• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-26
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• 1993

The estimation of the Last Interglacial sea level was made by using the thalassostatic terrace which had been developed in the lower reach of Namdaechon river in Kangneung, eastern coastal area of Korea. The fluvial terraces, which have been developed since late Pleistocene, were investigated. The main findings were as follows; 1) That Kangneung terrace I had been formed in the climax period of the Last Interglacial (Oxygen isotope stage 5e) was revealed. It was estimated that Kangneung terrace II had been formed during a certain warmer period between the climax period of the Last Interglacial and the early Last Glacial(probably Oxygen isotope stage 5c or 5a). 2) Being judged from the relative heights of the Kangneung terrace I and II, the sea levels of the formation periods of these terraces were estimated to have been relatively 17~20m and l0m higher than the present sea level, respectively. 3) The formation periods of the Wangsan terrace I and II were supposed to be the early and late Last Glacial respectively, being judged from the following 3 details ; a) the characteristics of the terrace deposits, b) the relation Wangsan terrace II to the buried valley floor, and c) the cross phenomena of the above two terraces to the Kangneung terraces. 4) The formation period of the pseudogleyed red soil in the Kangneung terrace I was estimated to be the middle or late period of the Last Interglacial.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.80-89
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• 1998

Three cores were taken from the northwest Pacific Ocean (Shikoku Basin) to determine the accumulation rates of both biogenic and terrigeneous fractions since the last penultimate interglacial period. The sediment is characterized by large amounts of terrigenous materials with low biogenic fractions and intermittent volcanic-ash layers, suggesting a hemipelagic origin. Composition of major elements shows no significant differences among sites. Relatively small variation of TiO$_2$/Al$_2$O$_3$ ratios with respect to SiO$_2$ content is the strong evidence for the common origin of terrigenous materials. The fraction of biogenic carbonates varies from near 0% in ash layers to about 35%, with a gradual increase toward the south (St. 4 through St. 6 to St. 20). However, carbonate contents show step-wise increasing tendency from St. 4 through St. 6 to St. 20, which suggests a southward increase of carbonate production. The color reflectance indicates that the sediment of the southern sites contains relatively higher amounts of biogenic carbonates. The mass accumulation rate of terrigenous fractions during the glacial period was 2-3 times higher than that of interglacial period. This enhanced mass accumulation rate of terrigenous materials was concomitant with the high accumulation rate of biogenic fractions. The total sediment accumulation rate is considered as the most important factor controlling mass accumulation rates of the biogenic and terrigenous materials. The enhanced sediment accumulation during the glacial periods is interpreted as a consequence of climate-induced change in the supply of eolian dust from the Asian continent. Enhanced wind strength during the glacial time may have increased transportation of terrigenous materials to the ocean. Thus, variation of sediment accumulation is highly linked with climatic variations.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.98-108
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• 2000

A geochemical study on a hemipelagic core sediment taken from the northwest Pacific Ocean (eastern edge of the Shikoku Basin) was conducted to use of excess barium (Ba(ex)) for evaluate the paleoceano-graphic changes. Also, the excursion of sedimentary Ba(ex) was compared with those of biogenic opal, carbonate and organic carbon content in the sediment during the last glacial and interglacial periods. The calculated Ba(ex) derived from the major and minor element shows a distinctive glacial-interglacial variations, and the mass accumulation rate (MAR) of Ba(ex) shows coincident variations with the MARs of biogenic fractions. Especially, strong positive correlation (r$^2$=0.85) between the MAR of Ba(ex) and the MAR of biogenic carbonate is recognized. Based on the strong positive correlation(r$^2$=0.85) between the MAR of Ba(ex) and the MAR of carbonate content, we estimated the degree of carbonate dissolution rate during the glacial and interglacial periods. Assuming the proportional variation and the refractory nature of barium exist between two factors, the variation of index Ca/Ba ratio in sediment indicates the degree of carbonate dissolution. Sedimentary Ca/Ba ratios index clearly show a striking fluctuation between the glacial and interglacial periods with higher positive correlation during glacial and lower correlation during interglacial. This fact indicates enhanced carbonate dissolution during interglacial period. Thus, the sedimentary Ca/Ba ratio in sedimentary records can be used as one of the useful tools for estimation of the relative degree of carbonate dissolution. The excursion of Ba(ex) and the sedimentary Ca/Ba ratio follows the typical pacific carbonate dissolution type(enhanced dissolution during interglacial and reduced dissolution during glacial time) as suggested by previous work (e.g., Wu et al., 1990). Variation in sedimentary Ca/Ba ratio thus strongly supports that glacial-interglacial fluctuation in carbonate dissolution has been prevailed in the northwest Pacific Ocean.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.47-59
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• 2016

