• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.585-597
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• 2007

The characteristics of the rainfall events on the Korean peninsula have been investigated by means of regional and global observational data collected from 1954 to 2004 with an emphasis on extreme cases $80\;mm\;day^{-1}$. According to our analysis, long-term annual rainfall anomalies show an increasing trend. This trend is pronounced in the month of August, when both the amount of monthly rainfall and the frequency of extreme events increase significantly. Composite maps on August during the 8 wet years reveal warm SST anomalies over the eastern Philippine Sea which are associated with enhanced convection and vertical motion and intensified positive SLP over central Eurasia during August. The rainfall pattern suggests that the most significant increase in moisture supply over the southern parts of China and Korea in August is associated with positive SLP changes over Eurasia and negative SLP changes over the subtropical western Pacific off the east coast of south China. The frequent generation of typhoons over the warm eastern Philippine Sea and their tracks appear to influence the extreme rainfall events in Korea during the month of August. The typhoons in August mainly passed the western coast of Korea, resulting in the frequent occurrence of extreme rainfall events in this region. Furthermore, anomalous cyclonic circulations over the eastern Philippine Sea also promoted the generation of tropical cyclones. The position of pressure systems - positive SLP over Eurasia and negative SLP over the subtropical Pacific - in turn provided a pathway for typhoons. The moisture is then effectively transported further north toward Korea and east toward the southern parts of China during the extreme rainfall period.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2008

Paleoenvironmental evolution in South Korea is investigated on the basis of fluctuations in biogenic silica content in sediments from Cheollipo coast on western shore. The biogenic silica measurement was done by alkaline extraction technique. The concentration of the biogenic silica in the Cheollipo coastal sediments is generally low, with an average of 1.2 %. The proxy of biogenic silica records in Cheollipo sediments implies the significant difference of bio-productivity on Korean Peninsula in comparison with those in lacustrine sediments in interior terrestrial continent of the Eurasia.

• Water for future
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.43-56
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• 1982

The Purpose of this study deal with some functional realationships in tidal of the Western Coast of Korean Peninsula under equilibrium conditions. The study was carried out by using actual field data meausred at 11 bay observation stations along the Western Coast. The minimum cross section versus the max. tidal prism of mean high water(Ps), the mean tital prism of mean high water(Pm), and the mean tidal prism of mean low water tide (Pn) are correlated. The most dominant results are attained at the A-Ps correlations. Furthermore it is well agreed with O'Briens results for the Pacific Coast of the United Stated. The results derived are as follows. $$A=9.078{\times10^{-4} P_n^{0.865}$$ $$A=3.048{\times10^{-3} P_n^{0.808}$$ $$A=2.30{\times10^{-2} P_n^{0.730}$$ By using those relationships if we know the minimum cross sectional area of the bay, we can easily estimate the tidal prism of the bay.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.129-135
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• 2008

Phylogenetic relationship and DNA polymorphism among local populations of the Asparagus cochinchinensis have been investigated based on nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS sequences and RAPD analysis in Korea. In result, two genetically distinct groups of local populations except Geoje were recognized by the phylogenetic tree both in rDNA-ITS and RAPD. One was called 'western coast group' that includes the Buan 1, 2 and Taean and the other was 'southern coast group' that includes Haenam, Yeosu and Namhae. Thus, the geographical relationship of Asparagus cochinchinensis was two well-typified clades. These results suggest that the geographical genetic variation of Asparagus cochinchinensis is closely connected with the slow and long period of propagation via the coast in Korean Peninsula.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 1971

