• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.39-54
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• 2019

In this paper, based on evidence of coastal sediment, we show that erosion and sedimentation environments are very sensitive to sea level changes during the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) and the Little Ice Age (LIA). We identified four sedimentary units(4.57-3.07m), which formed in the Dark Age Cool Period (DACP), MWP and LIA were classified based on the lithostratigraphy, grain size distribution, magnetic susceptibility and geochemistry of a drilling core taken from the west coast of Hwaseong City. The unconformity surfaces as boundaries of the units were also identified by the lithostratigraphy shown on the drilling core. We propoese that sedimentation was dominant in the area during the periods of sea level rise, whereas erosion prevailed during the periods of sea level fall. Particularly, extreme events, such as floods and typhoons are believed to have accelerated these processes, and we found the associated evidence in sediments of two units. This study provides an example of estimating the relative sea level variation using coastal sediments and may be useful for studying past sea level changes around the Korean Peninsula.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.533-541
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• 2004

A steadily consolidated conglomerate formation (CCF) is developed thickly around Tabjeong-ri and Janghang-ri to the east of Tohamsan, Gyeongju City. The CCF has been regarded to a basal conglomerate, Cheonbug Conglomerate, of the Yonil Group by Tateiwa (1924). Son et al. (2000) correlated the CCF to the Songjeon Formation, which occupies the southwestern block of Tertiary Waup Basin. However, the Songjeon Formation stratigraphically does not face to the extension of the CCF. OSL (Optically Stimulated Luminescence) data on the reddish brown to bluish gray psammitic layers, which are intercalated in the CCF, yielded to 85∼92 ka. Therefore, the age of CCF constrains to the last interglacial stage (MIS 5c-5e) rather than the Early Miocene Cheonbug Conglomerate. The Late Pleistocene Tohamsan Formation (TF) is newly named to the CCF and is subdivided to megabreccias and boulders. A rectangular basin, in which the TF is accumulated, is bounded by Oedong and Yonil faults (segments of Yonil Tectonic Line) and is given a name of Toham Basin. Neotectonically, Pliocene EW-transpression gave an effect of the top-up-to-the-west reverse faulting and the accompanied normal fault movement during the last interglacial age (ca. 100 ka). The basin is graben type, in which basin fills are composed of collapsed colluvial deposits, TF.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.447-462
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• 2009

Kohyun River basin is located at southern parts of Taebaek Mountains and most of river basins consists of sedimentary rock. The aims of this study are to investigate the distribution characteristics and processes of fluvial terraces at Kohyun River, using scientific methods such as classification of fluvial landforms, analysis of geomorphological deposits, XRD and OSL age dating. In Kohyun River basin are three levels terraces from T1 to T3. Fluvial terraces are assumed to be erosional terraces according to deposited situation of alurium and existences of bedrock riverbed. From the result of OSL age dating, formation age of fluvial terrace 1(T1) is calculated about 37,000 yr.B.P.(MIS 3), and fluvial terrace 2(T2) is calculated about 113,000 yr.B.P.(MIS 5). Therefore, fluvial terraces at Kohyun River are assumed to be formed at warmer period in the glacial stages or cooler period in the interglacial stages. The incision rate of fluvial terrace 1 at Kohyun River is calculated to be 0.054m/ka, and the incision rate of fluvial terrace 2 is calculated to be 0.115m/ka. This results suggest to lower incision rate than other rivers in Korea because of low uplift rates and little discharge.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.83-103
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• 2017

Sand deposit with shell units is exposed in Hasa-ri, Yeonggwang-gun, Jeonnam province. We investigated the characteristics of sand sediment topography in the Yeonggwang coastal area to collect evidence of the paleo-environmental change. We performed analysis on particle characteristics, chemical composition, and the age of deposition of sediments. The deposit comprise moderately well sorted medium and fine sand ($1.00{\sim}2.19{\varphi}$). Various sedimentary structures can be observed. Geochemical characteristics change by depth and the degree of variation with depth is small. The results obtained from OSL dating show that sand layers below shell units are deposited 0.32-0.43 ka. As the elevation of the shell unit far mean high water levels or highest high water level, the extensive shell layers could only have been deposited during storm surge conditions. Aeolian processes are discounted due to the size of clasts and the location at which they occur. Results of age dating of the surrounding deposits indicate shell deposits formed after around 300 years age. There is a distinct difference between sedimentary layers including dark brown-black layer. The sedimentary characters such as particle size and geochemistry show difference with depth. It is presumed that depositional environmental in Hasa-ri has changed several times before. This study is expected to contribute to finding an evidence about occurrence of storm surges.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.510-518
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• 2012