The formation age and depositional environment of the marine terrace I of the estimated paleoshoreline altitude of 18m in Sanhari of Ulsan coast, southeastern Korea were investigated on the basis of examination of lithofacies and stratigraphy of terrace deposits. Marine deposits of the terrace is composed of rounded boulders(70cm in diameter) and rounded pebbles(1.0cm in diameter) which overlay them. The above rounded boulders which lie on the paleo-shore platform are considered to have been formed by wave abrasion in the same period that the paleo-shore platform was developed. The rounded pebbles which lie on the rounded boulder layer are considered to have been deposited in gravel beach and berm environment, judging from the laminae developed in this layer. The paleo-shore platform and marine rounded gravel layer of the terrace are assumed to have been formed in the large transgression period of the Last Interglacial culmination stage(MIS 5e), judging from the comparision of the formation age of 125ka B.P. of Juckcheon terrace I in the adjacent Pohang coast which was dated by amino acid dating. The terrestrial deposit of this terrace was largely composed of angular and subangular gravel mixed with marine rounded pebble which has been carried away mainly from the deposit of previous marine terraces and redeposited in this terrace. The lowest peat layer of terrastrial deposit was considered to have been deposited during the period from the late MIS 5e which is the estimated finishing time of deposition of the above marine gravels to the early stage of following regression period(MIS 5d) in which the sea level was still high. The sediments of angular and subangular gravel deposit which lie on this peat layer were assumed to have been deposited during the period from the early stage of the first regression period(MIS 5d) of the Last Interglacial to the Last Glacial. The lower part of the angular gravel layer is composed of the deposits of the fluvial and colluvial sediments, whereas most of the upper and middle part of the layer is mainly composed of angular gravels of colluvial sediments formed in the cold environment.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.18 no.1 s.22
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• pp.41-46
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• 2004

The fluvia(thalassostatic) terraces have been developed among the lower Yeongsan river, near the southwestern coastal region of Korean peninsula. These thalassostatic terraces could be classified into 3 surface, i. e., Yeongsan 32m, 18m, and 10m surface, in desending order, according to the relative heights from the river floor. Yeongsan 32m, 18m and 10m surfaces were corresponded to the mMT3, mLT1 and mLT2 surfaces of Choi(2003), respectively. It was revealed that the mLT1 surface was the marine terraces which had been formed in the Last Interglacial culmination period(oxygen isotope stage 5e) in the southeastern coast of Korean peninsula.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.15-15
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• 2003

