• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.585-596
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• 2020

The 2017 Pohang Earthquakes occurred near a drill site in the Pohang Enhanced Geothermal System. Water injected for well stimulation was believed to have reactivated the buried near-critically stressed Miocene faults by the accumulation of the Quaternary tectonic strain. However, surface expressions of the Quaternary tectonic activity had not been reported near the epicenter of the earthquakes before the site construction. Unusual, large-scale water-escaped structures were identified 4 km away from the epicenter during a post-seismic investigation. The water-escaped structures comprise Miocene mudstones injected into overlying Pleistocene coastal sediments that formed during Marine Isotope Stage 5. This indicates the vulnerable state of the mudstones long after deposition, resulted from the combined effects of rapid tectonic uplift (before significant diagenesis) and the development of an aquifer at their unconformable interface of the mudstone. Based on the detailed field analysis and consideration of all possible endogenic triggers, we interpreted the structures to have been formed by elevated pore pressures in the mudstones (thixotropy), triggered by cyclic ground motion during the earthquakes. This interpretation is strengthened by the presence of faults 400 m from the study area, which cut unconsolidated coastal sediment deposited after Marine Isotope Stage 5. Geological context, including high rates of tectonic uplift in SE Korea, paleo-seismological research on Quaternary faults near the study area, and historical records of paleoearthquakes in SE Korea, also support the interpretation. Thus, epicenter and surrounding areas of the 2017 Pohang Earthquake are considered as a paleoseismologically active area, and the causative fault of the 2017 Pohang Earthquakes was expected to be nearly critical state.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.195-207
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• 2016

Because the high latitude region in the North Pacific is characterized by high primary production in the surface water enriched with nutrients, it is important to understand the variation of surface water productivity and associated nutrient variability in terms of global carbon cycle. Surface water productivity change or its related nutrient utilization rate during the Northern Hemisphere Glaciation (NHG; ca. 2.73 Ma) has been reported, but little is known about such circumstances under gradual climate cooling since the NHG. Bulk nitrogen isotope (${\delta}^{15}N_{bulk}$) of sedimentary organic matter has been used for the reconstruction of nutrient utilization rate in the surface water. However, sedimentary organic matter experiences diagenesis incessantly during sinking through the water column and after burial within the sediments. Thus, in this study we examine the degree of nitrate utilization rate during the early Pleistocene (2.4-1.25 Ma) since the NHG, using the diatom-bound nitrogen isotope (${\delta}^{15}N_{db}$), which is known to be little influenced by diagenesis, from Site U1343 in the Bering slope area. ${\delta}^{15}N_{db}$ values range from ~0.5 to 5.5‰, which is lower than ${\delta}^{15}N_{bulk}$ values, but they vary with larger amplitude. Variation patterns between ${\delta}^{15}N_{db}$ values and biogenic opal concentration are generally consistent, which indicates that the nitrate utilization rate is closely related to opal productivity change in the surface water. A positive correlation between opal productivity and nitrate utilization rate was observed, which is different from the other high latitude regions in the North Pacific. The main reason for this contrasting relationship is that the primary production in the surface water at Site U1343 is influenced mostly by the degree of sea ice formation. Still, although concerns about diagenetic alteration have been avoided by using ${\delta}^{15}N_{db}$, the effects of the preservation state of biogenic opal and the species-dependent isotopic fractionation on ${\delta}^{15}N_{db}$ should be assessed in the future studies.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.179-192
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• 2012

Paleo-environments such as vegetation and climate changes from the Last Glacial Maximum to the Holocene are reconstructed by the results of pollen analysis in the floodplain of Cheonan River, Seongjeong-dong, Cheonan-si, Chungnam Province. In the pollen zone I (approximately 23,000-15,000 yr BP), the area studied was covered by the extensive grassland with sparse wood. The climatic conditions were very cold, but it might not be so severe compared to the intermontane area in the Yeongnam area. This zone corresponds to the 'very cold' stage of Woldstedt(1962) and Yoon and Jo(1996). No pollen horizon(pollen zone II) deposited between approximately 15,000 and 10,000 yr BP corresponds to the transitional stage from the Last Glacial Maximum to the Holocene. The horizon consists of the dark gray brown sand deposits different from the other horizons dominated by the silty deposits and these sedimentary properties may be attributed to the dramatic climate changes between the very cold stage and warm stage. The pollen zone III formed between approximately 10,000 and 6,000 yr BP shows clearly different pollen compositions indicative of temperate climate conditions.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.130-137
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• 2001

A total of 58 species of radiolarians belonging to 41 genera were identified in 44 samples from core A9-EB2 of the Bransfield Basin in the Antarctic. The radiolarian assemblages from A9-EB2 are generally very low in abundance.The dominant species are Antarctissa denticulata, A. longa, A. strelkovi, Lithomelissa setosa, Lifhomitra lineata, Peridium longispinum and Phormacantha hystrix, constituting 75% of the total assemblage. Genera Challenge개n and Protocystis belonging to family Challeneriidae, found in core A9-EB2 have been recorded in the Quaternary sediments. Therefore, the geologic age of core A9-EB2 in Bransfield Basin is regarded to be Quternary (Pleistocene-Holocene). Typical circumpolar taxa such as Antarctissa strelkovi, A. denticulata, Cycladophora davisiana and Larcopyle buetschlii are representing the influence of waters from Bellingshausen Sea and Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Plectacantha oikiskos and Phomacantha hystrix are considered as a coastal indicator. Also, low amounts of Lithomelissa setosa are related to pelagic condition and entrance of cold waters from the Western Weddell Sea into Bransfield Basin. Therefore, the core sediments in Bransfield Basin were deposited under the coastal condition mainly influenced by the waters from Bellingshausen Sea and Antarctic Circumpolar Current. but also by the water from the Western Weddell Sea of the open-water condition.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.138-150
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• 1997

