• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.201-206
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• 2005

Interpretation of high-resolution seismic profiles from the southeastern continental shelf of Korea reveals that the sedimentary deposits consist of seven seismic units formed during the late Quaternary. These units comprise lowstand, transgressive, and highstand systems tracts. The lowstand systems tract consists of a lowstand prograding wedge (SU1) and a mass flow deposit (SU2) including slumps and slides. The transgressive systems tract contains four seismic units: an ancient beach/shoreface deposit (SU3), a channel-fill deposit (SU4), a transgressive sand layer (SU5), and a transgressive sand ridge (SU6). The highstand systems tract consists of an inner-shelf mud deposit (SU7) derived from the Nakdong and Seomjin rivers during the last 6 ka when sea level was close to the present level.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.6-19
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• 1985

Hydrographic data and daily time series of longshore wind, sea level and sea surface temperature were used in order to explain why the upwelling effect in SST is especially prominent near Ulgi-Gampo although the sea level records along the whole southeast coast show a nearly uniform upwelling-downwelling response to wind. Regional difference in intensity of the wind-induced upwelling represented by the SST decrease is attributed to the combined influence of two factors; one is the baroclinic tilting of isotherms due to the East Korea Warm Current (EKWC) near the Ulgi-Gampo coast, the other is the topographic effects around the southeast coast. Baroclinic tilting effect of EKWC which is generally strongest near the coast of Ulgi to Gampo results in both of the shoaling of cold water and the westward trapping of the coldest bottom water over the shallower shelf rather than the deepest troough region off that coast regardless of the season. Therefore, becacse of the cold water ready for upwelling at the subsurface layer, SST responds very rapidly to the upwelling-favorable winds of summer only off the Ulgi-Gampo coast. Spreading isobaths from Pusan to Gempo can reinforce the upwelling of the cold bottom water and its westward trapping.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.312-322
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• 2004

Physical and geoacoustic properties of inner shelf sediment in the South and Southeastern Seas of Korea have been studied based on six piston core samples. The sediments are largely composed of homogeneous mud except the core from the southeasternmost part of the area. Both physical and geoacoustic properties and mean grain size are relatively uniform with sediment depth, suggesting little effect of sediment compaction and/or consolidation. Mean grain size appears to be the most Important variable to determine the physical and acoustic properties. In contrast, the attenuation shows more or less fluctuations. Correlations between physical properties and sediment texture show slight deviations from those of the compared data, caused by the difference of sedimentary processes, mineral composition, and the difference of measurement system. In particular, the velocity is lower (approximately 20-30 m/s) than that of the previous data measured in the same area. This is probably due to the difference in velocity measurement system (particularly, error by a length of sample). We propose new relationships for physical and geoacoustic characteristics of shelf sediment in the study area.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.335-345
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• 2000

Physical and acoustic properties of the Southeastern Yellow Sea Mud (SEYSM) of Korea were studied by using 10 piston cores. The data were also compared with mudbelt sediments in the South Sea and the East Sea (southeastern inner shelf) of Korea. The sediments were mainly composed of homogeneous silt. Sandy mud and mud were minor components. The major source of sediment in the study area is probably the Keum River. Finegrained sediments discharged from the river are transported southward by coastal current, resulting in a gradual southward increase in porosity and a decrease in wet bulk density and sound velocity. The mean grain size especially appears to be the most important variable to determine the physical properties and velocity. The variations of physical properties with burial depth are dependent more strongly on sediment texture (especially, silt content) than compaction and/or consolidation. Correlations between the physical properties and the sediment texture show slight deviations from those of the East Sea and the South Sea of Korea in spite of similar pattern within the limiting values. This is probably due to the differences in silt contents, sedimentary environments, mineral compositions, and gas contents.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.279-285
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• 2008

Korea Institute of Geoscience & Mineral Resources (KIGAM) carried out 2 dimensional multi-channel seismic surveys for Domi-Basin of east-southern part of Jeju Island, South Sea, Korea in 2007. The purpose of this survey is to investigate the structure of acoustic basement and the potential of energy resources in the Korean shelf. It is essential to produce fine stack and migration section to understand the structure of basement. However a basement can not be clearly defined where multiples exist between sea surface and seafloor. This study aimed at designing the optimal data processing parameter, especially to eliminate the peg-leg multiples. Main data processing procedure is composed of minimum phase predictive deconvolution, velocity analysis and Radon filter. We tested the efficiency of processing parameter from stack sections of each step. Our results confirmed that processing parameters are suitable for the seismic data of Domi-Basin.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.249-258
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• 2001

Compressional wave velocity and electrical resistivity of muddy sediments in the southeastern inner shelf of Korea were studied using nine piston core samples. The acoustic and physical properties were measured with 10 cm depth interval. Sediment structures were examined by x-radiographs of the cored sediments. Subbottom profiles were obtained by a high-resolution acoustic subbottom profiler. Acoustic turbid layers are clearly seen on the profiles, and x-radiographs of the sediments showed degassying structures formed by gas escaping. On the basis of x-radiographic images, velocities, electrical resistivities and physical properties, the sediments are divided into gassy and non-gassy sediments. The presence of gas and degassying structures result in a marked variation in velocity and electrical resistivity. It can be concluded that velocity and electrical resistivity arep arameter to recognize gassy sediment. The velocity is important parameter to indicate gassy sediment.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.541-550
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• 2005

