• Title/Summary/Keyword: paleosols

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Holocene Paleosols of the Upo Wetland, Korea

  • Nahm, Wook-Hyun;Kim, Ju-Yong;Yang, Dong-Yoon;Hong, Sei-Sun;Lee, Jin-Young;Kim, Jin-Kwan
    • The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.167-168
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    • 2003
  • The Upo wetland, the largest natural wetland in Korea, is located in Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongsannam Province ($35^{\circ}33'$ N, $128^{\circ}25'$ E), and 70 km upstream from the Nakdong River estuary. Unlike most other Korean wetlands that have been destroyed under the name of economic development, the Upo wetland has been able to preserve its precious ecosystem throughout the years. Thanks to increased public awareness about natural wetlands and environmental conservation, the Korean Ministry of Environment designated the Upo wetland an 'Ecological Conservation Area' on July 26th, 1997. On March 2nd of the following year, the Upo wetland (8.54 $\textrm{km}^2$) was designated a 'Protected Wetland' in accordance with the international Ramsar Treaty. A 4.49m long (from 9.73 to 5.24 m in altitude) UP-1 core ($35^{\circ}33'05"N$, $128^{\circ}25'17"E$), recovered in the marginal part of the Upo wetland, is divided into eight buried paleosol units of different ages on the basis of the abundance of color mottles and vertical color variations (Aslan et al., 1998). Radiocarbon datings suggested that the paleosol profile represent the last 5700 years. The entire section of the core was more or less subjected to pedogenetic processes, and shows very weak to moderate soil profile development. These Holocene paleosols are therefore regarded as synsedimentary soils of deluvium (deposits formed by floods) origin (Sycheva et al., 2003). Unit 1 to 5 paleosols are generally silt-rich and exhibit moderate profile development. The boundaries between the units are somewhat distinguishable, but not so clear cut. This is due to variable repeated combination of accumulation, denudation and soil forming processes within various periods. Mottle textures gradually decrease in abundance with increasing clay content in Unit 6, which results in weak profile development. The lower boundary of Unit 6 lies around about 2000 yrBP, the beginning of Subatlantic in Korea (Kim et al., 2001). Abrupt sediment textural change is detected in Unit 7, which is interpreted to indicate the human activities on the Upo wetland. Unit 8 represents the recent soil forming processes. The preliminary results of this ongoing study imply the primary factor for pedogenetic processes is the water table fluctuations related to the sedimentary textures like grain size distributions, and the geomorphological stability of the Upo wetland.o wetland.

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Late Quaternary Stratigraphy and Depositional Environment of the Yeongsan River Estuary, Southwestern Korea (영산강 하구의 제4기 후기 층서 및 고환경)

  • 남욱현;김주용;양동윤;홍세선;봉필윤;이윤수;유강민;염종권
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.36 no.6
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    • pp.545-556
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    • 2003
  • Detailed interdisciplinary investigations demonstrate that the Yeongsan River estuarine-filled sediments clearly record important paleoenvironmental changes during the Last Glacial and Holocene. The sediments from 18.9 m(20.5∼l.6m in depth) long core MW-1 are differentiated by changes in sedimentary textures and palynomorph assemblages. Chronology was provided by AMS$^{14}$C dating and regional pollen correlation. Three paleoenvironrnental phases are recognized: (1) The Last Glacial deposits consist mainly of fluvial sediments and paleosols, experienced deposition alternating with pedogenesis. The appearance of the paleosols suggests that the paleoclimate might be cold and humid. (2) The early and middle Holocene phase started abruptly in response to the rapid global climatic warming. and is characterized by abundant marine palynomorphs. (3) The late Holocene is marked by more cool conditions. The paleoenvironmental changes recorded in the sediments coincide not only with local but also with broad-scale, probably global climate changes.

Characteristics and Implications of Lava Tubes from Geophysical Exploration in Jeju Island (지구물리 탐사에 의해 발견된 제주도 용암동굴의 특징과 의미)

