• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.65-88
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• 1982

In the last ten years, marine geological and geophysical survey and research were conducted by Japanese, Russian and American scientists in the East Sea of Korea (Japan Sea). Many research results were published. However, regional research of the geology of the continental margin of the Korean Peninsula was not conducted. This study has made on attempt to classify submarine strata and stratigraphic boundaries. The study has revealed characters of submarine geology and structure. Isopach maps of each identified stratigraphic unit have been constructed as the results of this study. The study was conducted on the basis of analyses of marine seismic surveys carried out in the continental margin of the East Sea between Kangneung and Pohang. Three depositional basins were identified in the study area and they were named as, Mukho Basin, Hupo Basin and Pohang Basin. The Mukho Basin is developed in continental slope and shelf in the area between Kangneung and Samcheog. Quaternary and Pliocene sediments attain a maximum thickness of 900 m. Basement rocks are interpreted as granite and gneiss. They are correlated with granite-gneiss of the Taebaecksan Series of Pre-cambrian age and the Daebo granite of Jurassic age. The Hupo Basin is developed in the continental shelf between Uljin and Youngdeok. Quaternary and Pliocene sediments attain a maximum thickness of 600 m. Basement rocks were interpreted as granite and gneiss and they are correlated with metamorphic rocks of Pre-cambrian age and the Daebo granites, comprising the Ryongnam Massif. The Pohang Basin is developed in the area between Pohang and Gangu. This basin contains Miocene and older sediments. Basement rocks are not shown. Many faults are developed within the continental shelf and slope. These faults strike parallel with the coast line. A north-south direction is predominant in the southern study area. However, in the northern study area the faults strike north, and north-west. The faults are parallel to each other and are step faults down-thrown to the east or west, forming horst and graben structures which develop into sedimentary basins. Such faults caused the development of submarine banks along the boundary between the continental shelf and slope. This bank has acted as a barrier for deposition in the Hupo Basin. Paleozoic sedimentary rocks distributed widely in the adjacent land area are absent in the Mukho Basin. This suggests that the area of the basin was situated above the sea level until the Pliocene time. The study area contains Pliocene sediments in general. These sediments overlie the basement complex composed of metamorphic rocks, granites, Cretaceous (Kyongsang System) sedimentary rocks and Miocene sedimentary rocks. These facts lead to a conclusion that the continental shelf and slope of the study area were developed as a result of displacements along faults oriented parallel to the present coast line in the post Miocene time.

• Korean Journal of Mineralogy and Petrology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.175-183
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• 2020

There have rarely been performed for the clay mineralogy of the East Sea sediments except for few studies about paleoenvironmental aspect. This study inferred the provenance of sediments based on the clay mineral characteristics and distribution pattern for the 120 sediment samples collected by the box corer from the Gangneung-Donghae area between 2017-2019. The relative proportions of the four major clay minerals are abundant in the order of illite, chlorite, kaolinite, and smectite. The continental shelf sediments below water depth 150 m have more chlorite and kaolinite content and better illite crystallinity, but less illite and smectite content, and S/I index than those of continental slope sediments. Clay mineral composition of the continental shelf sediments are influenced by the adjacent continental geology, because north site (Gangneung area) has more chlorite but south site (Donghae area) has more kaolinite. These characteristics and distribution pattern of clay minerals indicate that the provenance of sediments are different between continental shelf and continental slop. The continental shelf sediments may be introduced the study area by the adjacent small rivers whereas the continental slope sediment might be supplied by current from the south of the study area.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.208-214
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• 1999

In order to determine if there is any physiographic preference for sedimentary organic matter preservation, two gravity cores were collected off Gampo, East Sea: one from continental shelf and the other from continental slope. Concentrations of porewater nutrients and total $CO_2$ were all higher in the continental shelf station, St. A, than the continental slope station, St. B. Meanwhile, concentrations of porewater sulfate decreased more rapidly at St. A than at St. B. Sedimentary organic carbon and nitrogen contents were lower and decreased more rapidly at St. A than at St. B. These data characters of porewater chemistry and sedimentary organic matter suggest that the organic matter is more actively decomposed at St. A than at St. B. At least over the study area, therefore, the sedimentary organic matter in the continental slope appears to be better preserved than that in the continental shelf.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.144-150
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• 1999

