• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
• /
• v.18 no.2 s.23
• /
• pp.33-42
• /
• 2004

In South Korea a Pedo-sedimentary Sequence(PS) indicating the Last Glacial Maximun(LGM) is typified y a brown to dark brown, relatively stiff paleosol layers formed by repetitive freezing and thawing processes which in turn left characteristi glossic textures in soil-solum, polygolnal structures with a flagipans, vertical soil wedges or freezing cracks, and horizontal foliations, As a pre-LGM sedimentary sequences (older than 25Ka), the Old Fluvial Sequence(OFS) overlain by the Slope Sedimentary Sequence(SS) are distributed commonly at the base level higher than 14-15m above present river-bed along the major river basin. After the LGM (ca. 18Ka), the Young Fluvial Sequence(YFS) appears at an altitude ascending order of sedimentary profiles. In this fluvial organic muds of Jangheungri site(Jinju), Sorori site(Cheonwon), and Youngsan estruarine rivermouth(Mokpo) were exemplified in order to interpret their formation ages and environments. As result of $^{14}C$ datings, the formation ages of te organic muds are Boelling to Alleroed (MIS-1). These organic muds were fomed in fluvial backswamp or local pond/bog in response to shifting fluvial system. On the basis of palynological production dominant with Abies/Picea-Betula and Ranunculaceae, Compositae, Cyperaceae, and Graminae, it was interpreted that more boreal to subboreal condition was prevailed rather than temperate like today during the formation of organic muds and soil moisture condition was a repetition of wet and dry condition.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.9-21
• /
• 2002

In Korea, many open-air upper palaeolithic sites are located at the river valley, particularly exposed in gently rotting terrain along the river course. They are situated at an altitude less trail 30 m above present river bottom, and covered with the blankets of slope deposits of several meters in thickness. The purpose of this research is to eluridate depositional and vegetational environment of the alluvial upper palaeolithic Jangheung-ri sites on the basis of analytical properties of grain size population, chronology, palynology, soil chemistry and clay mineralogy and magnetic susceptibility of the Jangheung-ri Quaternary formations. The lithostratograpy of Jangheung-ri sit is subdivided into 3 layers based on the depositional sequence and radiocarbon ages. From bottom to top, they are composed of slope deposits with lower paleosol layers, young fluvial sand and gravel with backswamp organic muds, and upper paleosol layers. The upper paleosol was formed under rather dry climatic condition between each flooding period. Dessication cracks were prevalent in the soil solum which was filled with secondarily minuted fragments due to pedogenetic process. The soil structure shows typical braided-typed cracks in the root part of cracking texture, and more diversified pattern of crackings downward. The young fluvial sand gravel were formed by rather perennial streams after LGM. The main part of organic muds was particularly formed after 15Ka. Local backswamp were flourished with organic muds and graded suspension materials in the flooding muds were intermittently accumulated in the organic muds until ca. 11Ka. This episode was associated with migration of Nam River toward present course. Organic muds were formed in backswamp or local pond. Abies/Picea-Betula with Ranunculaceae, Compositae, Cyperaceae were prevalent. This period is characterized with B$\Phi$lling, Older Dryas, Allerod, and Younger Dryas (MIS-1). Stone artefacts were found in the lower paleosol layers formed as old as 18Ka-22Ka. Based on the artefacts and landscape settings of the Jangheung-ri site, it is presumed that settlement grounds of old people were buried by frequent floodings of old Nam River, the river-beds of which were heavily fluctuated laterally and river-bed erosions were activated from south to north in Jangheung-ri site until the terminal of LGM9ca 17Ka).