  • Jeon, Yongmun;Ki, Jin Seok;Koh, Su Yeon;Kim, Lyoun;Ryu, Choon Kil
    • The Journal of Engineering Geology
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    • v.25 no.4
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    • pp.473-484
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    • 2015
  • Geophysical exploration using electric resistivity, ground penetrating radar (GPR), and impedance high-frequency (ZHF) surveys was conducted in Gujwa-eup, Jeju City, Jeju Island, an island in the Korea Strait, to confirm the existence of new caves near known caves. The exploration revealed a number of anomaly zones, presumed to be caves; 27 sites at suitable locations and depth ranges were selected for drilling and further surveys. However, contrary to predictions, most of the anomaly zones were clinker layers or paleosols intercalated with lavas. Only five boreholes intersected caves. The clinker layers and paleosols were possibly detected as anomalies owing to their different physical properties from the other rocks. Two of the five cave-finding boreholes penetrated Yongcheon Cave; a new cave was found at the other. The two boreholes that penetrated Yongcheon Cave were drilled in areas where the cave has not been previously reported, and thus helped correct an error in the cave distribution map. The cave newly discovered in this boring exploration is 180 m long, and it is connected to the upstream part of Dangcheomul Cave (110 m). The cave contains well-developed lava helictites, lava levees, and ropy structures; carbonate speleothems such as soda straws, stalagmites, columns, and curtain shawls are also well preserved. Notably, the unique shape of the carbonate speleothems is attributed to their growth in relation to the cavern water that flowed into the cave along plant roots.

Paleohydrologic Activity and Environmental Change on Mars (화성에서의 고수문학적 활동과 환경변화)

  • Dohm, James M.;Kim, Kyeong-Ja
    • The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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    • v.23 no.1
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    • pp.38-41
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    • 2009
  • Results from the most recent decade of Mars' missions to Mars highlight a liquid water and water-ice sculpted landscape. Evidence includes layered sedimentary sequences with weathered outcrops, debris flows, fluvial valleys, alluvial fans, deltas, glacial and periglacial landscapes, and geochemical/mineralogical signatures of aqueous activity, including the formation of sulfates and clays, and the leaching and deposition of elements such as potassium, thorium,and iron. Such evidence indicates weathered zones and possible paleosols in stratigraphic sequences, transport of water and rock materials to sedimentary basins, and the possible formation of extensive transient lakes and possibly transient oceans on Mars. This new evidence is consistent with Viking-era geologic investigations that reported magmatic-driven flooding, ponding to form large water bodies in the northern plains, and transient (tens of thousand of years) hydrological cycles. It may even indicate aqueous activity at present. Both endogenic (magmatic driven) and exogenic (both impact cratering and changes in orbital parameters) have influenced paleohydrologic and environmental change on Mars. Abundance of water and dynamic activity would be decisively important for the possibility of past and present life on Mars.

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Paleomagnetic and Soil Chemical Studies on the Quaternary Paleosol Around the Hantan River (한탄강 인근 제4기 고토양층에 대한 토양화학 및 고지자기학적 연구)

  • 김복철;황재하;이윤수;이규호;남욱현
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.37 no.3
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    • pp.325-334
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    • 2004
  • Detail downward variation records for paleomagnetic, XRD, photospectrogram, TOC results were obtained from the soil developed along the Hantan River, Gungpyeong-ri, Cheongsan-myeon, Yeoncheon-gun Gyeonggi-do. The unconsoildated sediments underlain by the Jeongok Quaternary Basalt indicates that the paleosol formed twice with different ages, as apparently indicated by sedimentological, paleomagnatic, and soil chemical properties. The paleosols recorded paleoclimate and paleoenvironments of about 271.21$\pm$89.8 ka before eruption of the Quaternary Jeongok Basalt.

Compound Clacrete Deposits from the Dapaepo Formation in Dusong Peninsula, Pusan : Origin, Paleonvironments, and Stratigraphic Implication (부산 두송반도의 다대포층에 발달된 캘크리트복합층 : 성인, 고환경 및 층서적 의미)

  • Paik, In Sung;Lee, Joon Dong;Kim, In Soo;Kim, Jeong Jin;Park, Chong Wook
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.30 no.3
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    • pp.263-275
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    • 1997
  • Compound calcrete deposits are recognized from the Dadaepo Formation in Dusong peninsula, Pusan, and their textures, structures, morphology, and stratigraphic distribution are examined. The Dadaepo Formation in study area consists of fluvial plain deposits including floodplain-lake deposits, and the compound calcrete deposits occur above floodplain deposits and below lacustrine deposits. The compound calcrete deposits are composed of nodular to massive (micritic), laminar, nodular, nodular to massive (marly), and marly calcrete deposits. In these calcretes, circumgranular and curved cracks, alveolar structures, fitted peloids, tubular fenestrae with laminar micrite wall (rootlet casts), microstalactic calcite, and tepee structures are observed, which indicates that they are calcic paleosols. Considering their stratigraphic occurrences and pedogenic origin, compound calcrete deposits are interpreted to have formed on distal fluvial plain to palustrine environment by the repetetion of deposition and subsequent calcification due to alternation of lake expansion and contraction. The repetetion of calcrete formation suggests that arid climatic condition was alternated with humid condition in short-term period. Such alternated paleoclimatic condition is similar to those of the Sindong and Hayang groups, and indicates that short-term fluctuations from arid to humid climate were prevailing in overall Gyeongsang Basin. In stratigraphic sense, the compound calcrete deposits can be used as a marker deposit for the correlation of the Dadaepo Formation.

