• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.83-99
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• 2005

To evaluate environmental charateristics of the South Sea and East China Sea on summer, water and sediment quality were measured in June 2001-2003. Surface layer was affceted by Warm water originated from the high temperature and salinity-Tsushima Warm Current, on the other hand, Yellow Sea Cold Water was spread to the bottom layer in the south-western part of the Jeju island, and salinity at stations near the Yangtze River was decreased below 29psu because of a enormous freshwater discharges. Thermocline-depth was formed at about 10m, and chlorophyll maximum layer was existed in and below the thermocline. COD(Chemical Oxygen Demand), TN(Total Nitrogen), and TP(Total Phosphorus) concentrations showed seawater quality grade II in surface layer of the most area, but concentrations of such as COD, Chl. a, TSS(Total Suspended Solid), and nutrients were greatly increased in the effect area of Yangtze River discharges. Correlations between dissolved inorganic nitrogen, Chl. a and salinity were negative patterns strongly, in contrast, those of inorganic phosphorus, COD and Chl. a were positive, which indicates that phytoplankton biomass and phosphorus are considered as important factors of organic matter distribution and algal growth, respectively. in the study area. The distribution of ignition loss, COD, and $H_2S$ of surface sediment were in the ranges of 2.61-8.81%, $0.64-11.86mgO_2/g-dry$, and ND-0.25 mgS/g-dry, respectively, with relatively high concentration in the eastern part of the study area. Therefore, to effective and sustainable use and management of this area, continuous monitoring and countermeasures about major input sources to the water and sediment, and prediction according to the environmental variation, are necessary.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.187-201
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• 2007

The first magnetotelluric (MT) transect across the Korean Peninsula was obtained traversing from the East Sea shoreline to the Yellow Sea shoreline. The MT survey profile was designed perpendicular to the strike of the principal geologic structure of the Korean Peninsula $(N30^{\circ}E)$, so-called 'China direction'. MT data were achieved at 50 sites with spacings of $3{\sim}8km$ along the 240 km survey line. The impedance responses are divided into four subsets reflecting typical geological units: the Kyonggi Massif, the Okchon Belt, the western part of the Kyongsang Basin, and the eastern part of the Kyongsang Basin. In the western part of the Kyongsang Basin, the thickness of the sedimentary layer is estimated to be about 3 km to 8 km and its resistivity is a few hundred ohm-m. A highly conductive layer with a resistivity of 1 to 30 ohm-m was detected beneath the sedimentary layer. The MT data at the Okchon Belt show peculiar responses with phase exceeding $90^{\circ}$. This feature may be explained by an electrically anisotropic structure which is composed of a narrow anisotropic block and an anisotropic layer. The Kyonggi Massif and the eastern part of Kyongsang Basin play a role of window to the deep geoelectrical structure because of the very high resistivity of upper crust. The second layers with highest resistivities in 1-D conductivity models occupy the upper crust with thicknesses of 13 km in the Kyonggi Massif and 18 km in the eastern Kyongsang Basin, respectively.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.203-215
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• 1995

Two hydrographic surveys along with direct current measurements using drogues and moored current meters were conducted in Cheju Strait during April and May, 1983. The data clearly demonstrate that a branch of the Kuroshio characterized by high temperature and high salinity enters the Cheju Strait after turning around the western coast of Cheju-Do. The width of the current turning west of Cheju-Do is about 60 km and reduces to 20∼30 km in the strait, resulting in a high speed(＞10 cm/s) at the western entrance and in the middle of the strait, compared with a low speed (＞5 cm/s) west of Cheju-Do. The Tsushima Current water also originating from the Kuroshio shows its influence in the eastern part of the Cheju Strait. Thermohaline fronts formed between the warm current waters and the coastal waters suggest the southward extension of the Yellow Sea Coastal Water west of the Cheju Strait. A warming of the warm current waters occurs in May, while a cooling takes place in other areas. The major freshening and cooling of water take place in the middle of the Cheju Strait in May due to the intrusion of cold and low salinity water from the west of the Cheju Strait.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.533-542
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• 2015

The Gochang beach is located in the southwestern coast of Korea along the eastern part of the Yellow Sea, comprising the Donghori, Gwangseungri, and Myeongsasipri beaches from north to south. The Gochang beach is characterized by macro-tide, open-coast, linear shoreline, and sand substrates. This study has investigated annual and seasonal characteristics of surface topography variation and sediment accumulation rate in the Gochang beach. During the five seasons of winter (Feb.), spring (May), summer (Aug.), and fall (Nov.) in 2014 and winter (Feb.) in 2015, the topographic elevation of total 315 sites was measured along three survey lines. It consists of 21 sites at 30 m intervals in each transverse line perpendicular to the shoreline, respectively. Annual accumulation rate of the Gochang beach in 2014 was -0.081 m/yr, indicative of erosional condition. Annual accumulation rates of the comprising beaches represent -0.091m/yr of the Donghori, -0.051 m/yr of the Gwangseungri, and -0.10 m/yr of the Myeongsasipri.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.328-340
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• 2006

