• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.15-25
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to identify the environment of optimal location of the dwelling (hereafter referred as dwelling site) in the Neolithic Age found in Unseo-dong relics group, Yeongjong-do, Incheon from the geographical and geomorphological perspectives. For this purpose, micro-landform, altitude, gradient, distance from the river of water available for use and the difference between the highest altitude and lowest altitude of river bed of water available for use based on change of dwelling site over periods were analyzed targeting ground surface of hills where individual dwelling sites (a total of 68 sites) discovered in investigation area so far. As a result, it was shown that the Upper sideslope were selected as the primary dwelling location standard in investigation area where the Neolithic people lived upon selecting the dwelling site (or settlement). In addition, the ground surface of dwelling site had the altitude of 21-31m and slope of $5-10^{\circ}$ (gentle slope) as the secondary and it had distance of 514-549m from the river of water available for use and difference of 11-23m between the highest altitude and lowest altitude of river bed of water available for use. Thus, it was shown that the space to get water relatively easy from two places at the same time was the secondary dwelling location standard.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.42 no.3 s.120
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• pp.368-387
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• 2007

In order to explain geomorphological characteristics of the Korean Peninsula, it is necessary to understand the spatial distribution of tectonic movements and its causes. Even though geomorphological elements which might have been formed by tectonic movements(e.g. tilted overall landform, erosion surface, river terrace, marine terraces, etc.) have long been considered as main geomorphological research topics in Korea, the knowledge on the spatial distribution of tectonic movement is still limited. This research aims to identify the spatial distributions of tectonic movement via sequential analyses of Digital Elevation Model(DEM). This paper first developed a set of terrain analysis techniques derived from theoretical interrelationships between tectonic uplifts and landsurface denudation processes. The terrain analyses used in this research assume that elevations along major drainage basin divides might preserve original landsurfaces(psuedo-landsuface) that were formed by tectonic movement with relatively little influence by denudation processes. Psuedo-landsurfaces derived from a DEM show clear spatial distribution patterns with distinct directional alignments. Lines connecting psuedo-landsufaces in a certain direction are defined as psuedo-landsurface axes, which are again categorized into two groups: the first is uplift psuedo-landsurface axes that indicate the axis of landmass uplift; and the second is denudational psuedo-landsurface axes that cross step-shaped pusedo-landsurfaces formed via surface denudation. In total, 13 axes of pusedo-landsurface are identified in the Korean Peninsula, which show distinct direction, length, and relative uplift rate. Judging from the distribution of psudo-landsurfaces and their axes, it is concluded that the Korean Peninsula ran be divided into four tectonic regions, which are named as the Northern Tectonic Region, Center Tectonic Region, Southern Tectonic Region, and East Sea Tectonic Region, respectively. The Northern Tectonic Region had experienced a regional uplift centered at the Kaema plateau, and the rate of uplift gradually decreased toward southern, western and eastern directions. The Center Tectonic Region shows an arch-shaped uplift. Its uplift rate is the highest along the East Sea and the rate decreases towards the Yellow sea. The Southern Tectonic Region shows an asymmetric uplift centered a line connecting Dukyu and Jiri Mountains in the middle of the region. The eastern side of the Southern Regions shows higher uplift rate than that of the western side. The East Sea Tectonic Region includes south-eastern coastal area of the peninsula and Gilju-Myeongchun Jigudae, which shows relatively recent tectonic movements in Korea. Since this research visualizes the spatial heterogeneity of long-term tenonic movement in the Korean peninsula, this would provide valuable basic information on long-term and regional differences of geomorphological evolutionary processes and regional geomorphological differences of the Korean Peninsula.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.169-183
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• 2015

