• Title/Summary/Keyword: interglacial period

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The Study on the Debris Slope Landform in the Southern Taebaek Mountains (태백산맥 남부산지의 암설사면지형)

  • Jeon, Young-Gweon
    • Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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    • v.28 no.2
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    • pp.77-98
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    • 1993
  • The intent of this study is to analyze the characteristics of distribution, patter, and deposits of the exposed debris slope landform by aerial photography interpretation, measure-ment on the topographical maps and field surveys in the southern part Taebaek mountains. It also aims to research the arrangement types of mountain slope and the landform development of debris slopes in this area. In conclusion, main observations can be summed up as follows. 1. The distribution characteristics 1)From the viewpoint of bedrocks, the distribution density of talus is high in case of the bedrock with high density of joints, sheeting structures and hard rocks, but that of the block stream is high in case of intrusive rocks with the talus line. 2)From the viewpoint of bedrocks, the distribution density of talus is high in case of the bedrock with high density of joints, sheeting structures and hard rocks, but that of the block stream is high in case of inrtusive rocks with the talus line. 2) From the viewpoint of distribution altitude, talus is mainly distributed in the 301~500 meters part above the sea level, while the block stream is distributed in the 101~300 meters part. 3) From the viewpoint of slope oriention, the distribution density of talus on the slope facing the south(S, SE, SW) is a little higher than that of talus on the slope facing the north(N, NE, NW). 2. The Pattern Characteristics 1) The tongue-shaped type among the four types is the most in number. 2) The average length of talus slope is 99 meters, especially that of talus composed of hornfels or granodiorite is longer. Foth the former is easy to make free face; the latter is easdy to produce round stones. The average length of block stream slope is 145 meters, the longest of all is one km(granodiorite). 3) The gradient of talus slope is 20~45${^\circ}$, most of them 26-30${^\croc}$; but talus composed of intrusive rocks is gentle. 4) The slope pattern of talus shows concave slope, which means readjustment of constituent debris. Some of the block stream slope patterns show concave slope at the upper slope and the lower slope, but convex slope at the middle slope; others have uneven slope. 3. The deposit characteristics 1) The average length of constituent debris is 48~172 centimeters in diameter, the sorting of debris is not bad without matrix. That of block stream is longer than that of talus; this difference of debris average diameter is funda-mentally caused by joint space of bedrocks. 2) The shape of constituent debris in talus is mainly angular, but that of the debris composed of intrusive rocks is sub-angular. The shape of constituent debris in block stream is mainly sub-roundl. 3) IN case dof talus, debris diameter is generally increasing with downward slope, but some of them are disordered and the debris diameter of the sides are larger than that of the middle part on a landform surface. In block stream, debris diameter variation is perpendicularly disordered, and the debris diameter of the middle part is generally larger than that of the sides on a landform surface. 4)The long axis orientation of debris is a not bad at the lower part of the slope in talus (only 2 of 6 talus). In block stream(2 of 3), one is good in sorting; another is not bad. The researcher thinks that the latter was caused by the collapse of constituent debris. 5) Most debris were weathered and some are secondly weathered in situ, but talus composed of fresh debris is developing. 4. The landform development of debris slopes and the arrangement types of the mountain slope 1) The formation and development period of talus is divided into two periods. The first period is formation period of talus9the last glacial period), the second period is adjustment period(postglacial age). And that of block stream is divided into three periods: the first period is production period of blocks(tertiary, interglacial period), the second formation period of block stream(the last glacial period), and the third adjustment period of block stream(postglacialage). 2) The arrangement types of mountain slope are divided into six types in this research area, which are as follows. Type I; high level convex slope-free face-talus-block stream-alluvial surface Type II: high level convex slope-free face-talus-alluvial surface Type III: free face-talus-block stream-all-uvial surface Type IV: free face-talus-alluval surface Type V: talus-alluval surface Type VI: block stream-alluvial surface Particularly, type IV id\s basic type of all; others are modified ones.

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Present Distribution of Cryophilous Plants and Palaeoenvironment in the Korean Peninsula (한반도 한지선호식물의 분포와 고환경)

  • Kong, Woo-seok
    • The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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    • v.5 no.1
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    • pp.1-13
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    • 1991
  • The distribution of cryophilous arctic-alpine and alpine plants in Korea is reviewed in connection with palaeoenvironment, along with a discussion to their origins, patterns of migration, and their refugia. At present, the estimated number of Korean arctic-alpine and alpine species is 419, and this includes 75 arctic-alpine species, 239 alpine species and 105 Korean endemic alpine species. The disjunctive distribution of cryophilous arctic-alpine and alpine plants is likely to be due to first, the downslope and southward expansion of those species towards the Korean peninsula as a primary refugia from the arctic region as the Pleistocene glacial phases approached, and then their subsequent isolation upslope in mountain areas toward a secondary refugia as the interglacial and post-glacial climatic ameliorations followed; secondly, the expansion of forest tree communities on lowland and montane areas subsequent to the end of the Pleistocene has had the effect of dividing formerly high mountains as a result of the increased competition; and thirdly, the general disapperance or restriction of available habitats for arctic-alpine and alpine species because of post-glacial climatic amelioration. The existence of 139 alpine species exclusively in the north of Korea may be due to the following reasons; first, frequent exchanges of alpine floras with other neighbouring East Asian regions would have been facilitated; secondly, there are numerous high mountains available for the alpine plants to survive and prosper during the post-glacial period; thirdly, the existence of easy accesses between mountains within the north, which has enabled alpine floras to migrate when necessary; and finally, the availability of diverse environments and habitats for the alpine flora of the north. However, the continued survival of those species in Korea at the world's or East Asia's southernmost limits of their distribution for many species is in danger if global warming associated with the greenhouse effect takes place.

