• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.643-654
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• 2023

The West Philippine Basin, an oceanic basin half the size of the Philippine Sea Plate, lies in the western part of the plate and south of the Korean Peninsula on the Eurasian Plate. It subducts beneath the Eurasian Plate and the Philippine Islands bordering the Ryukyu Trench and the Philippine Trench with 25-50% of this basin already consumed. However, the history of the opening of the basin's southern region has been a topic of debate. The non-transform discontinuity formed during the seafloor spreading is similar to the transform fault boundaries normally perpendicular to mid-ocean ridge axes; however, it was created irregularly due to ridge propagations caused by variations of mantle convection attributable to magma supply changes. By analyzing high-resolution multi-beam echo-sounding data, we confirmed that the non-transform discontinuity due to the propagating rift evolved in the entire basin and that the abyssal hill strike direction changed from E-W to NNW-SSE from the fossil spreading center. In the early stage of basin extension, the Amami-Sankaku Basin was rotated 90 degrees clockwise from its current orientation, and it bordered the Palau Basin along the Mindanao Fracture Zone. The Amami-Sankaku Basin separated from the Palau Basin while the spreading of the West Philippine Basin began with a counter-clockwise rotation. This indicates that the non-transform discontinuities formed by a sudden change in magma supply due to the drift of the Philippine Sea Plate and simultaneously with the rapid changes in the spreading direction from ENE-WSW to N-S. The Palau Basin was considered to be the sub-south of the West Philippine Basin, but recent studies have shown that it extends into an independent system. Evidence from sediment layers and crustal thickness hints at the possibility of its existence before the West Philippine Basin opened, although its evolution continues to be debated. We performed a combined analysis using high-resolution multi-beam bathymetry and satellite gravity data to uncover new insights into the evolution of the West Philippine Basin. This information illuminates the complex plate interactions and provides a crucial contribution toward understanding the opening history of the basin and the Philippine Sea Plate.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.195-207
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• 2000

Organic and inorganic characteristics including bacterial cell number, enzyme activity, nutrients, and heavy metals have been monitored in twelve acrylic experimental tanks for two weeks to estimate and compare self-purification capacities in two Korean wet-land environments, tidal flat and rice field, which are possibly different with the environments in other countries because of their own climatic conditions. FW tanks, filled with rice field soils and fresh water, consist of FW1&2 (with paddy), FW3&4 (without paddy), and FW5&6 (newly reclaimed, without paddy). SW tanks, filled with tidal flat sediments and salt water, are SW1&2 (with anoxic silty mud), SW3&4 (anoxic mud), and SW5&6 (suboxic mud). Contaminated solution, which is formulated with the salts of Cu, Cd, As, Cr, Pb, Hg, and glucose+glutamic acid, was spiked into the supernatent waters in the tanks. Nitrate concentrations in supernatent waters as well as bacterial cell numbers and enzyme activities of soils in the FW tanks (except FW5&6) are clearly higher than those in the SW tanks. Phosphate concentrations in the SW1 tank increase highly with time compared to those in the other SW tanks. Removal rates of Cu, Cd, and As in supematent waters of the FW5&6 tanks are most slow in the FW tanks, while the rates in SW1&2 are most fast in the SW tanks. The rate for Pb in the SW1&2 tanks is most fast in the SW tanks, and the rate for Hg in the FW5&6 tanks is most slow in the FW tanks. Cr concentrations decrease generally with time in the FW tanks. In the SW tanks, however, the Cr concentrations decrease rapidly at first, then increase, and then remain nearly constant. These results imply that labile organic materials are depleted in the FW5&6 tanks compared to the FW1&2 and FW3&4 tanks. Removal of Cu, Cd, As from the supernatent waters as well as slow removal rates of the elements (including Hg) are likely due to the combining of the elements with organic ligands on the suspended particles and subsequent removal to the bottom sediments. Fast removal rates of the metal ions (Cu, Cd, As) and rapid increase of phosphate concentrations in the SW1&2 tanks are possibly due to the relatively porous anoxic sediments in the SW1&2 tanks compared to those in the SW3&4 tanks, efficient supply of phosphate and hydrogen sulfide ions in pore wates to the upper water body, complexing of the metal ions with the sulfide ions, and subsequent removal to the bottom sediments. Organic materials on the particles and sulfide ions from the pore waters are the major factors constraining the behaviors of organic/inorganic elements in the supernatent waters of the experimental tanks. This study needs more consideration on more diverse organic and inorganic elements and experimental conditions such as tidal action, temperature variation, activities of benthic animals, etc.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.239-248
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• 2011

