• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.15-15
• /
• 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
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.17-38
• /
• 2000

The marine terraces often offer come important clues to understand the topographic development during the Quaternary and the present landforms in korea. We examined the mechanism of the marine terraces formation along the coast from Samjung-Ri(community), Guryongpo-Eup(county) to Haseo-Ri, Yangnam-Myun(county), Gyungju-Si(city). Among the various but unique factors of the given coastal environment, which should contribute to the marine terraces formation together, we focused on five possible factors for the present stydy. Geologic difference in bedrocks, protrusion degree of coastiline, topological relief of sea-bottom, fluvial characteristics on land, and pattern of the waves appeared to act cooperatibely on the terrace formation of Southeastem coast in korea, while the fluvial characteristics seemed play a significant but localized role in it. Wide distribution of middle surfaces on the coast of Samjungri-Janggilri could be due to the concentration of the high waves and the weakness of the Tertiary volcanic rocks. For the sporadic distribution of the terraces on the coast of Gupungri-Gyewonri, it seemed attributable to the erosion -susceptible weak bedrock, the coastline of inner bay, shallow sea-bottom with the gentle relief, and other fluvial characteristics with the low divides. Together with the geologic difference in bedrock, other factors including protrusion degree of coast, topological relief of sea-bottom, and the transportation loads by the stream Daejongchon are believed to act cooperatively on the mechanism of the marine terraces formation on the coast of Duwonri-Upchonri.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.63-75
• /
• 2018

The lower marine terrace 1 and 2 surfaces distributed between Ulsan and Pohang coast in the southeastern coast of the Korean penninsula have been correlated with MIS 5e and 5a (or 5c) by amino acid dates, 14C dates, wide-spread tephra correlation and pollen analysis respectively. In this study, to test the reliability of the OSL method for the estimation of the numerical burial age of marine sediment deposits, we analyzed the samples from the marine terraces which have been known as typical marine terraces formed during MIS 5e and MIS 5a in the above-mentioned coast. The burial ages of the marine deposit of the lower marine terrace 1 and 2, with paleoshoreline altitudes of 18m to 19m and 10m to 11m respectively, both showed about the same age of 60 ka BP. The lower marine terraces 1 and 2, however, were divided into two terrace surfaces by a clear terrace cliff. Besides, the OSL dates of the lower and upper parts of the lower marine terrace 2 of the Bonggil coast showed the reversed burial ages. In the lower marine terrace 1 of the Sanhari coast, almost the same burial ages were derived from both the lower part (marine rounded gravel layer) and the upper part (terrestrial angular gravel layer) of the terrace deposit. Therefore, at the present time, judging from only the OSL dates measured in this study, it could be argued that the OSL method is not the best for the estimation of forming periods of the lower marine terraces 1 and 2 and their classification.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.95-108
• /
• 2016

Several flights of marine terraces were developed along the Eastern coast of Korea (Gangneung-Donghae). Various dating techniques have been applied to determine the age of these terraces, with a view to better understand the regional uplift history. In this study, we compare the major element compositions of the terrace deposits and modern beach sediments to estimate the relative formation age of these terraces. We observed a discernible difference in major element geochemistry between modern beach sediments and various elevated terrace deposit (i.e. palaeobeach sediments). In general, weathering properties of marine terrace sediments are expected to be affected by the formation ages of terraces, and here, we confirm that the chemical composition are indicative of the relative age of the terraces in this region.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.52 no.5
• /
• pp.409-425
• /
• 2019

