• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.495-510
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• 2008

Vaccinium vitis-idaea or lingonberry, a typical arctic-alpine plant, is common on the circumpolar regions and alpine belts of the Northern Hemisphere, and also occurs on the alpine and subalpine belts of the Korean Peninsula, including Mt. Sorak and Hongchon. Vaccinium vitis-idaea at the elevation of c. 350m a.s.l. of Hongchon is found on the wind hole area with cool summer, and mild winter. Vaccinium vitis-idaea at Hongchon is regarded as the glacial relict of the Pleistocene period, and shows a disjunctive distribution, along with the alpine and subalpine belts of the northern and central Korea since the Holocene period. Present vertical range of Vaccinium vitis-idaea between Mt. Sorak and Hongchon might indicates that the temperatures during the glacial epoch was colder than today, down to -6 to $-7^{\circ}C$ Vaccinium vitis-idaea at this fragile wind hole site could be endanger if current global warming trends continues, and anthropogenic activities become serious.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.208-221
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• 2014

The Holocene Hypsithermal Interval(or climatic optimum) was the warmest post-glacial period: temperatures rose to as much as $1-4^{\circ}C$ above present temperatures. We hypothesize that southern plants expanded northward and upward during the Hypsithermal Interval. The Hypsithermal relict populations are defined as populations which distribute mainly in Is. Cheju and Southern subregions and have populations of short-distance dispersion separated by more than 100 km from the nearest distribution. The Hypsithermal relict species were identified and their distributions were mapped based on botanical floras and checklist, herbaria specimens, ecological studies, and field surveys of selected species. Evaluation of the hypothesis was based on reviews of published pollen stratigraphic and paleoecological studies. The results showed that the Holocene Hypsithermal relicts such as Corylopsis coreana Uyeki, Carpinus turczaninowii Hance, Stewartia koreana Nakai ex Rehder were expanded northward during the Holocene Hypsithermal Interval.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.493-499
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• 1997

Grain size analysis have been made for the carbonate-detrital mixed sediments on the continental shelf off the southeastern coast of Korea. The detrital components are well-sorted with mean grain size between 2-3 phi. The detrital components are thought to be deposited in the beach environment during the glacial times when the sea level was low, representing typical 'relict' sediments. Most of the carbonate components consist of shell fragments, and are deeply weathered. They are also interpreted as the relict components that were deposited in the shallow marine environment. The carbonate fraction are coarser-grained and poorly sorted compared to the detrital component. The carbonate components are thought to have experienced the continuous environmental control of fragmentation and selective size sorting after the deposition.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.259-271
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• 1993

The distributions of bottom sediments and the depositional processes on the continental shelves of Korean Seas are interpreted. Generally the continental shelf sediments can be classified into the sand-facies and mud-facies, showing the typical bimodal size distributions Most of the sandy and gravelly sediments on the outer shelf floor are interpreted as "relict" sediments that were deposited during the last glacial times when the sea level was lower than the present. On the other hand the muddy sediments on the inner shelf area are interpreted as "recent" sediments that are deposited under the present environment conditions. It is understood that most of the fine materials cannot escape the inner shelf area due to the strong tidal and coastal fronts, and are transported eastward from the West Sea along the southern coast of Korean Peninsula. The dark-colored muddy sediments in the Hupo Basin of the East Sea are, however, considered to be "relict" sediments. In the midshelf area fine materials are mixed with the relict coarse sediments, and some of the relict sediments are continuously reworked under the present environmental conditions forming the "palimpsest" sediments.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.431-443
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• 2012

Wind holes or air holes, from which cool air blows out during the summer, but mild air comes out during the winter, have provided the phytogeographically important refugia for cryophilous or cold-loving boreal flora during the Holocene period. At present, wind holes are serving as a faraway disjunctive habitat for Pleistocene relict glacial floristic elements, and present an invaluable information to reconstruct the natural history. Present work aims to collate the nationwide distribution and relevant DB on the potential wind holes of Korea based upon media and literature sources, along with geographical informations, such as place name, topographic map, environmental geographical information, flora, monitoring data of Korea National Arboretum, and field survey data. Geographical information on sixty nine wind hole sites have compiled and analyzed on the basis of flora and presence of fossilized periglacial landforms, such as talus, block field, and block stream, and sixteen sites have thereafter carefully selected and scrutinized through field surveys. To maintain a sustainability of wind hole ecosystem, including their original landform, micro-meteorological phenomena and plant community therein as a refugia or habitat for relict plant species of Pleistocene glacial period, appropriate restrictions and preservation measures are required.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.128-137
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• 1997

This study presents results from a detailed sedimentological investigation of surface sediments obtained from the Korea Strait region, the southern part of the East Sea (Sea of Japan). The distribution of different types of bottom sediments is controlled by the recent fine-grained sediment transport and deposition combined with the lowerings of sea level during the last glacial period, forming a diverse mixture of organic-rich fine-grained and shelly coarse-grained sediments. In comparison to high organic concentration of fine-grained sediments in the inner continental shelf and slope areas, the shell-rich coarse-grained sediments on the outer shelf are discernible being further modified. These coarse-grained sediments are confirmed as relict resulting from the sediment dynamics during the lower sea levels of the last glacial period. Clay mineral distribution of the fine-grained sediments gives information about the transport mechanism. Presence of present-day current system (the Tsushima Warm Current) is most probable source for the fine-grained particles into the open East Sea from the East China Sea, indicating that Holocene sediment dynamics may be used to explain the observed distribution of surface coarse-grained shell-rich sediments.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.508-525
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• 2019