The geotectonics and geomorphic structure of Korea resulted from the Song-rim Disturbance and the Daebo orogenic movements. Afterward this mountainous peninsula underwent several geological changes on a small scale, and it was also claimed that the steady rising of the elevated peneplain of the eastern coast and the submerging of the southwestern coastal area are largely due to the tilted block movement. These views have been generally accepted good in several ways, but they are limited in range or lacking in theoretical integration. The present writer investigated the geology of the Mt. Chi-ri-san and the Honam coal mining area for a geological map in 1965, respectively. The results of these studies convinced the present writer that the conventional views, which were based upon a theory of lateral pressure should be reconsidered in many respects, and more recent studies made it clear that the morphological development in the southwestern area can be better explained by the orogenic movement and rock control. The measurement of submerging speed of the western coastal area (Pak. Y. A., 1969) and a new account on the geology and tectonics of the Mid-central region of South Korea (Kim O.J., 1970) act as an encouragement to a new explanation. The present writer's researches on the extreme southwestern portion of the peninsula show that the steady submerging of this area cannot be attributed to a simple downthrown block phenomenon caused by block movement. It is no more than the result of the differential movement of uplifting in the eastern and western coastal areas and the rising of sea-level in the post-glacial period. This phenomenon could be easily explained by the comparison of the rate of rise in sea-level and amount of heat flow between Korea and other areas in the world. The existance of the erosional planes in the Sobaik-San ranges also provide an evidence of an upheaval in the western coast area. Though the Sobaik-San ranges largely follow the direction of the Sinian system. They consist of the numerous branches, whose trends run more or less differently from their main trend because of the disharmonic folding, are converged into Mt. Sobaik-San and Chupungryung. The undulation of the land is not wholely caused by orogenic movements, where as the present writer confirmed that the diversity of morphological development is the direct reflection of geological conditions such as rocks and processes which constitute the basic elements of geomorphic structure. An east-west directed mountain range which could be named as Hansan mountain range, was claimed to be oriented by the joint control. The geological conditions such as a special erosion and weathering of agglomerate and breccia tuff usually produce pot-hole like submarine features which cause the whirling phenomenon at the southwestern coast channel.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.200-220
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• 2014

This study reexamines the old concept and reviews prevalent statements on Cenozoic vertical motions of the peninsula that have been uncritically repeated in our academia. The contents of this paper are redefinition of the notion, tilted flexure or warping, and a suggestion for a new time set and properties of the deformation, followed by a new model on its influencing factors and processes. In conclusion, the Cenozoic vertical motion of the Korean peninsula can be reified further with an epeirogenic movement of uplift in the east side-subsidence in the west side of the peninsula since the Neogene (23 Ma). However, the regional boundary for areas of uplift and subsidence is not likely in the Korean peninsula but broader farther to East China and the southern part of Russia. It can be best understood that mantle convection produced by subducting activities in the Western Pacific Subduction Zone causes the uplift and subsidence of earth surface around NE Asia. In addition, faultings in the upper lithosphere induced by in-situ plate boundary stresses accelerate regional uplift in the peninsula since the Quaternary. Controversies that are still standing such as current uplift movements along the western coast of the peninsula during the late Quaternary could be precisely discussed with future research providing detailed information on it.

• Atmosphere
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.227-241
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• 2016

This study investigated the cause of the heavy snowfall that occurred in the East Coast of Korea from 6 February to 14 February 2014. The synoptic conditions were analyzed using blocking index, equivalent potential temperature, potential vorticity, maritime temperature difference, temperature advection, and ground convergence. During the case period, a large blocking pattern developed over the Western Pacific causing the flow to be stagnant, and there was a North-South oriented High-to-Low pressure system over the Korean Peninsula because of this arrangement. The case period was divided into three parts based on the synoptic forcing that was responsible for the heavy snowfall; detailed analyses were conducted for the first and last period. In the first period, a heavy snowfall occurred over the entire Korean Peninsula due to strong updrafts from baroclinic instability and a low pressure caused by potential vorticity located at the mid-troposphere. In the lower atmosphere, a North-South oriented High-to-Low pressure system over the Eastern Korea intensified the easterly airflow and created a convergence zone near the ground which strengthened the upslope effect of the Taebaek Mountain range with a cumulative fresh snowfall amount of 41 cm in the East Coast region. In the last period, the cold air nestled in the Maritime Province of Siberia and Manchuria strengthened much more than that in the first half and extended to the East Sea. The temperature difference between the 850 hPa air and the SST was large and convective clouds developed over the sea. The highest cumulative fresh snow amount of 39.7 cm was recorded in the coastal area during this period. During the entire period, vertically oriented equivalent potential temperature showed neutral stability layer that helped the cloud formation and development in the East Coast. The 2014 heavy snowfall case over the East Coast provinces of Korea were due to: 1) stagnation of the system by blocking pattern, 2) the dynamic effect of mid-level potential vorticity of 1.6 PVU, 3) the easterly air flow from North-South oriented High-to-Low pressure system, 4) the existence of vertically oriented neutral stable layer, and 5) the expansion of strong cold air into the East Sea which created a large temperature difference between the air and the ocean.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.215-221
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• 2000