Marine terraces, a step-like landform, are important geologic markers that provide tectonic information during the Quaternary Period. Marine terraces are well developed along all coastlines(East, West, and South) of the Korean Peninsula, those along the East coastline are the most distinctive. The marine terraces of the East coastline are classified into 4-6 flights that are several meters or several tens of meters above the present sea level. It is believed that these terraces, except for the lowest one, were formed in the middle Pleistocene. In the base of the OSL age dating results and Blake excursion events of magnetostratigraphy, the $2^{nd}$ and $3^{rd}$ terraces are correlated to the last interglacial stage. Considering the marine terraces linked to a sea-level curve of the Pleistocene, it is thought that regional tectonic movements have uplifted the East coastal area since the middle Pleistocene. Besides, former shorelines of each terrace have varied elevations from Gangreung to Busan bay, which can be divided into four regions, namely, Gangreung-Yonghanri(I), Homikot-Najung(II), Najung-Bangeojin(III), and Waesung-Busan Bay(IV). The former shorelines of each terrace at both Gangreung-Yonghanri(I) and Najung-Bangeojin(III) are higher than those in the other two regions, due to block movements by regional faults such as the Ocheon Fault or its subsidiaries, the Gampo Lineament and Ulsan Fault. Uplift rate of the East coast ranges from 0.2 m/ky to 0.3 m/ky, but each region shows different uplift rate.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.222-236
• /
• 2002

The Osip-cheon river flowing on the east side of the Taeback mts. has formed river terraces on the several heights along the middle- and downstream. The river terraces are classified into 5 climatic ones and 7 thalassostatic ones. The thalassostatic ones are found to the height of 145-l50m level at 20-30m intervals. These vertical distribution is caused by the continuous uplift and periodical rise and fall of the sea-level. The high higher surfaces among the thalassostatic ones are the highest among those of Korea. The chronologies of the terraces are correlated to the marine oxygen isotope stages : The thalassostatic terraces on the level of 40 m.a.s.l. are to the stage 7, 70 m.a.s.l.. to the stage 9, 90 m.a.s.l. to the stage 9, 110 m.a.s.1. to the stage 11 and those of 150 m.a.s.1. to the stage 15 among the Interglacial Ages. The landuses and geomorphic landscapes of the Samchok area are chracteristic, because the karst landforms, such as doline and uvala, are developed on the surfaces of the middle-, the higher- and the high higher surfaces of river terrace.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.81-96
• /
• 2019

The Yeongdeok 53m marine terrace (Y₅₃mT), Y₄₃mT, Y₃₃mT, Y₂₄mT, Y₁₉mT and Y₁₁mT distributed along the Yeongdeok coast, southeastern Korean Peninsula are well compared with the thalassostatic terraces of the high terrace 1 (ℓHT₁ ; 51m of the relative heights from the river floor), high terrace 2 (ℓHT₂ ; 43m), middle terrace 1 (ℓMT₁ ; 32m), middle terrace 2 (ℓMT₂ ; 25m), lower terrace 1 (ℓLT₁ ; 18m) and lower terrace 2 (ℓLT₂ ; 10m) respectively, developed along the lower reaches of the Chucksan-cheon and Obo-cheon rivers, judging from the comparison of paleosols (red soils) between the above marine and thalassostatic terraces. Using the Y₁₉mT of the MIS 5e as the key surface, we propose that the terraces of the Y₅₃mT and ℓHT₁, Y₄₃mT and ℓHT₂, T₃₃mT and ℓMT₁, Y₂₄mT and ℓMT₂, Y₁₉mT and ℓLT₁, and Y₁₁mT and ℓLT₂ have been formed at the MIS 11, 9, 7e and 7a (or 7a), 5e and 5a respectively. The red soils have been developed at the Y₁₉mT and ℓLT₁ and above them, but not on the Y₁₁mT and ℓLT₂ surfaces.

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

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.13-28
• /
• 2020

In this study, the distribution and topographic development of marine terraces, UHS (Upper Higher Surface) and HHS (High Higher Surface) at Yeondae-san area, Gampo-eup were discussed. We critically examined on the substance of the Yeongdong-myeon (a low-lying erosion surface) in the east coast of Korea. In study area, UHS including UHS-246m, UHS-241m, UHS-235m, UHS-220m, UHS-210m and UHS-220 is found on the highest altitude among the marine terraces in Korea. The existence of UHS requires new interpretation on topographical surface like Yeongdong-myeon, which has been commonly accepted as a theory in the society of Korean Geography. Since UHS is distributed continuously ascending on the altitude of HHS, the period of formation should be understood in the same context. And UHS of paleo-shoreline 246m has been estimated to be formed about 1.5 million years ago.

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