Algific talus slopes provide microclimates suitable for disjunct or relict populations of northern plant species at low elevation habitats in the temperate zones. The propose of this study was to assess the phytogeographical significance and produce a strategy for the comprehensive conservation of the vegetation on algific talus slopes. Therefore, we studied the floristics of bryophytes on 15 algific talus slopes in Korea. The bryophytes on the algific talus slopes in Korea consisted of 59 families, 138 genera, 226 species, two subspecies, and five varieties, totaling 233 taxa. Peculiarly, many northern bryophytes, such as Andreaea rupestris var. fauriei (Besch.) Takaki., Buxbaumia minakatae S. Okamura, Racomitrium lanuginosum (Hedw.) Brid., Hylocomium splendens (Hedw.) Schimp., and Pleurozium schreberi (Willd. ex Brid.) Mitt. were found on the algific talus slopes. Of them, unrecorded species from south Korea numbered 14 taxa and unrecorded species from the Korean peninsula numbered seven taxa. A similarity analysis based on the bryophyte flora showed that the index of similarity between regions with similar environmental factors was high. This means that the bryophyte flora composition on each algific talus slopes was affected by topography and microclimate. Algific talus slopes are phytogeographically significant microhabitats where northern plant species that advanced southward during the latest glacial age have been isolated and adapted. However, algific talus slopes have constantly been destroyed or damaged by humans without consideration of conservation. Conservation strategies to ensure the biodiversity and effective management of algific talus slopes in Korea are discussed in detail.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.165-182
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• 1997

The aim of this paper is to clarify geomorphic features on talus within ${\check{O}}rumkol$ and the origin of ${\check{O}}rumkol$. ${\check{O}}rumkol$ is located in Milyang of Kyungnam province, in South Korea. ${\check{O}}rumkol$ is good area to study talus. because it is characterized by following three geomorphic landscapes : free face surrounding ${\check{O}}rumkol$ ; ${\check{O}}rumkol$ with deep and wide valley floor ; lots of taluses typically developing within ${\check{O}}rumkol$. The main results can be summarized as follows: 1) The origin of ${\check{O}}rumkol$ may be suggested two assumptions : one is that its origin have been resulted from intrusion structure(intrusive rock might capture less resistant rock as tuff) ; the other is that its origin have been resulted from volcanic depression after intrusion or eruption. But these assumptions are not obvious. therefore more geological evidences will be supplemented after this 2) The characteristics of ${\check{O}}rumkol$ talus (1) Pattern ${\check{O}}rumkol$ taluses are tongue-shaped or cone-shaped in appearance. They are $50{\sim}200m$ in length and the range of the maximum width from 25 to 115m and one of their mean slope gradient from 32 to $36^{\circ}$ (2) Origin ${\check{O}}rumkol$ taluses have been formed under periglacial environment in the last glacial age and they are classified into rock fall talus type, considering in conjunction with the shape, hardness, sorting, weathering conditions of constituent debris. (3) The stage of landform development ${\check{O}}rumkol$ talus slope profiles are mainly concave slope. This concave slope type was eventually caused by talus creep at the lower end of the talus. That means new additions of debris from the free face have virtually ceased and there is no evidence of recent motion in the deposit. Now it is predominant that vegetation cover is gradually increasingly. Therefore ${\check{O}}rumkol$ taluses appear to be relict form stage. at present.

• 한국해양학회지
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.357-365
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• 1994

The sediments on the continental shelf off the west coast (middle part) of Korea are divided into northern sandy deposits and southern muddy sediments, respectively. The sandy sediments consist dominantly of quartz and feldspar grains, representing mature-stage sediment in composition. Further-more, the presence of iron-stained quartz grain and glauconite does indicate that the sediments are similar to the relict sediments on the outer shelf of Yellow Sea and East China Sea. These sandy sediments are interpreted as a basal sands that were deposited during the transgression period due to sea-level rise after to last glacial maximum (LGM). The tidal deposits in the Namyang Bay, the west coast of Korea are divided vertically into the upper layer of muddy sediments and the lower layer of sandy sediments. the upper layer sediments contain abundant rock fragments, and are interpreted as the modern tetragenous sediments. The lower layer sediments, on the other hand, are rich in quartz and feldspar grains, representing high index of sediment maturity ratio. the lower layer sandy deposits show the presence of iron-stained.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.381-395
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• 2011

Present work aims to establish an integrated management system of environmental data base for nine typical wind holes or air holes in Korea. It basically deals with definition, geographical distribution, morphological pattern, physical characteristics and anthropogenic environments of wind hole to propose systematic preservation strategy of their periglacial landscape and flora, which are known to be sensitive to global warming. Wind hole, in which cool air blows out during the summer, but mild air comes out during the winter from a cave or hole, is frequently found on northwest- and north-facing slopes on the terminal point of steep talus, block field, and block stream, and can be categorized into three types, i.e., talus, cave and sink types. Environmental characteristics of nine wind holes are analyzed on the basis of their geology, landform, climate, soil, hydrology, vegetation, road, footpath, land-use, and management system, and relevant DB are prepared. Wind hole areas with unique landscape and ecological values need to be designated as a nature reserve, and zoning of core, buffer, and transitional zones are required for the multi-dimensional preservation of periglacial landscape and ecosystem. Phytogeographical values of glacial relict plants, including mountain cranberry(Vaccinium vitis-idaea) at its global southernmost limit at Bangnaeri wind hole, Hongchon County, Gangwon Province of Korea are discussed in detail as a floristic refugia in connection with climate change during the Pleistocene Epoch and potential in-situ and ex-situ preservation sites in the future.