The Holocene climate change has been studied based on humus analysis of sediments that came from the Nam River basin in the Jinju, Gyeongnam. Humus and soil organic carbon analyses were performed to interpret the climate change and OSL dating and radiocarbon dating were conducted to determine the age of the sediments. The age determinations revealed that the sediments were formed approximately from $10,000{\pm}100$ yr. BP to $4,370{\pm}50$ yr. BP (2,970 BC) The deposits were classified into five layers based on sediments color and texture, and the climate change of each layer has been interpreted. The general climate was found out to be warm. The study result illustrated that section I was the lowest layer and section V the highest among the five surveyed sections. One the other hand, relatively cold events were detected in the sections ranging from I and II to III in terms of temperature. In term of humidity, sections II and III are estimated to have been relatively dry. Sections IV and V were relatively warm and dry, and the section IV tends to be warmest of the entire sedimentary. In addition, there is a tendency that the total soil organic carbon shows relatively high values under the cooler and humid climatic condition.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.67-79
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• 2019

This study documents the level of paleo-shoreline and the timing of formation of the lowest marine terrace (1st terrace) distributed in Dadaepo, Busan, South Korea. In the study area, the elevation of paleo-shoreline of the 1st terrace is clearly identified as 5 meters above mean high tide based on the elevation of wave-cut platforms and the elevation of boundary between marine and terrestial sediments. This is well consistent with the fact that are found along the Southern coast of the Korean Peninsula including Daepo-dong, Sacheon-si. The timing of formation of the 1st terrace in Dadaepo is confirmed to have been deposited around 70,000~80,000 years BP (MIS 5a) according to OSL and IRSL dating ages. However, because the formation age of the 1st terrace in Sacheon-si Daepo-dong (Southerm coast) and Pohang-si Umok-ri (Eastern coast) previously identified as about 90,000~100,000 years BP (MIS 5c), further discussion of what is needed. Possibly, it can be interpreted that the sub-interglacial (MIS 5a and 5c) sea-level records during the last interglacial period are likely to be selective on land depending on regions.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.1-19
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• 2011

The physical and chemical characteristics of loess-paleosol sequence in Jeongjang-ri, Geochang basin are examined using the magnetic susceptibility measurement, grain size analysis, OSL age dating, major, rare earth and trace elements analysis. The grain size characteristics of the loess-palesol sequence are obviously different from those of river sediment forming river terrace deposits and the Chinese Loess Plateau. The loess-paleosol sequence consisting of L1, L1LL1, L1S1, L1L2, S1 and L2 from top to bottom is estimated to MIS 2~MIS 6 and the river terrace to MIS 7. The compositions of major, rare earth and trace elements indicate that the sequence show more weathered characteristics than the Chinese Loess Plateau and originated from the Chinese Loess Plateau. These features are in harmony with the previous studies in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.224-239
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• 2009

This study analyzes the properties of fluvial landforms in the upper and lower reaches and investigates the evolutions of stream and fluvial terrace in the Odae river basin. The lower basin of the river that consist of sedimentary rocks resistant to weathering and erosion processes shows higher altitude, relief and slope than the upper basin that consist of granite less resistant to weathering and erosion processes. The average width of river valley at the lower reaches is one-third to the upper reaches and the average width of river channel at the lower reaches is narrower than at the upper reaches. Based on the OSL age dating, the fluvial terrace T1 formed at the temperature-rising period during the late MIS 2 and T2 formed at the middle MIS 3, interstadial period during the last glacial period. Based on the these results, the average incision rates of Odae river are calculated as 0.205m/ka and 0.269m/ka at the upper granite area and lower sedimentary rocks area, respectively.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.157-168
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• 2012

The Eonyang section is located at the confluent area of Samdong River to Taehwa River in Sinhwa-ri, Samnam-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan-si, Korea. Physical analyses such as the OSL age dating, magnetic susceptibility and grain size analysis were performed. Coarse grains in the upper section were deposited by the aeolian processes from the local sources and the grains in the lower section by the fluvial processes. The Eonyang section shows the large differences such as the irregularity in the variations of magnetic susceptibility, large deviations in the Y values and very poor sorting values from the loess sediments in Bongdong, Geochang and Daecheon in Korea. These characteristics in the Eonyang section suggest the multi-source areas such as the Chinese Loess Plateau and nearby floodplain or the influences by the other processes. The loess sediments of Eonyang section were formed during the period from the late MIS 3 to MIS 2.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.27-40
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• 2005

Researches onmarine terrace in Korea have been drastically progressed during the last two decades.main themes of researches include vertical and horizontal distribution of paleo-shoreline, sedimentary facies ofmarine terrace deposits, OSL dating of terrace deposits and estimation of uplift rate. At present, it is noted thatmarine terraces distributed at the same altitude do not always show the same sedimentary facies, nor have the same ages.marine terraces are generally divided into five terrace systems, of which ages increase in ascending order. There are some arguments about discrimination between 2nd and 3rd terrace systems and their age. The core discrepancy lies on the question of whether the level of the last interglacial terrace is on the level of about 20m or on the 30~35m(~40m) in altitude. The uplift rate based on the paleoshoreline distribution ranges between 0.10 and 0.20m/ka.