• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.680-690
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• 2022

Tephrochronology uses regional tephra for age dating and stratigraphic correlations. Regional tephras are important in Quaternary geology and archaeology because they can be used as stratigraphic time-markers. In this review, identification and dating methods of tephra are summarized. In addition, the characteristics of regional tephras in terrestrial deposits of the Korean Peninsula are elaborated, and geological applications and limitations of the regional tephra layers are also discussed. So far, AT, Ata, and Kb-Ks tephra layers from Kyushu, Japan have been found in Pleistocene paleosol, marine terrace deposits, and lacustrine deposits in Korea. Also, although not officially confirmed, Aso-4 tephra is likely to occur in terrestrial deposits. The regional tephra layers are vital for dating, especially with regard to sediments over 50 ka beyond the range of radiocarbon dating, and for dating of active faults. Furthermore, it can provide important information for preparing countermeasures against volcanic disasters. However, in order to use the tephra layer geologically, it must be confirmed whether it is a primary deposit based on sedimentological study.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.51-57
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• 2006

Terrace stratigraphy of the southeastern coastal areas of Korea is reappraised on the basis of terrace mapping and geochronology. Coastal terraces are divided into uHT ($90{\sim}130\;m$), HT ($63{\sim}86m$), MT ($36{\sim}55\;m$), and LT ($8{\sim}25\;m$) according to altitude. Among these, the Lower Terrace I is interpreted to have formed during MIS 5e based on Tephras Aso-4 (MIS 5c), Ata(MIS 5d or 5e) and OSL data. The age of Lower Terrace II is thought to be MIS 5a based on tephras and OSL data. The uplift rate in the SE part of Korea during the formation of the Lower Terrace (i.e. the MIS 5) ranges from 0.08 to 0.25 mm/yr and averages as 0.15 mm/yr. Such value is quite small in comparison to that of Japan, Taiwan or many other tectonically active areas in the world.