Slope sedimentation on the modern west Florida continental margin is controlled by pelagic carbonate accumulation and off-shelf sedimentation of neritic carbonates and terrigenous fines. Production and deposition of pelagic carbonates by planktonic foraminifera and coccoliths have played a significant role in the total slope sedimentation and are mainly promoted by sea-surface productivity. Organic carbon data reflect the relatively high biological productivity in surface waters, indicating high accumulation of biogenic calcareous sediments. The surface-water productivity in the study area is supported by the relation among microfossil assemblages, carbonate mineralogy and sedimentary organic carbon.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.201-211
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• 2003

Bottom simulating reflectors (BSR), representing the base of the gas hydrate stability field, are widespread on the South Shetland continental margin (SSM), Antarctic Peninsula. With the phase diagram fur the gas hydrate stability field, heat flow can be derived from the BSR depth beneath the seafloor determined on multichannel seismic profiles. The heat flow values in the study area range from $50mW/m^2$ to $85mW/m^2$, averaging to $65mW/m^2$. Small deviation from the average heat flow values suggests that heat flow regime of the study area is relatively stable. The landward decrease of heat flow from the South Shetland Trench to the continental shelf would be attributed to the landward thickening of the accretionary prism and the upward advection of heat associated with fluid expulsion. The continental slope 1500m to 3000m deep, where BSRs are most distinguished in the SSM, shows relatively large variation of heat flow possibly due to complex tectonic activities in the study area. The local high heat flow anomalies observed along the slope may be caused by heat transport mechanisms along a NW-SE trending large-scale fault.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.131-146
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• 2014

Multi-beam echosounder data and grain size analysis data of surface sediment were acquired and analyzed in order to investigate the shelf-to-slope morphology, geological character, and their geological controlling factors in the southwestern margin of the Ulleung Basin. According to the morphological character, the continental shelf can be divided into two parts: (1) shallow (~100 m) and steep ($0.5^{\circ}$) inner shelf, (2) deep (100-300 m) and gentle ($0.2^{\circ}$) outer shelf. The continental slope is featured with eight distinct topographic depressions of various spatial dimension (~121 $km^2$ in area) and head wall gradient (${\sim}24.3^{\circ}$). They are developed adjacent to each other and presumably formed by submarine landslides which have recurred under the strong influences of earthquakes and eustatic sea-level change. The inner continental shelf and the continental slope are dominated by fine-grained sediment, whereas the outer continental shelf is dominated by coarse-grained sediment. The surface sediment distribution seems dominantly influenced by eustatic sea-level change. The outer continental shelf is mostly covered by coarse relict sediment deposited during lowstand sea-level, while the inner shelf is covered with recent sediment during highstand sea-level. The surface of the continental slope is covered with fine-grained sediments which were supplied by hemipelagic advection process.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2014

The long-term mooring performed at a KOGA station, located at about $30^{\circ}20^{\prime}N$, $126^{\circ}12^{\prime}E$ in the East China Sea shelf, shows some different behaviors between "semi-diurnal" and "diurnal currents" defined as the currents with periods around, respectively, a half day and a day. They appear to be predominantly tidal having significant coherences with sea level changes around the semi-diurnal and diurnal frequencies. The "semi-diurnal current" is strongly barotropic all year round. However, contrastingly, it is largely baroclinic in summer in the area about 70 km nearer to the continental slope, referred to as the "slope-area", as was found in previous current observations. The "diurnal current" of tidal origin is strongly barotropic in winter. In spring and summer, however, it becomes more baroclinic although it still remains largely barotropic, also showing more of its barotropic nature than in the "slope-area". The inertial oscillation contributing to the "diurnal current" appears to be more prominent when the current is baroclinic, indicating the important role played by stratification in generation of inertial oscillations. Downward energy propagation of inertial oscillation is not observed, suggesting that it is not created at the surface by wind. Considering that the study area is both near a critical latitude and proximity to the continental slope, it is suggested that parametric subharmonic instability (PSI) plays a significant role in creating the baroclinic inertial oscillation.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.36-48
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• 1990