This paper evaluated types and characteristics of development projects occurred in coastal area (Public Water) by analyzing an application status of Sea Area Utilization Conference System that effective protect and manage marine environment and ecosystem from various artificial utilization and development enforced in 2008. Also, system improvement for stable settlement and security of efficiency considering exposed problems during system enforcement were diagnosed. The number of Sea Area Utilization Conference (SAUC) performanced during the period of 2009-2010 was 3,705, which consisted of simple SAUC (87.0%), general SAUC (12.8%), and Sea Area Utilization Impact Assessment (SAUIC; 0.2%). The general SAUC was accomplished for Public Water reclamation (43.4%), seawater supply and drainage (17.5%), dredging sediment (5.5%), installation of port facilities (4.6%) and fishing harbor facilities (2.3%), and others (23.4%). Statements of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) were reviewed mainly for construction of port facilities (32.9%), followed by construction of industrial complex, development of tourism and leisure complex, road construction, and development of energy facilities. It would be necessary to strengthen effectiveness of the system, advertisement, and capability of conference and review agency, and to enhance confidence of marine EIA continuously, according to the increase of development projects, and diversity and enlargement of development types.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.413-430
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• 2012

To understand the scales of the spatial distribution and temporal duration of the subsurface chlorophyll-a maximum (SCM) observed in the Ulleung Basin of the East Sea, we analyzed physical and chemical data collected during the East Asian Seas Time-series-I (EAST-I) program. The SCM layer occurred at several observation lines from the Korea Strait to $37.9^{\circ}N$ in the Ulleung Basin during August of 2008 and 2011. At each observation line, the SCM layer extended from the coast to about 200 km off the coast. The SCM layer was observed between 30 and 40 m depth in the Ulleung Basin as well as in the northwestern Japan Basin along $132.3^{\circ}E$ from $38^{\circ}N$ to $42.3^{\circ}N$ during July 2009, and was observed around 50 m depth in the northeastern Japan Basin ($135-140^{\circ}E$ and $40-45^{\circ}N$) during July 2010. From these observed features, we hypothesize that the SCM layer observed in the Ulleung Basin may exist in most of the East Sea and may last for at least half-year (from the early May to late October). The nutrient supply mechanism for prolonged the SCM layer in the East Sea was not known, but it may be closely related to the horizontal advection of the nutrient rich and low oxygen waters observed in the Korea Strait between a 50 m depth to near the bottom. The prolonged development of the SCM layer in the Ulleung Basin may result in high primary production and would also be responsible for the high organic carbon content observed in the surface sediment of the region.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.306-317
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• 2014

This study has been executed to understand the additional and removal processes of nutrients in the Saemangeum Salt-water Lake, and discussed with other monthly-collected environmental parameters such as water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, suspended solids, and Chl-a from 2008 to 2010. $NO_3$-N, TP, $PO_4$-P, and DISi showed the removal processes along with the salinity gradients at the surface water of the lake, whereas $NO_2$-N, $NH_4$-N, and Chl-a showed addition trend. In the bottom water all water quality parameters except $NO_3$-N appeared addition processes indicating evidence of continuous nutrients suppliance into the bottom layer. The mixing modelling approach revealed that the biogeochemical processes in the lake consume $NO_3$-N and consequently added $NH_4$-N and $PO_4$-P to the bottom water during the summer seasons. The $NH_4$-N and $PO_4$-P appeared strong increase at the bottom water of the river-side of the lake and strong concentration gradient difference of dissolved oxygen also appeared in the same time. DISi exhibited continuous seasonal supply from spring to summer. Internal addition of $NH_4$-N and $PO_4$-P in the river-side of the lake were much higher than the dike-side, while the increase of DISi showed similar level both the dike and river sides. The temporal distribution of benthic flux for DISi indicates that addition of nutrients in the bottom water was strongly affected by other sources, for example, submarine ground-water discharge (SGD) through bottom sediment.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2003