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.17-23
• /
• 2003

In Korea terrestrial fluvial sequences can be used as pedological and sedimentological markers indicating a millenium-scale environmental and climatic changes imprinted in fluvial sub-environments, which in turn are represented by the cyclicity of fluvial sands, backswamp organic muds, and flooding muds intercalations of frostcracked or dessicated brown paleosols. Post LGM and Holocene fluvial and alluvial sedimentary sequences of Korea are formed in such landscapes of coastal, floodplain, backswamp and hillslope areas. Among them, the most outstanding depositional sequences are fluvial gravels, sands and organic mud deposits in coastal, fluvial, or alluvial wetlands. The aim of this study is to explain the sedimentary sequences and palynofloral zones since the last 15,000years, on the basis of organic muds layers intercalated in fluvial sand deposits. Jangheung-ri site of Nam river, Soro-ri site of Miho river, Youngsan rivermouth site in Muan, Oksan-ri site of Hampyeong and Sanggap-ri site of Gochang are illustrated to interpret their sedimentary facies, radiocarbon datings, and palynofloral zonation. Up to the Middle to Late Last Glacial(up to 30-35Ka), old river-bed, flooding, and backswamp sequences contain such arboreal pollens as Pinus, Abies, and Picea, and rich in non-arboreal pollens like Cyperaceae, Gramineae, Ranunculaceae, and Compositae. During the LGM and post-LGM periods until Younger Dryas, vegetation has changes from the sub-alpine conifer forest(up to about 17-11Ka), through the conifer and broad-leaved deciduous forest, or mixed forest (formed during 16,680-13,010yrB.P), to the deciduous and broad-leaved forest (older than 9,500yrB.P). In the Earliest Holocene flooding deposits, fragments of plant roots are abundant and subjected to intensive pedogenic processes. During Holocene, three arboreal pollen zones are identified in the ascending order of strata； Pinus-Colyus zone(mixed conifer and deciduous broad-leaved forest, about up to 10Ka), Alnus-Quercus forest (the cool temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest, about 10Ka-2Ka), and Pinus forest (the conifer forest, about after 2Ka), as examplified in Soro-ri site of Cheonwon county. The palynological zonations of Soro-ri, Oksan-ri, Sanggap-ri, Youngsan estuary, and Gimhae fluvial plain have been recognized as a provisional correlation tool, and zonations based on fluvial backswamp and flooding deposits shows a similar result with those of previous researchers.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.37-45
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study is to quantify the settling velocities of cohesive sediments from Han estuary and to evaluate their local variation within Han estuary. This study also includes an estimation of their spatial variation, for which the settling velocities of cohesive sediments from Han estuary arecompared with those for sediments from other regions. At the same time, physical-chemical properties, such as grain size distribution, the percentage of organic contents, mineralogical composition etc are measured in this study in order to examine their correlation with settling velocities and their effect on settling velocities. Results from settling tests shaw that the settling velocities of Han estuary mud varies in the range of two orders of magnitude(from 0.01 to 1.5 mm/sec) over the corresponding concentration range of 0.1 to 80 g/L, and a feature of the settling velocity profile is quite different in quantity as compared to those of previous studies for muds from other regions. Particularly in the flocculated settling region, the settling velocity for Han estuary muds is shown to be larger than that of Saemankeum and Keum estuary sediments, while in the hindered settling region all three sediments are shown to have a similar settling velocity. However, local variability of the settling velocities within Han estuary is shown to be insignificant.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
• /
• v.20 no.1 s.26
• /
• pp.39-50
• /
• 2006

Jeonjangri site of Geochang area is located in the Geochang Basin, and lies on the river terrace of upstream part of Hwang River. Fluvial deposits are well distributed at the northern and southern walls of trench 2(district 2) in the Jeonjangri archeological site. This study aims to interpret the occurrences of fluvial sedimentary deposits on the basis of grain size analysis and palynological analysis in the representative sections of Jeongjangri site. The sedimentary profile shows that the upper units are typified by paleosols with soil wedge formed at about $25,000{\sim}30,000yr$ B.P, and the lower units are characterized by reddish brown muddy sands, organic muds and sand/gravel downwards in the profile. Particularly palynological study on the organic muds of southern wall section showed a result that lower unit is dominant with grass vegetation, and upper unit with Alnus-Quercus-Pinus vegetation. The former is interpreted to be formed at $60,000{\sim}50,000yr$ B.P (stadial), while the latter at $80,000{\sim}70,000yr$ B.P. In general broad-leaved/coniferous mixed forests are mostly dominant in Jeongjangri site and the climate was presumed to be cool temperate at that time.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.233-240
• /
• 1982