The relationship between the distribution of sea surface temperature(SST) and dinoflagellate(Cochlodinium polykrikoides) bloom areas were studied. The SST data were derived from the infrared channels of AVHRR(Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer) sensor on NOAA(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) 12 and 14 satellites during 1995-1998. The initial water temperature at C. polykrikoides bloom was about 21${\circ}C$ at the coastal areas of the South Sea and along the shore of the East Sea of Korea during the summer season of 1995. The northern limit of red tides was coincident with that of 21${\circ}C$ isothermal line in the East Sea. The red tides that initially bloomed at the coast of Pohang on September 21, 1995 moved to the coast of Uljin on September 26, 1995. The skipped appearance of the red tides in the areas between Pohang and Uljin was due to the East Korean Warm Current, which was moving offshore from Pohang to approach to Uljin. The cold water which was formed by tidal front in the western coast of the South Sea and by upwelling water from deep layer in the southeastern coast of the Korean peninsula played a role in blocking the spreading of red tides during summer season in 1997 and 1998. In conclusion, the distribution of red tides appeared to be dependent on the initial water temperature at red tides bloom. The SST at the red tides varied from 21${\circ}C$ to 25${\circ}C$; 21${\circ}C$, 23${\circ}C$, 24 and 24-25${\circ}C$ in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.69-84
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• 1998

A geochemical study was carried out to define how marine shore sediments are related to their terrestrial source rocks in the region of Taean and Byunsan Peninsula, western Korea. The lithology of the coastal part of the study area is composed of Pre-Cambrian granite gneiss, schist, Jurassic terrestrial sedimentary rocks, and Cretaceous plutonic intrusives. Shore sediments are transported from three drainage tributaries. The sediments consist of quatrz with clay minerals, such as illite, kaolinite, smectite, chlorite. Heavy minerals include hematite, ilmenite, rare amount of zircon and apatite. Compared to those in coastal rocks, amount of heavy minerals in the sediments is considerably low. The low content of heavy minerals is thought to be attributed to the heavy mineral detainment in the river beds and influences of tidal currents which cause heavy minerals to accumulate in specific spots. Chemical composition of the major and trace elements, trace elements, and REE chondrite normalized pattern suggest that shore sediments transported from the corresponding drainage tributary show close mineralogical and geochemical relationships with the source rocks distributed in the Taean and Byunsan Peninsula.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2022.05a
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• pp.275-275
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• 2022

Tsunamis triggered by undersea earthquakes have the characteristic of longer wavelengths and can propagate a very long distance. Although the occurrence frequency of tsunami is low, it can cause casualties and properties. Historically, tsunamis that occurred on the western coast of Japan attacked the eastern coast of the Korean Peninsula and damaged the property and the loss of human life in 1983 and 1993. By tsunami in 1983 especially, 2 people were killed, and more than 200 casualties occurred. In addition, it caused 2 million dollars in property damage at Imwon Port. In 2011, The eastern cities of Japan: Iwate, Miyagi, Ibaraki, and Fukushima were damaged by a tsunami that occurred near onshore along the Pacific ocean and caused more than 300 billion dollars in property damage, and 20,000 casualties occurred. Moreover, those provoked nuclear power plant meltdown at Fukushima. In this study, it was carried out a relationship between maximum tsunami heights and fault parameters of earthquake: strike angle, dip angle, and slip angle at Imwon port. Those fault parameters are known that it does not relate to the magnitude of earthquake directly. Virtual tsunamis, which could be triggered by probable undersea earthquakes in the future, were investigated and mutual information based on probability and information theory was introduced to figure out the relationship between maximum tsunami height and fault parameters. Fault parameters were evaluated according to the strong relationship with maximum tsunami heights finally.