In South Korea, marine terraces have been well developed along the eastern coastal zone, and previous researches on the marine terraces have also been focused on to this coastal zone. The marine terraces of the eastern coast of South Korea had been classified into three terrace groups, that is, the higher, middle, and lower surface ones, according to the heights of marine terraces by previous studies(Oh, 1981 ;Chang, 1987 ;Yoon et. al, 1999, 2003 ; Hwang and Yoon, 1996 etc.). Recently, however, it tends to classify the marine terraces based on the concept of geomorphic surface units(Lee, 1987 ; Kim, 1990 ; Choi, S. 2003; Choi S. et. al 2003a,b, etc). For example, it was proposed that the marine terrace surfaces of Eupcheon coast of the southeastern coastal area of Korea could be classified into 16 geomorphic surfaces, i.e., Eupcheon 1terrace(former shoreline height of 160m), 2(153m), 3(140m), 4(130m), 5(124m), 6(115m), 7(100m), 8(92m), 9(82m), 10(71m), 11(62m), 12(53m), 13(43m), 14(35m), 15(18m) and 16(10m) surfaces, in descending order, according to the former shoreline heights(Choi, S, 2003 ; Choi, S. et. al, 2003a,b). Among these terraces, Eupcheon 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7 surfaces had not been reported in previous works. Among the above mentioned marine terraces, Eupcheon 15 terrace, the most widely and continuously distributed marine terrace have been identified as marine terrace of the Last Interglacial culmination period(oxygen isotope stage 5e) which was based on amino acid dates(124∼125ka BP) and geomorphological features such as red soil, pollen analysis, fossil cryogenic structures and crossing terrace concept. Eupoheon 15 terrace surfaces have also been proposed as the key surface for the identification and correlation of the so-called '5e' marine terrace in the eastern coast of South Korea. This terrace was reconfirmed as the Last Interglacial culmination period, which was based on the identification of Ata tephra, one of the wide-spread marker tephra which indicates the Last Interglacial culmination period in Japan by Sasaki et. al(2002). It was thought that marine terraces of the eastern coast of South Korea had been formed by the steady-state uplifting during the Quaternary glacio-eustatic sea level changes(Choi, 1997). The uprift rate of 10cm/1,000years had been proposed in the eastern coast of South Korea based on the former shoreline altitude(18m) of the above Eupcheon 15 terrace. Therefore, it can be estimated that Eupcheon 1 terrace had been formed in the early Pleistocene from the above uprift rate. The OSL dating for the samples of Eupcheon 7, 9, 13, 15 and 16 terraces and identification of marker tephra in the terrace deposits are in progress. It is expected that more elaborate chronology on themarine terraces of the eastern coast of South Korea could be established by these absolute dates and marker-tephra.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.103-119
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• 1995

This Paper aims to compare the lower marine terraces distributed from Muckho to Gangneung in the mid-eastern coast of Korean peninsula by the geomorphic method of using characteristies of terrace features and terrace deposits, paleosol, and fossil cryogenic structures, and to estimate the age of the lower marine terraces on the basis of the comparisons of those with the characteristics of thalassostatic terrace in adjacent rivers. The 1ower marine terraces in this area can be classified into two levels, i.e., lower marine terrace I and II surfaces, in desending order, according to the difference of former shoreline altitude. The former shoreline heights of the lowerm marine terrace I and II surfaces are 18m and 10m, respectiveiy. The width of the I surface is broader and distributed more continuousiy than that of II surface. Daejin I surface in Muckho coast, and Myeongju and Anin terrace in Gangneung coast could be classified into the lower marine terrace I surface, and Daejin II surfaCe into II surface. The Surface of ancient shore platform of the lower marine terrace I and II surfaces were weathered, and the color of the terrace deposit ranges from red to reddish brown. And this terrace deposit is covered with slope deposit of Last Glacial or fossil periglacial structures (platy structure and vecicle) of Last Glacial are formed in terrace deposit. These facts indicate that the lower marine terrace I and II surfaces had been formed before the Last Glacial, and then affected by chemical weathering under warm environment, finally followed by cold period. But the deposit of the lower marine terrace I surface is more weathered than that of II surface. And pseudogleyed red soil, which is developed in I but not in II surface, could be judged to have been formed in the Last Interglacial culmination stage (Oxygen isotope stage 5e). Therefore, in terms of the degree of weathering of the terrace deposit and the existence of pseudogleyed red soil, the age of both terrace is thought to be a little different. And the characteristics of the above mentioned II surface are accord with those of thalassostatic terrace formed in middle or late period of the Last Interglacial (5e or 5a). Thus on the basis of above all points, the lower marine terrace I and II surfaces in this area could be seen to have formed in the Last Interglacial culmination stage and middle or late period of the Last Interglacial, respectively. Because the lower mamine terrace I surface is broadry distributed in the eastern coast of Korea nPeninsula, the surface could be used to be a key surface in studying Quaternary marine terraces.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.443-458
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• 2005

