The down-core distribution of chlorophyll a suggests that the inner part of Masan Bay has experienced the acceleration of chlorophyll a supply since 1960s. Flux of organic carbon to the sea floor is in the range of 10 $gCm^{-2}\;yr^{-1}$ assuming the C:Chl a ratio of 25. It suggests tht approximately 1.3% of the fixed carbon by phytoplankton appears to be deposited in the bottom sediments.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.15-30
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• 2011

Three sediment cores from two different locations (UJ-03 and UJ-12 cores of valley sediment in Paju area, and CL-4 core of wetland sediment in Cheollipo area) along the western Korean Peninsula yield crucial information on the timing and spatial pattern of century-scale climate changes and subsequent surficial responses during the Holocene. In Paju area, the sediments included abundant coarse-grained sediment (coarse sands and pebbles) from 7100 to 5000 cal. yrBP, total organic carbon (TOC) values showed a marked increase from 5000 to 2200 cal. yrBP, several intermittent depositional layers were observed from 2200 cal. yrBP. In Cheollipo area, lake environment developed from 7360 to 5000 cal. yrBP, the deposition of organic materials increased from 5000 to 2600 cal. yrBP, peatland formed from 2600 cal. yrBP. The two patterns of surficial responses to the climate changes through the Holocene are different to each other. This might be due to the dissimilarity in geomorphic conditions. However, the approximate simultaneity of environmental changes in two areas shows that they both can be correlated to the major climate changes. Two areas which have undergone significant changes indicated that the hydrological factors including precipitation and strength of water flow were most responsible for the landscape and geomorphic evolutions. Although the upwards trend in relative sea-level also played a primary role for environmental changes in coastal area (Cheollipo area), detailed studies have still to be undertaken.