Some environmental parameters on the shell-fish farms in Deukryang and Gamagyang Bays during summer in 1981 were determined to find an eutrophication level for the conservation of the farm. Chlorophyll-a content in the seawater in the Deukryang Bay in September was $1.0{\sim}5.0{\mu}g/l$ with an average of $2.5{\mu}g/l$ In the superficial bottom muds, contents of COD were 5-10 mg/g, ignition loss $5-9\%$, phaeophytin pigment $2{\sim}5{\mu}g/g$, and sulfide 0.1-0.3 mg/g dry mud in both bays. High contents of both organic matters and sulfide were found in the innermost area of the Deukryang Bay and in the north western part of the Gamagyang Bay. All quantities including chlorphyll-a in the water are little less than or similar to those of Hansan-Geoje Bay, one of the most productive shellfish farms in the southern coastal waters in Korea . Eutrophication on both water and bottom mud was under way like other shellfish farms but pollution indices on the bottom mud calculated from the data of CODs and phaeophytin pigments shelved 6-11, which is much lower than those of Jinhae Bay and of the Hansan-Geoje Bay. This means that the bottom muds are in an early stage of eutrophication, unlike the Jinhae and Hansan-Geoje Bays though the water, similar to the other bays, shows a middle stage of eutrophication.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.69-91
• /
• 1993

A total of 76 surface sediment samples, collected from the Korean west coast and the eastern Yellow Sea areas, were analyzed for their elemental composition in order to understand the geochemical characteristics of these deposits. The analyzed elements included 9 major elements (Al, Fe, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Ti, P, Mn), 8 minor elements (Sr, Ba, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn), organic carbon and calcium carbonate. Contents of most analyzed elements, excluding K and Ba, were generally low compared to those of average crust. Contents of most elements, except K and Ca, also correlated with sediment grain size, though the degree of relationship varied widely from one element to another. For fine-grained sediments, a distinction could be made between those in the central Yellow Sea and those in the Keum Estuary based on their characteristic elemental composition: the former were rich in Fe, Na, K, Mg, Ca and V, and the latter in Mn, Co and Ni. The element/aluminium ratios, on the other hand, showed that the central Yellow Sea muds were enriched in Fe, Mg, V, Ni, Cu and Zn and depleted in K, Mn, Ba and Sr relative to the mud located near the Korean Peninsula. Based on the analysis of these results, as well as of the influences of particular mineral phases or pollution effects, we could suggest geochemical criteria which can be used in distinguishing muds from the two different sources, the Keum River and the Yellow River: the former by the higher Mn content and the latter by the higher Mg and V contents, relative to each other.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.7-31
• /
• 2000