As a basic work for river restoration, analysis on fluvial geomorphological characteristics is made using past and present data to understand close-to-nature geomorphic status. The Miho and the Naesung Rivers are targets of this study. Fluvial geomorphic variables including valley-floor width, sinuosity, bankfull width, channel gradient, bed material size, bankfull discharge and unit stream power are evaluated with dominant processes. Though common sand-bed rivers with similar catchment area, the Miho and the Naesung Rivers are different in terms of valley-floor width, channel shape variables and dominant processes related with longitudinal location. In addition, analyses on interrelationship among the geomorphological variables are carried. Bankfull width is shown to be proportional to bankfull discharge, as is in a rough agreement with the previous studies. Relationship of bankfull discharge and channel gradient shows meandering and braiding are prevalent in the Miho River, whereas the most of the sub-reaches of the Naesung River fall to braiding. Relationship of channel gradient with width-depth ratio indicates dune-ripple processes are dominant in the Miho River, while the Naesung River shows longitudinal diversity from braiding in the downstream sub-reaches to riffle-pool and plane-bed along the upper ones. Analyses based on the past data on a river in a close-to-nature status are thought to be rather reasonable in comparison with those on the same river in a engineered condition.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.97-106
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• 2001

There are a few interesting areas which show freezing during summer season in Korea, three of them are especially important. They are located at Milyang(Gyungnam province), Uisung and Chungsong(Gyungbook province). They are named Eoleumgol(ice-valley) or Binghyul(ice-cave). The purpose of this study is to clarify geomorphological and geological characteristics about the distribution areas of freezing during summer season in Korea in relation to previous works, which have been studied in hydrological or micro-climatological viewpoints. The main results are summarized as follows. 1) The main geomorphological and geological characteristics in the distribution areas of freezing during summer season (1) Thick debris accumulated slope within deep valley (2) North facing slope (3) The component debris of volcanic rock such as andesite or rhyolite 2) The ice-cave as a system that give rise to freezing phenomenon in summer season is closely related to talus slope. The ice-cave has thick accumulated debris and lots of vacant spaces within the rock deposits, some of vacant spaces are very big and connected with underground water system. 3) A partly freezing within underground water system is required freezing phenomenon in summer season. Judging from this point of view, two ideas are suggested; one is the evaporation theory, another is that the frozen condition in winter remains untill late summer.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.71-82
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• 2012

This research was carried out to estimate annual erosion and retreat rates by using datum-point and to identify the characteristics and causes of seasonal variations of sea-cliff slope in Pado-ri, Taean-gun. In the result, the erosion and retreat rates of sea-cliff were increased from spring to summer. The rates were increased rapidly between August and October, caused by the effects of extreme weather events such as severe rainstorms and typhoons, etc. Since then, the erosion and retreat rates of sea-cliff were decreased gradually, but the rates were increased again in winter due to the storm surge and mechanical weathering resulting from the repeated freezing and thawing actions of bed rocks. The factors that affect erosion and retreat rates of sea-cliff include the number of days with antecedent participation and daily maximum wave height. In particular, it turned out that the erosion is accelerated by strong wave energy during storm surges and typhoons. The annual erosion and retreat rates of study area for the past two years(from May 2010 to May 2012) were approximately 44~60cm/yr in condition of differences in geomorphological and geological characteristics at each point. These erosion and retreat rates were found to be higher than results of previous researches. This is caused by coastal erosion forces strengthened by extreme weather events. The erosion and retreat process of sea-cliff in the study area is composed by denudation of onshore areas in addition to marine erosion(wave energy).

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.127-140
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• 2011

Research achievement of Korean geographers on karst studies was evaluated based on the number of publications for the past fifty years, which were divided into four main periods, including beginning, youth, growth, and maturity stages. The descriptive statistics of research papers published in major geography journals were computed and these articles were classified according to their main subjects and study areas. The role of moisture is particularly important in Karst geomorphology compared to the other geomorphological fields. The morphology, landscape, and formation processes of tropical and temperate karst are different from each other, and the regional and altitudinal characteristics of karst environments are significantly diverse. Thus, it is likely that the detailed records of climatic changes are preserved in the northeast Asian karst landform. Since karst geomorphology can be a major cause of natural hazards, such as collapsed surfaces or subsidence, which are associated with anthropogenic activities, including underground-water pumping and land use, education and training of physical geographers, specializing on monsoon effects, distributions of limestone, and soil characteristics, are critical issues to foster the capacity of disaster management in the nation. Moreover, knowing that the unique and spectacular landscape of karst geomorphology is a valuable, natural resource of tourism and has aesthetic values on its own, contributions of geographers to the introduction, conservation, research, and development of karst environment should be emphasized.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.177-191
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• 2011