In Janghwa-ri of Kanghwa Island morphological changes in four transects, 112 surface, and 2 core sediments were analyzed to understand the seasonal variation of the muddy tidal-flat environment. Sedimentary of facies can be classified into four facies; sand, muddy sand, sandy mud, and silt. During winter, the coarse-grained sediment facies expanded seaward. In the subsurface part of the core sediments, poorly sorted silty sediments dominate the area. According to the Pb-210 isotope analysis, accumulation rates of the tidal flat in Jangwha-ri appear to be $5{\sim}19mm/yr$. In the study area, the result is suggestive of a rapid change in depositional environments in recent years.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.4 s.179
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• pp.369-384
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• 2006

Korean Peninsula, located on the southeastern part of Eurasian plate, belongs to the intraplate region. The characteristics of intraplate earthquake show the low and rare seismicity and the sparse and irregular distribution of epicenters comparing to interplate earthquake. To evaluate the exact seismic activity in intraplate region, long-term seismic data including historical earthquake data should be archived. Fortunately the long-term historical earthquake records about 2,000 years are available in Korea Peninsula. By the analysis of this historical and instrumental earthquake data, seismic activity was very high in 16-18 centuries and is more active at the Yellow sea area than East sea area. Comparing to the high seismic activity of the north-eastern China in 16-18 centuries, it is inferred that seismic activity in two regions shows close relationship. Also general trend of epicenter distribution shows the SE-NW direction. In Korea Peninsula, the first seismic station was installed at Incheon in 1905 and 5 additional seismic stations were installed till 1943. There was no seismic station from 1945 to 1962, but a World Wide Standardized Seismograph was installed at Seoul in 1963. In 1990, Korean Meteorological Adminstration(KMA) had established centralized modem seismic network in real-time, consisted of 12 stations. After that time, many institutes tried to expand their own seismic networks in Korea Peninsula. Now KMA operates 35 velocity-type seismic stations and 75 accelerometers and Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources operates 32 and 16 stations, respectively. Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety and Korea Electric Power Research Institute operate 4 and 13 stations, consisted of velocity-type and accelerometer. In and around the Korean Peninsula, 27 intraplate earthquake mechanisms since 1936 were analyzed to understand the regional stress orientation and tectonics. These earthquakes are largest ones in this century and may represent the characteristics of earthquake in this region. Focal mechanism of these earthquakes show predominant strike-slip faulting with small amount of thrust components. The average P-axis is almost horizontal ENE-WSW. In north-eastern China, strike-slip faulting is dominant and nearly horizontal average P-axis in ENE-WSW is very similar with the Korean Peninsula. On the other hand, in the eastern part of East Sea, thrust faulting is dominant and average P-axis is horizontal with ESE-WNW. This indicate that not only the subducting Pacific Plate in east but also the indenting Indian Plate controls earthquake mechanism in the far east of the Eurasian Plate. Crustal velocity model is very important to determine the hypocenters of the local earthquakes. But the crust model in and around Korean Peninsula is not clear till now, because the sufficient seismic data could not accumulated. To solve this problem, reflection and refraction seismic survey and seismic wave analysis method were simultaneously applied to two long cross-section traversing the southern Korean Peninsula since 2002. This survey should be continuously conducted.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.27-41
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• 2008

Distribution characteristics of phytoplankton community were investigated by HPLC and flow cytometry in Jeju Strait and the Northern East China Sea (NECS) in May 2004, in order to understand the relationship between physical environmental factors and distribution pattern of phytoplankton communities. Based on temperature and salinity data, three distinct water masses were identified; warm and saline Tsushima Warm Current (TWC), which is flowing from northwest of Jeju Island, warm and low saline water at the center of Jeju Strait, which is originated from China Coastal Water (CCW) and relatively cold and high saline water originated from Yellow Sea at the bottom of the Jeju Strait. At Jeju Strait, less saline water (<33 psu) of 15 km width occupied surface layer up to 20 m which located at 20 km offshore and strong thermal front between warm and saline water and cold and less saline water was found in the middle of the Jeju Strait. Vertical transect of temperature and salinity at the NECS also showed that low saline (<33 psu) water occupied the upper 20 m layer and cold and saline water was present at the eastern part. Chl a was measured as $0.06{\sim}3.07\;{\mu}g/L$. Spring bloom of phytoplankton was recognized by the high concentrations of Chl a at the low saline water masses influenced by the CCW and subsurface chlorophyll maximum layer appeared between $20{\sim}30\;m$ depth, which was at thermocline depth or below. Abundances of Synechococcus and picoeukaryote were $0.2{\sim}9.5{\times}10^4\;cells/mL$ and $0.43{\sim}4.3{\times}10^4\;cells/mL$, respectively. Dinoflagellate, diatom and prymnesiophyte were major groups and minor groups were chlorophyte+prasinophyte, chrysophyte, cryptophyte and cyanophyte. Especially high abundance of dinoflagellate was identified by high concentration (>1\;{\mu}g/L$) of peridinin at the bottom of the thermocline, which showed an outbreak of red tide by high density of dinoflagellates. Abundances of picoeukaryote in Jeju Strait were about $5{\sim}10$ times higher than abundance measured in Kuroshio water and showed a good correlation with Chl b (Pras+Viola), which implies the most of population of picoeukaryote was composed of prasinophytes. Prochlorococcus was not detected at all, which suggests that Kuroshio Current did not directly influenced on the study area. Based on the strong negative correlations between biomass of phytoplankton (Chl a) and temperature+salinity, the primary production and biomass of phytoplankton in the study area were controlled by the nutrients supply from CCW.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.89-106
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• 2016