Late Quaternary deposits of the core in the western area of the Nakdong River delta consist of four sedimentary units: Unit I, II, III and IV, in ascending order, controlled by the sea-level change since the last interglacial period. Unit I unconformable overlying Cretaceous basement rocks is composed of sandy gravel and sand deposited in a fluvial channel before the first marine transgression. Unit II composed of stiff massive mud is interpreted as a shallow marine deposits formed during the last interglacial period (probably MIS 5). The development of the fissures coated with oxidized materials in the upper part of Unit II is a feature of subaerial exposure, which indicates erosional contact with the upper Unit III. Unit III is made up of soft massive mud and soft shelly massive mud deposited in a tidal flat and a inner shelf, respectively, since the Holocene transgression (about 9,000 yr BP). Unit Ⅳ consisted of soft shell bedded mud and yellowish sandy mud was deposited in the delta environments during the regression (after about 5,000 yr BP). The lower shell bedded mud was deposited in a tidal flat and the upper sandy mud was deposited in the floodplain corresponding to present site of the Nakdong River delta.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.59-78
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• 2019

The physical and chemical characteristics of more than 5 m sandy deposits behind the beach in Sinji-do Island are investigated and its burial ages are estimated using Optically Stimulated Luminescence. By the estimated burial ages of the sandy deposits, this section is divided into four sub-units: Unit I (6.2 ka), Unit II (23.2 ka), Unit III (115.9 ka), and Unit IV (115.9 to 127.5 ka). It can be proposed that the Unit I of a coarse sand deposited during the Holocene Climatic Optimum. Unit II, supposed to be the aeolian sediments, formed during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). It can be supposed that the study area was not affected by the marine processes during the LGM, directly. Unit III is more consolidated deposits of coarse silt to fine sand and deposited during the Last Interglacial Period. Unit IV mainly consist of beach gravels with sandy matrix deposited during the Marine Isotope Stage 5e (MIS 5e), and thus indicates that the sea level of the southwest sea had risen 3 to 5 m above present sea level during the MIS 5e.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.156-172
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• 2003

In this paper we identify that there are High Higher surfaces(HH-surface) around Jeongdongjin and Daejin area where Higher surfaces(H-surface) of marine terrace are formed on a large scale. On the basis of an altitude of the ancient shoreline of the marine terraces, geomorphic surfaces can be classified into HH I (140m a.s.l), HH II (110m a.s.l), H I (90m a.s.l), H II (70m a.s.l), M (40m a.s.l), L I (25m a.s.l) and L II (10m a.s.l). Besides, we identify that the lowest surfaces(5~6m a.s.l) are found extensively in the research area which are assumed to be formed in the Holocene. Considering that the formation mechanism of the marine terraces in the research area is similar to that of the marine terraces at both Campo area in the south east coastal region of Korea md the thalassostatic terraces of Osip River in Samchuk in a short distance from the research area, we can assume that the HH-surfaces in both areas were formed in the same period. Based on the fact that L I- surface was formed on the Last Interglacial Stage of MIS 5, we can infer that M- was formed in MIS 7, H I- in MIS 9, H II- in MIS 11, HH I- in MIS 13 and HH II- in MIS 15. The reason for that H-surfaces, similar to those at Gampo area, to remain on a large scale is that the Holsteinian Interglacial continued for a long period of time and at that time there was a large wave-cut platform in the vicinity of the shoreline.