The late Quaternary stratigraphy of the tidal deposits in the Hampyung Bay, southwestern coast of Korea comprises 1) Unit III (nonmarine fluvial coarse-grained sediments), 2) Unit II (late Pleistocene tidal deposits), and 3) Unit I (late Holocene fine-grained tidal deposits) in ascending order. The basements of the Hampyung Bay is composed of granitic rocks and basic dyke rocks. These three units are of unconformally bounded sedimentary sequences. The sequence boundary between Unit I and Unit II, in particular, seems to be significant suggesting erosional surface and exposed to the air under the cold climate during the LGM. The uppermost stratigraphic sequence (Unit I) is a common tidal deposit formed under the transgression to highstand sea-level during the middle to late Holocene.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.11-24
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• 2008

Stratified slope was formed on the SSE-facing slope in the southwest region of Haenam, South Korea. Field and laboratory investigations into the geomorphology and sedimentology of stratified slope deposit that is inactive. Outcrops of this deposit show an alteration of coarse debris-supported matrix and tiny debris-supported matrix layers. Sedimentological analysis(particle-size analysis) indicates that this deposit is not fluvial process or only gravitation like rock-fall. Many clasts and fine materials on the slope is supposed to be product by congelifraction under Pleistocene periglacial climatic environment. Also The processes responsible for the genesis of this deposit probably are to move downward by gelifluction and to remove fine materials by slope wash in thawing cycle and in situ debris congelifraction on gelifluction slope. Now It is impossible to account for the time range of genesis(diurnal, seasonal). In conclusion, this stratified slope formed in cold and humid periglacial environmental in pleistocene, therefore, this slope is a periglacial relic landform, indicates that in south korea there was a cold and humid paleo-climate such as periglacial environmen.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.32-42
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• 2002

The late Quaternary deposit of Cheonsu Bay, up to 20 m in thickness above the Jurassic granite basement, consists of two sedimentary units: an upper Holocene mud and sandy mud deposit (Unit M1), and a lower late Pleistocene sand and mud deposit (Unit M2; 'Kanweoldo Deposit&apos). Unit M1 is a typical Holocene tidal-flat deposit of Cheonsu Bay, showing a coarsening upward, retrogradational facies trend. This retrograding facies trend is probably due to a relative low sedimentation rate during Holocene transgression. Overlain unconformably by Unit M1, Unit M2 deposit reaches up to 14 m in thickness and is mainly composed of muddy sediment with yellow to gray color. This unit is characterized by a variety of tide-influenced signatures such as rhythmic bedding, flaser bedding, crab burrow fossil, marine dinoflagellate assemblage and authigenic glauconite mineral, indicating very similar depositional environment to those of Unit M1 deposit. It suggests that Unit M2 was probably accumulated under the tidal-flat environment during a pre-Holocene sea-level highstand. In particular, the uppermost 3-4 m of Unit M2 appears to have undergone subaerial exposure and subsequent weathering during the sea-level lowstand after deposition. Therefore, stratigraphic unconformity between Holocene and late Pleistocene sediments is highlighted by the desiccated and weathered surface of Unit M2.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.41 no.1 s.112
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• pp.73-93
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• 2006

Despite of ecological and landscape importances and public popularity of Pinaceae, not much scientific informations are known about Korean Pinaceae. Present work aims to understand the biogeography of Korean native Pinaceae, i.e., taxonomy, phylogeny, origin, life form, distribution, dispersal and migration. Korean native Pinaceae consists of five genera and sixteen species. Pinus is systematically closely related to Picea and Larix, but Abies is related to Tsuga. Boreal conifers which have migrated from NE Asia during the Pleistocene glacial epochs successfully survived, but now confined to the alpine and subalpine belts of the Korean Peninsula mainly due to climate warming since the Holocene. Species, such as Picea pungsanensis and Abies koreana have gradually adapted to local environment, and later became an endemic species of Korea. Disjunctive distribution of Pinus parviflora and Tsuga sieboldii are also indicatives of climate change of the Pleistocene. Major dispersal agent of pine trees with winged seed is wind, but wingless pine tree seeds seem to dispersed by birds and rodents. Pine trees with bigger wings are easily dispersed by wind, and now show broader distribution. Species of Pinaceae with disjunctive distribution on the alpine and subalpine belts of both North and South Korea seems to be more vulnerable to global warming.

• 한국석유지질학회:학술대회논문집
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• spring
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• pp.22-28
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• 1998

Twenty species of calcareous nannofossils belonging to 11 genera are identified from the Seoguipo Formation in Cheju island, Korea. On the basis of the marker species, the Seoguipo Formation is biostratigraphically assigned to the Pseudoemiliania lacunosa Zone (NNl9), which corresponds to the combined zones of Emiliania annula - Emiliania ovata (CN13a-CN14a) of latest Pliocene and Early Pleistocene. Generally, cold-water species is dominant in the lower part, whereas warm-water one in the upper part. This is interpreted the palaeoceanographic condition has changed from cooling to warm phase. The change in floral composition and abundance of specific species allows the recognition of 4 ecostaratigraphic units in the Seoguipo Formation and the migration of oceanographic frontal boundary. According to nannofossil distribution in the study area, the position of an oceanographic boundary between warmer water and cooler water appeared to have oscillated north-south over the Korea Strait and Cheju island in response to glacial and interglacial cycles. The geologic time of the interpreted paleoceanographical changes determined by nannofossil biochronology is well agreed with the results obtained from the Japan Sea (East Sea) and Japan-Sea side of Japan.