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Geomorphological Processes of Yuga Alluvial Fan in Korea (유가 선상지의 지형 형성과정)

  • Lee, Gwang-Ryul;Cho, Young Dong
    • Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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    • v.48 no.2
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    • pp.204-217
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    • 2013
  • This study shows the geomorphological processes of Yuga alluvial fan at Dalseong-gun, Daegu in Korea, based on characteristics of geomorphological surfaces, analysis of geomorphological deposits and OSL age dating. Alluvial fans of this area are classified into three surfaces(YG-F1, YG-F2, YG-F3) and were formed by the depositional processes resulting from the changes in hydraulic geometry of flowing water which was a stream flowing out of mountains debouched on to a plain, not by a sudden decrease in surface gradient of river bed. YG-F3 surface, about 110,000 yr B.P.(MIS 5.4), was formed as Yongri river deposited a lot of debris. This result was due to the process that the deposition took place actively with the upward of base level as the last interglacial period began. Later, the denudation of the river valley and geomorphological surface constantly occurred and the local and seasonal changes were found in precipitation and stream discharge with the beginning of the interstadial of the last glacial stages(MIS 3), leading to YG-F2 formed by debris flow, earth flow, mud flow and stream flow. Then, short-term climate changes and temporal climate events repeatedly caused aggradation and denudation over time and going through these processes, YG-F1 is believed to have been made by earth flow or mudflow during the last glacial maximum(MIS 2).

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Clay Mineralogical Characteristics and Origin of Sediments Deposited during the Pleistocene in the Ross Sea, Antarctica (남극 로스해 대륙대 플라이스토세 코어 퇴적물의 점토광물학적 특성 및 기원지 연구)

  • Jung, Jaewoo;Park, Youngkyu;Lee, Kee-Hwan;Hong, Jongyong;Lee, Jaeil;Yoo, Kyu-Cheul;Lee, Minkyung;Kim, Jinwook
    • Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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    • v.32 no.3
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    • pp.163-172
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    • 2019
  • A long core (RS15-LC48) was collected at a site in the continental rise between the Southern Ocean and the Ross Sea (Antarctica) during the 2015 Ross Sea Expedition. The mineralogical characteristics and the origin of clay minerals in marine sediments deposited during the Quaternary in the Ross Sea were determined by analyzing sedimentary facies, variations in grain size, sand fraction, mineralogy, clay mineral composition, illite crystallinity, and illite chemical index. Core sediments consisted mostly of sandy clay, silty clay, or ice rafted debris (IRD) and were divided into four sedimentary facies (units 1-4). The variations in grain size distribution and sand content with depth were very similar to the variations in magnetic susceptibility. Various minerals such as smectite, chlorite, illite, kaolinite, quartz, and plagioclase were detected throughout the core. The average clay mineral composition was dominated by illite (52.7 %) and smectite (27.7 %), with less abundant clay minerals of chlorite (11.0 %) and kaolinite (8.6 %). The IC and illite chemical index showed strong correlation trends with depth. The increase in illite and chlorite content during the glacial period, together with the IC and chemical index values, suggest that sediments were transported from the bedrocks of the Transantarctic Mountains. During the interglacial period, smectite may have been supplied by the surface current from Victoria Land, in the western Ross Sea. High values for IC and the illite chemical index also indicate relatively warm climate conditions during that period.

Characteristics of Marine Terrace Sediments Formed during the Marine Isotope Stage 5e in the West South Coast of the Korean Peninsula (한반도 서남해안 MIS 5e 해안단구의 퇴적층 특성 연구)

  • Yang, Dong-Yoon;Han, Min;Kim, Jin Cheul;Lim, Jaesoo;Yi, Sangheon;Kim, Ju-Yong
    • Economic and Environmental Geology
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    • v.49 no.6
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    • pp.417-432
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    • 2016
  • It was firstly revealed in this research that the marine terrace of the Ijin-ri (Bukpyung-myeon, Haenam-gun) was formed during the last interglacial (Marine Isotope Stage 5e; MIS 5e). The marine terrace totally ranging from 4.8 m (asl) to 8.8 m (asl) is subdivided into 4 units; Unit I ranges 4.8-5.3 m, unit II ranges 5.3-6.9 m, unit III ranges 6.9-8.3 m, and unit IV ranges 8.3-8.8 m. Strong evidences that units II and III were formed during MIS5e were obtained based on OSL dating, the physical characterizations such as particle size distribution, magnetic susceptibility and water content, principal element and trace element analyses, and quantitative clay mineral analysis for samples at the 30 cm intervals. The rounded gravels on the marine terrace are regarded to be originated from the clastic materials transported directly from the surrounding mountains toward the marine and abraded in the coastal area, without any fluvial processes. During the warmest period (125k, unit II), the increase in rainfall, along with the rapid rise in sea level, was likely caused the high amount of clastic materials transported to the upper part of the beach. As a result of comparing clay mineral ratios of study site with those derived from sediments of either tidal flats, or the Yellow Sea, it is interpreted that the sediments of study site were influenced from the marine. The results will be used to investigate the hydrological activity and sedimentary environment during the high sea level in the past.