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Sequence Stratigraphy of Late Quaternary Deposits in the Southeastern Yellow Sea of Korea

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STRATI 2013

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Abstract

High-resolution seismic profiles were analysed to investigate the sequence stratigraphy of late Quaternary deposits in the southeastern Yellow Sea of Korea. Approximately 1500 line-km data of chirp and sparker profiles were acquired. We also used deep drill cores to interpret the sedimentary sequence. High-resolution seismic profiles reveal the Holocene mud deposits and the complex sedimentary structure. The late Quaternary deposits in the study area can be divided into four sedimentary units (units A, B, C, and D from oldest to youngest) bounded by an erosional surface and internal seismic reflector: (1) incised channel fill/lowstand deltaic wedge (unit A); (2) transgressive sand ridges and sand sheets (unit B); (3) estuarine/deltaic or shallow-water mud (unit C); and (4) distal mud patch (unit D). Unit C is divided into two sedimentary subunits on the basis of high amplitude and unconformity: (i) estuarine/deltaic mud (unit C-a); and (ii) mud redeposited by sea-level rise and strong tidal currents (unit C-b). The evolution of units C-a and C-b is closely related to postglacial sea-level changes, sediment erosion, and reworking. These late Quaternary deposits have been controlled by sea-level change, tidal currents, and sediment erosion.

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References

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the “Marine geological and geophysical mapping of the Korean seas” of the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) and National R&D project “Earth Body Structure and Marine Geological Survey in the Korean Jurisdictional Area”, KIOST (Korea Institute of Ocean Science & Technology), funded by MLTMA. We appreciate the help of crew members of R/V Tamyang of Pukyong National University, Korea.

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Correspondence to Dae Choul Kim .

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Kim, D.C., Bae, S.H., Lee, G.S., Kim, S.P., Yi, H.I., Jeong, K.S. (2014). Sequence Stratigraphy of Late Quaternary Deposits in the Southeastern Yellow Sea of Korea. In: Rocha, R., Pais, J., Kullberg, J., Finney, S. (eds) STRATI 2013. Springer Geology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-04364-7_151

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