• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.495-513
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• 2004

The shape of land surface work as a cradle for various environmental processes and human activities. As spatially distributed process modelings become increasing important in current research communities, a classification system that delineates land surface into characteristic geomorphological units is a pre-requisite for sustainable land use planning and management. Existing classification systems are either morphometric or generic, which have limitations to characterize continuous ecological processes over the landscape. A new classification system was developed to delineate the land surface into different geomorphological units from Digital Elevation Models(DEMs). This model assumes that there are pedo-geomorphological units in which distinct sets of hydrological, pedological, and consequent ecological processes occur. The classification system first divides the whole landsurface into eight soil-landscape units. Possible energy and material nows over the land surface were interpreted using a continuity equation of mass flow along the hillslope, and subsequently implemented in terrain analysis procedures. The developed models were tested at a 12$\textrm{km}^2$ area in Yangpyeong-gun, Kyeongi-do, Korea. The method proposed effectively delineates land surface into distinct pedo-geomorphological units, which identify the geomorphological characteristics over a large area at a low cost. The delineated landscape units mal provide a basic information for natural resource survey and environmental modeling practices.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.81-98
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• 2012

This research aims 1) to analyse the spatial occurrence of red soils, in Korea 2) to predict their spatial distribution using terrain analyses, and 3) to interpret results from the perspective of pedogeomorphological processes. Red soils (often called red-yellow soils) in Korea are frequently found on welldrained plains and gently sloping areas. These soils are widely believed paleo-soils that were formed under hot and humid climatic conditions in the past. The spatial distribution of red soils was derived from the soil map of Korea, and a DEM based soil prediction was developed, based on a continuity equation to depict water and material flows over the landscape. About 64.5% of the red soil occurrence can be explained by the prediction. Close examinations between surveyed and predicted red soil maps show few distinctive spatial features. Granitic erosional plains at the inland of Korea show comparatively low occurrence of red soils, which might indicate active geomorphological processes within the basins. The occurrence of red soils at limestone areas is more abundant than that of the predicted, indicating the influence of parent materials on the formation of red soils. At and around lava plateau at Cheulwon and Youncheon, the occurrence of red soils is underestimated, which might partly be explained by the existence of loess-like surface deposits. There are also distinctive difference of prediction results between northern and southern parts of Korea (divided by a line between Seosan and Pohang). The results of this research calls for more detailed field-based investigations to understand forming processes of red soils, focusing on the spatial heterogeneity of pedological processes, the influence of parent materials, and difference in uplift patterns of the Korean peninsula.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.41 no.2 s.113
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• pp.150-167
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• 2006

This study was conducted to determine the pedogenesis of dense subsurface horizons (denoted either Bx or Bd) observed within closed depressions and in toeslope positions at loess-covered glacial tillplains in southern Wisconsin. Some of these dense subsurface horizons, especially those occurring within depressions, show a close morphological resemblance to fragipans elsewhere, even though the existence of fragipans has not been previously reported in southern Wisconsin. The spatial occurrence of fragipans was first examined over the landscape to characterize general soil-landscape relationships. Detailed physico-chemical and micromorphological analyses were followed to investigate the development of fragipans within a closed depression along a catenary sequence. The formation of fragipans at the study site is a result of sequential processes of physical ripening and accumulation of colloidal materials. A very coarse prismatic structure with a closely packed soil matrix was formed via physical ripening processes of loess deposited in small glacial lakes and floodplains that existed soon after the retreat of the last glacier. The physically formed dense horizons became hardened by the accumulation of colloidal materials, notably amorphous Si. The accumulation intensity of amorphous Si varies with mass balance relationships, which are governed by topography and local drainage conditions. Well-developed Bx horizons evolve at closed depressions where net accumulation of amorphous Si occurs, but the collapsed layers remain as Bd horizons at other locations where soluble Si has continuously been removed downslope or downvalley. Hydromorphic processes caused by the presence of fragipans are degrading upper parts of the prisms, resulting in the formation of an eluvial fragic horizon (Ex).

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.1-14
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• 2017

In Korea, the soil series derived from sedimentary rocks are classified into seven soil series of coarse loamy soil such as Dain, Danbug, Dongam, Imdong, Jeomgog, Maryeong, and Yonggog; seventeen soil series of fine loamy soil such as Angye, Anmi, Banho, Bigog, Deoggog, Dogye, Dojeon, Gamgog, Gugog, Jincheon, Maji, Mungyeong, Oggye, Samam, Yanggog, Yeongwol, and Yulgog; six soil series of fine silty soil such as Goryeong, Bonggog, Juggog, Gyeongsan, Yuga, and Yugog; and four soil series of clayey soil such as Mitan, Pyeongan, Pyeongjeon, and Uji. All thirty-four soil series have different drainage rates and topography. However, the soil texture depends on the parent rock. The buffer functions in GIS (Geographic Information System) techniques were used to calculate adjacent soil series from a soil series. The length of the adjacent soil series was adjusted because a side of the buffer area was one meter long. The cluster analysis was conducted using the CCC (Cubic Clustering Criterion) method, in which the number of clusters is calculated based on the individual soil series ratio. Soil survey has been carried out since 1964 as "The reconnaissance soil survey", and 1:5,000 detailed soil survey was completed in 1999 with a five-years plan in Korea. Today, all the soil survey information has been computerized. GIS techniques were used to establish a digital soil map; however, there have not been any studies to interpret pedogenesis using the GIS technique. In this study, the area of the adjacent soil series were obtained using the GIS technique. The area of the adjacent soil series can be calculated based on the information area. The similarities of soil originated from sedimentary rocks were estimated using the length. As a result, the distribution of grain size was different based on the types of sedimentary rocks and the location. The clusters were distinguished into limestone, sandstone, and shale. In addition, the soil derived from shale was divided into red shale and gray shale. This means that quantitative interpretation of the catena and this established method can be used to interpret the relationship between soil series.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.113-118
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• 2010

Due to diverse soil-forming environments and different purposes of the soil classification, numerous soil classification systems have been developed worldwide. The World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) and the Soil Taxonomy of the United States are well-known in Korea. However, the German Soil Systematics based on somewhat different principles from the two former systems is little-known. The objective of this paper is therefore to give a short overview of the principles of the German Soil Systematics. The German Soil Systematics consists of a six-level hierarchical structure which comprises soil divisions, soil classes, soil types, soil subtypes, soil varieties, and soil subvarieties. Soils in Germany are firstly classified into one of four soil divisions according to the soil moist regime: terrestrial soils, semi-terrestrial soils, semi-subhydric/subhydric soils, and peats. Terrestrial soils are subdivided into 13 soil classes based on the stage of soil formation and the horizon differentiation. Semi-terrestrial soils are differentiated into four classes regarding the source of soil moist: groundwater, freshwater, saltwater, and seaside. Semi-subhydric/subhydric soils are subdivided into two classes: semi-subhydric and subhydric soils. Peats are classified into two classes of natural and anthropogenic origins. Classes can be compared to orders of the U.S. Taxonomy. Classes are subdivided into 29 soil types with regard to soil forming-processes for terrestrial soils, into 17 types with regard to the soil formation for semi-terrestrial soils, into five types with regard to the content of organic matter for semi-subhydric/subhydric soils, and also into five types with regard to peat-forming processes for peats. The soil mapping units in Germany are types, which can be additionally subdivided into ca. 220 subtypes, several thousands of varieties and subvarieties using detailed nuances of morphologic features of soil profile. Soil types can be compared to great groups of the U.S. Taxonomy.