This paper describes a dune field on shoreline of Young Gwang. To clarify geomorphic characteristics, made an analysis of grain size of the sand sediments samples and surface texture of quartz grains, and field survey. The following results were obtained : 1) Young Gwang sand dune is taking to pieces by human impact, and dose not move ahead the process of sand dune. 2) there was a turbulence of sand sediments outcrops saying to the cryoturbation that represents cold climatic environments, 3) Constituents of sand dune are mainly fine and very fine sand(2.5~4.5Φ) consisted by quartz and feldspar. Young Gwang sand grians have some analogy with different sites in west coast 4) In surface texture, roundness is thought to have been formed sub-angular, and some V cracks represented mechanical weathering environments. Especially, the dune environment has significant cultural and archaeological values arising from the occupation of human in the past. Those areas where occupation is known provide a valuable source of past records relating to human settlement.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.440-452
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• 2005

The granites in the Gyeongju area are represented by the Namsan granites and the Tohamsan granodiorites. In this study I examined the geomorphological and geological characteristics of the granite landforms in the Gyeongju area. Joint, tor and corestones are most identifiable geomorphological and geological structure in the study areas. Tor in the Namsan granites is well developed and mainly composed of cubic corestones. Petrographical features of the stones used for the stone-built cultural properties are compared with those of the granites cropped out nearby. Additionally radiogenic element contents (K, Th, U) were acquired for comparison by gamma-ray spectrometer analysis. Most stones from the stone-built cultural properties in the Bulguksa Temple are very similar to the Namsan granites in terms of petrography, radiogenic elements. On the contrary almost all stones from the Seokguram Grotto share common petrographical, physical and chemical characteristics with the Tohamsan granodiorites. Therefore it can be suggested that the stones in the Bulguksa Temple were supplied from Namsan, and that the stones in the Seokgurarn Grotto were collected at nearby Tohamsan.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.875-886
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• 1994

This study is to develop an advanced storm runoff analysis program which takes geomorphological characteristics of watershed into consideration in determining model parameters. Basic concept of storm runoff modelling is based upon the kinematic wave theory. And numerical solution is obtained by the characteristic curve method. The storm runoff analysis program developed by this study is composed of multiple equivalent roughness sub-basins, each of which has two equivalent catchments on both side of a stream. Because it is based upon the stream-order of the Strahler system, the equivalent catchment-stream network reflects the stochastic geomorphological characteristics in the model parameter. Applicability and reliability of the storm runoff analysis program is evidenced by model calibration and verification process utilizing geographical and hydrological data of the Bocheong-river area which is a representative watershed of IHP projects in Korea. This study will hopefully contribute to hydrological calculation essentially required to understand water quality effect caused by regional development.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.69-79
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• 2014

Soil organic carbon (SOC) in the Arctic is vulnerable to climate change. However, research on SOC stored in the high Arctic regions is currently very limited. Thus, this study was aimed at understanding the distribution and characteristics of SOC with respect to geomorphology and vegetation in Svalbard. In August 2011, soil samples were collected near the Vestre Lov$\acute{e}$nbreen moraine. Sampling sites were chosen according to altitude (High, Mid, and Low) and differences in levels of vegetation establishment. Vegetation coverage, aboveground biomass, and SOC contents were measured, and density-size fractionation of SOC was conducted. The SOC content was the highest in the Mid site ($126.9mg\;g^{-1}$) and the lowest in the High site ($32.1mg\;g^{-1}$), although aboveground biomass and vegetation coverage were not different between these two sites. The low SOC content measured at the High site could be related to a slower soil development following glacial retreat. On the other hand, the Low site contained a high amount of SOC despite having low vegetative cover and a high ratio of sand particles. These incompatible relationships between SOC and vegetation in the Low site might be associated with past site disturbances such as runoff from snow/glacier melting. This study showed that geomorphological features combined with glacier retreat or melting snow/glacier effects could have affected the SOC distribution and vegetation establishment in the high Arctic.