The Gochang open-coast intertidal flat is located in the southwestern coast of Korea (the eastern part of the Yellow Sea), characterized by macro-tidal range, an open-coast type, and sand substrates. This study has investigated seasonal variation in sedimentary facies of surface sediments in the Gochang intertidal flat. In the four seasons of February, May, August, and November, 2014, surface sediments of 252 sites in total were sampled and analyzed along three survey lines. The surface sediments of the Gochang intertidal flat in 2014 consisted mainly of fine-grained sand sediments showing a trend in grain size to be coarser in winter and finer in summer. Based on seasonal wave and tidal level data recorded near the study area, it was interpreted that the seasonal effects of wave were stronger than those of tide as a factor controlling surface sedimentation. High waves in winter resulted in the coarsening trend of grain size in surface sediments, whereas, during summer time, the sediments became finer by relatively low waves. Spatial sedimentary facies of the Gochang intertidal flat in 2014 represented that seasonal deviation of the upper tidal zone was larger than that of the lower tidal zone, hence sediments getting coarser in grain size and poorly sorted in the upper tidal zone. From upper to lower tidal zone, the grain size became finer and sediments were better-sorted, showing smaller seasonal deviations.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.379-390
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• 2015

Multibeam backscatter strength is dependent not only on seafloor sediment facies but also on changed incidence angle due to the actual bottom slope. Therefore, the correction for actual bottom slope should be considered before the analysis of backscatter strength. This paper demonstrates the backscatter correction technique for the actual incidence angle and ensonified area. The target area is a part of the eastern Yellow Sea with water depths of 46~55 m. The area is located between the sand ridges and covered by large dunes with various bottom slopes. The dunes usually have the gentle slopes of about $1{\sim}3^{\circ}$, but show some steep slopes of $5{\sim}15^{\circ}$ on the crest. The backscatter strength values on the crest range from -34 to -23 dB, assuming that the bottom is flat. However, this study shows that the backscatter strength range was somewhat reduced (-32~-25 dB) after correction for actual bottom slope. In addition, the backscatter imagery was significantly improved; high and low backscatter strength values on the crest due to the actual bottom slope were normalized. The results demonstrate that the correction technique in this study is an effective tool for processing backscatter strength.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.143-159
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• 2024

Natural aggregate is an essential resource for human activities, closely related to construction. The aggregate demand has been increasing annually, and due to the nature of the resource, it is difficult to procure from distant locations. This study identifies the distribution and characteristics of aggregate-bearing areas as part of a municipal-level aggregate resource survey conducted in Nonsan City, Korea, in 2023. Nonsan City is located approximately 35 km straight distance from the Geum River estuary and lies at the passageway of the main stream of the Geum River. The topography of Nonsan City features eastern mountainous areas and western plains, creating an east-high-west-low geomorphic setting, with 33 streams distributed across the city, including tributaries of the Geum River like Nonsan Stream, Noseong Stream, and Ganggyeong Stream. All streams originate from the highlands in the north and east, converge with Nonsan Stream, and then join the west bank of the main stream of the Geum River at the western boundary of Nonsan City. Drilling core results show shallow depths in the highlands to the north and east, deepening towards the west, reaching a maximum depth of 25 m near the main stream of the Geum River. The total reserve of land aggregates is calculated to be 246,789,000 m³, with a developable amount of 172,750,000 m³. The total reserve of river aggregates is 5,236,000 m³, with a developable amount of 3,765,000 m³. The distribution of aggregates varies according to the geomorphic, geologic, and development pattern of the river system. Reserves are scarce in mountainous areas but are abundant in regions with rivers and wide alluvial plains, although reserves appear at depths greater than 4m. The distribution of aggregate resources in Nonsan City is influenced by stream activities and sea level changes, with the tidal range of the Yellow Sea acting as an unfavorable condition for the preservation of aggregate resources.