If contaminated river water is sprayed over a floodplain, the microbial processes can simultaneously remove organic matter and nitrogen during the infiltration through the sediment profile. The effect of rhizosphere on the removal of organic matter and nitrogen from contaminated river water was investigated using floodplain lysimeters. River water was sprayed at a rate of $68.0L\;m^{-2}\;d^{-1}$ on the top of the lysimeters with or without weed vegetation on the surface, Concentrations of $NO_3$, $NH_4$ and dissolved oxygen (DO), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) and Eh in water were measured as functions of depth for 4 weeks after the system reached a steady state water flow and biological reactions. A significant reductive-condition for denitrification developed in the 30-cm surface profile of lysimeters with weeds. At a depth of 30 cm, COD and $NO_3$-N concentration decreased to 5.2 and $0.9mg\;L^{-1}$ from the respective influent concentrations of 18.2 and $9.8mg\;L^{-1}$. The removal of $NO_3$ in lysimeters with weeds was significantly higher than in those without weeds. Vegetation on the top was assumed to remove $NO_3$ directly by absorption and to create more favorable conditions for denitrification by supply of organic matter and rapid $O_2$ consumption, In the lysimeters without weeds, further removal of $NO_3$ was limited by the lack of an electron donor, i.e. organic matter. These results suggest that the filtration through native floodplains, which include rhizospheres of vegetation on the surface, can be effective for the treatment of contaminated river water.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.199-213
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• 2008

Saemangeum salt-water Lake has been created by the completion of the sea-dike in April 2006. To monitor the water qualities of the lake during the sea-dike construction, salinity, SS, nutrients(DIN, DIP, DISi), and chlorophyll-$\alpha$ was analyzed for the surface water from 1999 to 2007. Due to the dike construction, weaker tidal current and lesser resuspension of bottom sediment resulted in the marked decrease of the concentrations of SS in the lake water. Consequently the clearer lake water has provided better condition for primary production with deeper penetration of sunlight into the water column and sufficient nutrient content in the water. Finally the chlorophyll-$\alpha$ content became approximately double in the concentration after the dike construction. Highly stimulated algal production with the marked decrease of the concentrations of SS was decreased the concentration of DIP in the surface water. On the other hand the concentration of DIN and DISi in surface water was increased after dike construction due to the expansion of the freshwater and the supply from bottom layer. As a result, the lake revealed an extremely high NIP ratio and a DIP-limited ecosystem. The lake has been transformed from a typical coastal ecosystem to a brackish one. Since the dike completion, the lake has shown a similar change pattern to the Geum River estuary. Due to the salt-wedge intrusion of seawater, it is highly probable to expect the formation of low-oxygen zone at the bottom layer near the river-mouth area of the lake during the summer. Therefore we need a continuous sentinel monitoring of bottom water qualities in the near future.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.51-63
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• 2015

In order to investigation long-term variations of water qualities in the Saemangeum Salt-Water Lake formed after the sea-dike construction, the survey has carried out over 40 time from 2002 to 2010. The decreased salinity in surface water immediately after the dike construction has maintained on equal terms for years. After the dike construction, the early concentration of SPM in surface water has decreased but then it showed the tendency to move up and down due to the changes of water level in the lake. The elevated concentration of Chl-a in surface water initially after the dike construction was kept at the same conditions for years. The concentration of DIN in surface water has not changed before and shortly after the dike construction. However, the concentration of $NH_4-N$ in surface water has increased steadily after the dike construction. Consequently the concentration of DIN in the lake water after years has raised compared to pre-dike construction. The reduced concentration of DIP in surface water soon after the dike construction has increased after years as well as $NH_4-N$ due to the accumulation of organic matter to inside lake. Unlike with the unvaried $NO_3-N$, the concentration of DISi in surface water after the dike construction has immediately increased and maintained the enhanced level indicating the supply from other sources except the freshwater. Since the dike construction, the spatial characteristics of water quality was divided river sides and rest of the lake markedly. Stratification of river sides was more strong than the dike sides. In the warm seasons, hypoxia causing the release of nutrients and metals from sediment was observed downward about 1 m from surface of river sides. We strongly suggest to make some urgent measure to prevent low dissolved oxygen condition in the bottom layer of the river sides.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.320-331
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• 1995