Molluscan shells were sampled from the continental shelf of South Sea: 19 stations in the southeast continental shelf and 5 in the southwest sea, in order to understand characteristics of sea level changes and time-averaging since the last glacial age. Radiocarbon dates were made on 42 dominant and specific species which were sampled from 24 stations. Time-averaging was observed and showed to be 11,939 years in age difference. The sea-level ranged from 150 to 160 m below sea level during the LGM (about 15,000 yrs B.P). The sea-level significantly rose to 60 m at around 9,000 yrs B.P. and became stable at 50 to 60 m between periods between 4,000 and 5,000 yrs B.P. Between 3,000 and 4,000 yrs B.P, the sea-level rapidly rose to a depth of $10\~20m$ below today’s present sea level.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.194-210
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• 2022

The monthly inventory of dissolved inorganic carbon (C_T) and its fluxes were simulated using a box-model for the southeastern Yellow Sea, bordering the northern East China Sea. The monthly C_T data was constructed by combining the observed data representing four seasons with the data adopted from the recent publications. A 2-box-model of the surface and deep layers was used, assuming that the annual C_T inventory was at the steady state and its fluctuations due to the advection in the surface box were negligible. Results of the simulation point out that the monthly C_T inventory variation between the surface and deep box was driven primarily by the mixing flux due to the variation of the mixed layer depth, on the scale of -40~35 mol C m^-2 month^-1. The air to sea CO₂ flux was about 2 mol C m^-2 yr^-1 and was lower than 1/100 of the mixing flux. The biological pump flux estimated magnitude, in the range of 4-5 mol C m^-2 yr^-1, is about half the in situ measurement value reported. The C_T inventory of the water column was maximum in April, when mixing by cooling ceases, and decreases slightly throughout the stratified period. Therefore, the total C_T inventory is larger in the stratified period than that of the mixing period. In order to maintain a steady state, 18 mol C m^-2 yr^-1 (= 216 g C m^-2 yr^-1), the difference between the maximum and minimum monthly CT inventory, should be transported out to the East China Sea. Extrapolating this flux over the entire southern Yellow Sea boundary yields 4 × 10⁹ g C yr^-1. Conceptually this flux is equivalent to the proposed continental shelf pump. Since this flux must go through the vast shelf area of the East China Sea before it joins the open Pacific waters the actual contribution as a continental shelf pump would be significantly lower than reported value. Although errors accompanied the simple box model simulation imposed by the paucity of data and assumptions are considerably large, nevertheless it was possible to constrain the relative contribution among the major fluxes and their range that caused the C_T inventory variations, and was able to suggest recommendations for the future studies.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.74-85
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• 1972

This paper studied the grain size distribution of bottom sediments of Yeongil Bay which is located at the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula. Sixty four samples collected with snapper and dredger are analyzed by roe Tap Sieve Shaker and Pipette Method. The moment parameters are calculated with the method of Friedman(1961). Most samples are composed of sand size sediments and a few samples are composed of silt and clay. The Yeongil Bay can be divided into gravel-granule zone, sand zone, and silt-clay zone. The sediments near Yeonam- Dong and Hyongsan river are moderately sorted and others are very poorly sorted according to scheme of Friedman91962). In general, sorting values are ranged from 1.0 to 3.5. The samples near Janggigap and Masin-Dong show negative and others show positive skewness values. Skewness values are ranged from -1 to 2. All samples show the leptokurtic distribution except for the samples near Masin- dong and at the deepest place near Janggigap. Kurtosis values are ranged from -1.5 to 21.9. The samples of gravel-granule zone contain more than 50% and those of silt-clay zone contain less than 50% of CaCO$\_$3/. Four different colors, black, yellow, brown and gray, are shown in the sediments of Yeongil Bay.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.159-169
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• 2004

Sedimentation and depositional pattern of the fine-grained sediments in the southeastern inner shelf of Korea were studied using a very high-resolution seismic profiles and sediment data. The recent mud deposits up to 45 m thick are distributed in the inner shelf forming a nearshore belt from the eastern part of Geoje Island to off the Pohang along the coast. The sediment in this area consists of homogeneous mud with mean grain size between $8.6\;to\;5.3\phi$ and does not show any distinct variability It gradually becomes finer and well sorted northeastward along the coast. Sediments normally appear as structureless massive mud but X-radiographs show that some bioturbation and faint lamination are present. The sediments accumulate at a rate of 0.18-0.44 cm/yr and the rate coincides well with the long-term (a 1000-year scale) accumulation based on very high-resolution seismic data. Distribution of wet bulk density and velocity shows a gradual increase from the southeastern part of Ulsan to off Pohang, whereas porosity shows a reverse pattern. Correlations between velocity and porosity/mean grain size are different from other regions compared, due to the difference of sediment texture and sedimentary environment. The recent shelf deposits are seismically characterized by three distinct facies: 1) well-stratified (near the river mouth), 2) semi-transparent (eastern part of Geoje Island), and 3) transparent (off Ulsan). The results suggest that fine-grained sediment derived from rivers, forming a nearshore mud belt, have been transported northeastward by the northeastward-flowing coastal current.