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Correlation and Chronology of the Marine Terraces and Thalassostatic Terraces in the Yeongdeok Coast, South Eastern Korean Peninsula (영덕 일대의 해성단구와 해면변동단구의 대비와 편년)

  • Choi, Seong Gil;Chang, Ho
    • Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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    • v.26 no.4
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    • pp.81-96
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    • 2019
  • The Yeongdeok 53m marine terrace (Y53mT), Y43mT, Y33mT, Y24mT, Y19mT and Y11mT distributed along the Yeongdeok coast, southeastern Korean Peninsula are well compared with the thalassostatic terraces of the high terrace 1 (ℓHT1 ; 51m of the relative heights from the river floor), high terrace 2 (ℓHT2 ; 43m), middle terrace 1 (ℓMT1 ; 32m), middle terrace 2 (ℓMT2 ; 25m), lower terrace 1 (ℓLT1 ; 18m) and lower terrace 2 (ℓLT2 ; 10m) respectively, developed along the lower reaches of the Chucksan-cheon and Obo-cheon rivers, judging from the comparison of paleosols (red soils) between the above marine and thalassostatic terraces. Using the Y19mT of the MIS 5e as the key surface, we propose that the terraces of the Y53mT and ℓHT1, Y43mT and ℓHT2, T33mT and ℓMT1, Y24mT and ℓMT2, Y19mT and ℓLT1, and Y11mT and ℓLT2 have been formed at the MIS 11, 9, 7e and 7a (or 7a), 5e and 5a respectively. The red soils have been developed at the Y19mT and ℓLT1 and above them, but not on the Y11mT and ℓLT2 surfaces.

Post LGM Fluvial Environment and Palynological Changes of South Korea

  • Kim, Ju-Yong;Yang, Dong-Yoon;Bong, Pil-Yoon;Nahm, Wook-Hyun;Lee, Heon-Jong;Lee, Yung-Jo;Hong, Sei-Sun;Lee, Jin-Young;Kim, Jin-Wkan;Oh, Keun-Chang
    • The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.17-23
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    • 2003
  • In Korea terrestrial fluvial sequences can be used as pedological and sedimentological markers indicating a millenium-scale environmental and climatic changes imprinted in fluvial sub-environments, which in turn are represented by the cyclicity of fluvial sands, backswamp organic muds, and flooding muds intercalations of frostcracked or dessicated brown paleosols. Post LGM and Holocene fluvial and alluvial sedimentary sequences of Korea are formed in such landscapes of coastal, floodplain, backswamp and hillslope areas. Among them, the most outstanding depositional sequences are fluvial gravels, sands and organic mud deposits in coastal, fluvial, or alluvial wetlands. The aim of this study is to explain the sedimentary sequences and palynofloral zones since the last 15,000years, on the basis of organic muds layers intercalated in fluvial sand deposits. Jangheung-ri site of Nam river, Soro-ri site of Miho river, Youngsan rivermouth site in Muan, Oksan-ri site of Hampyeong and Sanggap-ri site of Gochang are illustrated to interpret their sedimentary facies, radiocarbon datings, and palynofloral zonation. Up to the Middle to Late Last Glacial(up to 30-35Ka), old river-bed, flooding, and backswamp sequences contain such arboreal pollens as Pinus, Abies, and Picea, and rich in non-arboreal pollens like Cyperaceae, Gramineae, Ranunculaceae, and Compositae. During the LGM and post-LGM periods until Younger Dryas, vegetation has changes from the sub-alpine conifer forest(up to about 17-11Ka), through the conifer and broad-leaved deciduous forest, or mixed forest (formed during 16,680-13,010yrB.P), to the deciduous and broad-leaved forest (older than 9,500yrB.P). In the Earliest Holocene flooding deposits, fragments of plant roots are abundant and subjected to intensive pedogenic processes. During Holocene, three arboreal pollen zones are identified in the ascending order of strata; Pinus-Colyus zone(mixed conifer and deciduous broad-leaved forest, about up to 10Ka), Alnus-Quercus forest (the cool temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest, about 10Ka-2Ka), and Pinus forest (the conifer forest, about after 2Ka), as examplified in Soro-ri site of Cheonwon county. The palynological zonations of Soro-ri, Oksan-ri, Sanggap-ri, Youngsan estuary, and Gimhae fluvial plain have been recognized as a provisional correlation tool, and zonations based on fluvial backswamp and flooding deposits shows a similar result with those of previous researchers.

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