The closely spaced cores were analyzed to find detailed reconstruction of paleoenvironments and sealable changes along the Delaware Bay coast. Three areas, Kitts Hummock Beach mars, the St. Jones River marsh, and Bowers marsh near the St. Jones River's mouth, were chosen because these areas are compose of their own geomorphic characteristics and sea-level history. since significance of the stratigraphic correlations was to determine sedimentary fancies and paleoenvironments, multidisciplinary methods such as lithological description, grain-size analysis, organic/inorganic content, water content, mineral composition, botanical analysis, micropaleontological analysis, and /SUP 14/C datings were performed. Five major divisions of marsh environments were recognized in the stratigraphic sections: freshwater marsh, initialfreshwater marsh, slightly brackish marsh, brackish marsh, and salt marsh. Most of the lower part in the stratigraphic sections show freshwater marsh. On the top of this, either brackish marsh or tidal flat/tidal stream was recorded. The pro-Holocene sediments consist of sand, mud, and sandy mud, The pre-Holocene configuration played an important role for developing the Holocene Paleoenvironmental changes. The irregular configuration of the pre-Holocene sediments consist of sand, mud, and sandy mud. The pre-Holocene configuration played an important role for developing the Holocene Paleoenvironmental changes. The irregular configuration of the pre-Holocene surface within short distances permitted the concurrent development of variable environments such as freshwater marsh, brackish marsh or salt marsh at similar elevations. The freshwater marsh in this case was formed in the areas of isolation, so saline-water cannot encroach upon these areas. This complex development of paleoenvironments leads to a difficulty in stratigraphic correlation and interpretation of local relative sea-level changes. The deposition of subsurface sediments was affected by sediment supply, compaction, fluvial activity, biological competition, local tectonics and isostacy, climate and local relative sea-level changes. It was interpreted that the positions in the changes from freshwater environments to brackish environments or ice versa are the turning points of transgressions and regressions. Therefore, multiple transgressions and regressions were identified in the stratigraphic sections of the study area.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.142-151
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• 2001

Detailed interpretation of some high-resolution seismic profiles in Yosu Strait reveals that Late Quaternary deposits consist of three allostratigraphic units (UH, LH, PL) formed by fluvial and tidal controls. The top mud unit, UH, thins onshore, and overlies the backstepping modem Seomjin delta deposits, which is interpreted as a transgressive systems tract (757) related to Holocene relative sea-level rise. The unit LH below the unit UH is composed of delta, valley- and basin-fill facies. The delta facies (Unit $LH_1$) occurs only in Gwangyang Bay and shows two prograding sets retrogradationaly stacked, thus it is also interpreted as a transgressive systems tract(757). On the contrary, the valley- and basin-fill facies (Unit $LH_2$), interpreted as 757, occur between the units UH and PL (Pleistocene deposits) in Yosu Strait. The bounding surface between UH and $LH_2$ can be interpreted as a tidal ravinement surface on the basis of trends thinning toward inner bay and becoming young landward. Furthermore its geomorphological pattern is similar to that of recent tidal channels. This allostratigraphy in'ffsu Strait suggests that two 757 deposits (UH and $LH_2$), divided by tidal ravinement surface, have been formed in Yosu Strait, whereas in Gwangyang Bay backstepping delta deposits ($LH_1$) without tidal ravinement surface have been formed during Holocene sea-level rise. These characteristics indicate that different stacking patterns could be formed in these two areas according to different increasing rate of accommodation space caused by different geomorphology, sediment supply and tidal-current patterns even in the same period of Holocene sea-level rise.