This study was carried out to obtain some informations on the species composition and distribution pattern of Polychate community on the continental shelf and slope area in the East Sea. Fauna samples were collected from three sampling cruises in April of 1985, and April and October of 1987. Total 112 polychaete taxa included in 36 families were collected. Dominant species in the study area were Chaetozone setosa, Aglaophamus malmgreni, Ampharete arctica Terebellides horikoshii, Tharyx sp., and Magelona pacifica. Northern and cold water species were major contributors of polychaete communities in this study area. Dominant species showed their specific depth ranges from shelf area to upper slope and middle slope depth. The overall density was 300 indiv./m$\^$2/ and species richness was around 12 species/0.2m$\^$2/. Significant changes in mean polychaete density and species richness along depth gradient were found approximately at 600 m or deeper depth. Among physical factors, water depth, temperature and clay content, mean grain size were significantly correlated with the mean density of dominant species.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.419-427
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• 2002

Meiobenthic community structure near Dokdo was investigated during two survey periods of June, 1999 and October 2000. Meiobenthos were separated from the sediment core samples collected from eight stations. A total of 19 meiobenthic animal groups were identified from those core samples. The most abundant meiobenthic animals belonged to Phylum Nematoda in both seasons and all stations. Sarcomastigophorans, nauplius of crustaceans, and benthic harpactiocoids were the next abundant meiobenthos. Vertical distribution of meiobenthic animals showed the highest individual numbers in the surface sediment layers of 0-1cm depth with a steep decreasing trend with depth for the three sampling stations (A0, A9', A19) located in the continental slope. Horizontal distribution of meiobenthic animals for the study area near Dokdo showed lower density at the sampling stations near Dokdo and the lowest density of meiobenthos in A19 (depth-2261 m). For size distribution, analysis showed that animals which fit onto the mesh size of 0.125mm were abundant. This study suggested that the continental shelf near Dokdo have a more unstable environment fo meiobenthos than the continental slope.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.557-567
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• 2003

High-resolution (3.5 kHz) subbottom profiles were analyzed in order to reveal sedimentation pattern of late Quaternary in the northern South Shetland continental margin and the South Scotia Sea, Antarctica. On the basis of clarity, continuity and geometry of surface and subbottom echoes together with seafloor topography, high-resolution echo characters are classified into eight echo types which represent rock basements (echo type III-1), coarse-grained subglacial till or moraine (echo type I-1), slides/slumps (echo type IV), debris-flow deposits (echo types II-3 and III-2), and bottom-current deposits (echo types I-2, II-1 and II-2). Subglacial till or moraine (echo type I-1) is mostly present in the lower continental shelf and upper continental slope of the northern South Shetland continental margin, which changes downslope to slides/slumps (echo type IV) and debris-flow deposits (echo types II-3 and III-2) in the middle to lower continental slope. This distribution suggests that the continental slopes of the northern South Shetland continental margin were mostly affected by downslope gravitational processes. Further downslope, bottom-current sediments (echo type I-2) deposited by the southwestward flowing Antarctic Deep Water (ADW) occur at the South Shetland Trench, reflecting an Interaction between mass flows and bottom currents in the area. In contrast to the northern South Shetland continental margin, the South Scotia Sea is dominated by bottom-current deposits (echo types II-1 and II-2), indicating that the sedimentation was mostly controlled by the westward flowing ADW. Flow intensity of the ADW has increased in the relative topographic highs, forming thin covers of coarse-grained contourites (echo type II-1), whereas it has decreased in the relative topographic lows, depositing thick, fine-grained contourites (echo type II-2). The poor development of wave geometry in the fine-grained bottom-current deposits (echo type II-2) is suggestive of the unsteady nature of the ADW flow.