Quaternary Geological and geophysical investigation was performed at the Eurimji reservoir of Jaechon City in order to interprete depositional environment and genesis of lake sediments. For this purpose, echo sounding, bottom sampling and columnar sampling by drilling on board and GPR survey were employed for a proper field investigation. Laboratory tests cover grain size population analysis, pollen analysis and $^{14}C$ datings for the lake sediments. The some parts of lake bottom sediments anthropogenically tubated and filled several times to date, indicating several mounds on the bottom surface which is difficult to explain by bottom current. Majority of natural sediments were accumulated both as rolling and suspended loads during seasonal flooding regime, when flash flow and current flow are relatively strong not only at bridge area of the western part of Eurimji, connected to stream valley, but at the several conduit or sewage system surrounding the lake. Most of uniform suspend sediments are accumulated at the lake center and lower bank area. Some parts of bottom sediments indicate the existence of turbid flow and mudflow probably due to piezometric overflowing from the lake bottom, the existence of which are proved by CM patterns of the lake bottom sediments. The columnar samples of the lake sediments in ER-1 and ER-3-1 boreholes indicate good condition without any human tubation. The grain size character of borehole samples shows poorly sorted population, predominantly composed of fine sand and muds, varying skewness and kurtosis, which indicate multi-processed lake deposits, very similar to lake bottom sediments. Borehole columnar section, echo sounding and GPR survey profilings, as well as processed data, indicate that organic mud layers of Eurimji lake deposits are deeper and thicker towards lower bank area, especially west of profile line-9. In addition the columnar sediments indicate plant coverage of the Eurimji area were divided into two pollen zones. Arboreal pollen ( AP) is predominant in the lower pollen zone, whreas non-aboreal pollen(NAP) is rich in the upper pollen zone. Both of the pollen zones are related to the vegetation coverage frequently found in coniferous and deciduous broad-leaved trees(mixed forest) surrounded by mountains and hilly areas and prevailing by aquatic or aquatic margin under the wet temperate climate. The $^{14}C$ age of the dark gray organic muds, ER1-12 sample, is 950$\pm$40 years B.P. As the sediments are anthropogenetically undisturbed, it is assumed that the reliability of age is high. Three $^{14}C$ ages of the dark gray organic muds, including ER3-1-8, ER3-1-10, ER3-1-11 samples, are 600$\pm$30 years B.P., 650$\pm$30 years B.P., 800$\pm$40 years B.P. in the descending order of stratigraphic columnar section. Based on the interpretation of depositional environments and formation ages, it is proved that Eurimji reservoir were constructed at least 950$\pm$40 years B.P., the calibrated ages of which ranges from 827 years, B.P. to 866 years B.P. Ancient people utilize the natural environment of the stream valley to meet the need of water irrigation for agriculture in the local valley center and old alluvium fan area.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.35-41
• /
• 1982

Phaeophytin, COD, ignition loss and sulfide contents in the superficial bottom muds in Jinhae Bay, one of the most productive bays in the southern coastal waters of Korea, were measured in the summer season 1981 to investigate the eutrophication level and the origin of pollutants, Phaeophytin contents were $7.6-48.2{\mu}g/g$, COD 9.7-38.5 mg/g, ignition loss $8.1-14.2\%$ and sulfide 0.05-1.07 mg/g. Horizontal distributions in quantities of aforementioned four parameters were almost sane patterns; that is, the further from the mouth of the bay, the more quantities were found. The worst area was the western part of Gajo-do, where density of shellfish farms was the highest in the whole bay. COD and sulfide contents in the western part of Gajo-do were much more than maximum level of the eutrophicated zone, say 30 mg/g in COD and 0.2 mg/g in sulfide. Such great quantities of organic matters and sulfide in the innermost part of the bay would be mainly due to excrements from shellfishes and fouling organisms, but not owing to the influence of pollutants discharged from Masan, Jinhae harbour and its vicinity.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.75-81
• /
• 2001

We have analyzed the pollen sequence since the Late Glacial at Sorori Archaeological Site. The Sorori Site is an open site located at Soro-ri, Oksan-myeon, Cheongwon-gun, Chungchongbukdo. The main results are as follows: Four forest zones have been distinguished. \circled1 OS-1 zone : Pinus-Abies-Picea forest (the sub-alpine conifer forest), the Late Glacial (about 15,000~10,000yr. B.P.) ; \circled2 OS-2 zone : Pinus-Colyus forest (the mixed conifer and deciduous broad-leaved forest), R I (about 10,000 yr.B.P.) : \circled3 OS-3 zone : Alnus-Quercus forest (the cool temperate deciduous broadleaved forest), R II(about 10,000~2,000yr.B.P.) : \circled4 OS-4 zone : Pinus forest (the conifer forest), R III (about after 2,000yr.B.P.)