• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.235-246
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• 2011

Sea level fluctuations during the Holocene reconstructed by the results of age dating, microfossils researches and sedimentary facies from coastal alluvial plains contain the valuable informations on climatic changes. The sea level during 'maximum phase of transgression' during 6,000~5,000 yr BP was slightly higher than the present by approximately 0.8~1.0 m and the summer temperature conditions seemed to be higher than those of the present by 2~3℃ in the Central Europe when the period of 'Climatic Optimum' might be dominant. The sea level in Korean Peninsula was assumed by 0.8~1.0 m higher at that time compared to the present and climate seemed to be warmer. At 2,000~1,800 yr BP in Korean Peninsula, the sea level reached the higher stand than the present by approximately 1.1~1.3 m and the climatic conditions might be warm similar to the period of 'Climatic Optimum'. Although the temperature in the Central Europe during the period of 'Subboreal' was about 2~3℃ cooler, it is supposed that the sea level in Korean Peninsula was relatively higher than the present. The sea level at 2,300 yr BP might be similar to that of the present, which was the lowest level since the mid-Holocene. From the fact, climatic environment during the cold period might not be reflected exactly in the sea level.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.43-61
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• 2018

Heterogeneous sedimentary deposits with different soil colors and various degree of hardness are exposed in its foredune and tidal zone due to the effects of recently accelerated coastal erosion along the Ujeon Coast in Jeung-do, Shinan-gun. This study was conducted on the assumption that these sedimentary deposits were developed in different timing and environments. Thus, we can infer the geomorphic development processes of the area based on evidences like the physicochemical characteristics of each sedimentary layer. Several analysis of these sedimentary depositssuch as grain size analysis, X-ray Fluorescence Measurement (XRF), and Loss on ignition (LOI) were performed on central (Ujeon A) and southern (Ujeon B) parts of the Ujeon Coast. I found that the foredune sedimentary deposits have four stages of geomorphic development processes. In the initial stage of development, during the peak of the Last Interglacial Period (MIS 5e), basal deposits were accumulated in the low-energy environment of subtidal zones. In the second stage, during the Last Glacial Period (MIS 4~MIS 2), eolian sedimentary layers were developed by terrestrial aeolian processes by which fine materials were transported from the Yellow Sea which became a dry land exposed by lowered sea level. In the third stage, various mechanism existed for the formation of each sedimentary layer. In the region of Ujeon A, sedimentary layers were developed in the littoral zone environment dominated by marine processes during the maximum phase of transgression in the Holocene. Meanwhile, the region of Ujeon B began to form eolian sedimentary layers during MIS 2. In the last stage, thick coastal dune deposits, covered all over the Ujeon Coast. During the late Holocene (0.7~0.6 ka), terrestrial processes kept dominating the region, developing typical eolian sedimentary layers.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.27-53
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• 2009

A 30-m-thick Middle Ordovician Jigunsan Shale exposed along the southern limb of the Backunsan (Baekunsan) Syncline, Taebacksan (Taebaeksan) basin, has been simply considered as a transgressive shale sequence onlapped the underlying Maggol platform carbonates. Results of this study, however, suggest that majority of the Jigunsan Shale be interpreted as a regressive shale sequence downlapped onto a thin (ca. 240 cm) marine stratigraphic unit consisting of organic-rich (>3 wt.% of TOC) black shales in the lower Jigunsan Shale, which was accumulated at the time of maximum regional transgression. Detailed stratigraphic analysis in conjunction with XRD, XRF, and ICP-MS as well as Rock-Eval pyrolysis allows the thin marine stratigraphic unit in the Jigunsan Shale to define a condensed section that was deposited in a distinctive euxinic zone formed due to expansion of pycnocline during the early highstand phase. As well, a number of stratigraphic horizons of distinctive character that may have sequence stratigraphic or environmental significance, such as transgressive surface, maximum flooding surface, maximum sediment starvation surface, and downlap surface, are identified in the lower Jigunsan Shale. In the future, these stratigraphic horizons will provide very useful information to make a coherent regional stratigraphic correlation of the Middle Ordovician strata and to develop a comprehensive understanding on stratigraphic response to tectonic evolution as well as basin history of the Taebacksan Basin.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.454-465
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• 2008

Benthic foraminiferal assemblage and AMS radiocarbon dating of core sediments from the northern shelf of the East China Sea were analyzed in order to understand the paleoenvironment and sedimentary environmental changes around the Korean marginal seas since the last glacial maximum (LGM). The core sediments, containing continuous records of the last 16,000 years, reveal a series of well-defined vertical changes in number of species (S), P/T ratio and species diversity (H) as well as foraminiferal assemblage. Such down-core variations display a sharp change at a core depth of approximately 240 cm, which corresponds to ca. 10,000 year B.P. The sediments of the lower part of the core (240${\sim}$560 cm, Zone I), including the well-developed tide-influenced sedimentary structures, are characterized by high abundances of Ammonia beccarii and Elphidium clavatum (s.l.) and low values in number of species, P/T ratio and diversity. These tide-influenced signatures and foraminiferal assemblage characters suggest that the sediments of Zone I were deposited in a coastal environment (water depths of 20${\sim}$30 m) such as tidal estuary with an influence of the paleo-rivers (e.g., old-Huanghe and Yangtze rivers) during the early phase of the sea-level rise (ca. 16,000 to 10,000 years) since the LGM. In contrast, the upper core sediments (0${\sim}$240 cm, Zone II) are characterized by abundant Eilohedra nipponica and Bolivina robusta with a minor contribution of A. ketienziensis angulata and B. marginata. and high values in number of species, P/T ratio and diversity. Based on relative abundance of these assemblage, Zone II can be divided into two subzones (IIa and IIb). Zone IIa is interpreted to be deposited under the inner-to-middle shelf environment during the marine transgression in the early Holocene (after ca. 9,000 yr B.P.) when sea level rapidly increased. The sediments of zone IIb most likely deposited after 6,000 yr B.P. under the outer shelf environment (80${\sim}$100 m water depth), which is similar to modem depositional environments. The muddy sediments of zone IIb were probably transported from the old-Huanghe and Yangtze Rivers during the late Holocene. We suggest that the present-day oceanographic conditions over the Yellow and the East China Seas have been established after ca. 7,000${\sim}$6,000 yr B.P. when the Kuroshio Current began to influence this area.