Inversion of two-phase extensional basin systems during subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate in the SW Korean Peninsula:Implication for the Mesozoic “Laramide-style” orogeny along East Asian continental margin

During subduction, continental margins experience shortening along with inversion of extensional sedimentary basins. Here we explore a tectonic scenario for the inversion of two-phase extensional basin systems, where the Early-Middle Jurassic intra-arc volcano-sedimentary Oseosan Volcanic Complex was developed on top of the Late Triassic-Early Jurassic post-collisional sequences, namely the Chungnam Basin. The basin shortening was accommodated mostly by contractional faults and related folds. In the basement, regional high-angle reverse faults as well as low-angle thrusts accommodate the overall shortening, and are compatible with those preserved in the cover. This suggests that their spatial and temporal development is strongly dependent on the initial basin geometry and inherited structures.Changes in transport direction observed along the basement-sedimentary cover interface is a characteristic structural feature, reflecting sequential kinematic evolution during basin inversion. Propagation of basement faults also enhanced shortening of the overlying sedimentary cover sequences. We constrain timing of the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous(ca. 158-110 Ma) inversion from altered K-feldspar 40 Ar/39 Ar ages in stacked thrust sheets and K-Ar illite ages of fault gouges, along with previously reported geochronological data from the area. This "non-magmatic phase" of the Daebo Orogeny is contemporaneous with the timing of magmatic quiescence across the Korean Peninsula. We propose the role of flat/low-angle subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate for the development of the "Laramide-style" basement-involved orogenic event along East Asian continental margin.     

Investigation of three-dimensional active earth pressure and load transfer according to aspect ratio

ABSTRACT

Although there is a noticeable difference between two-dimensional and three-dimensional earth pressures, most researchers have suggested various earth pressure theories under the two-dimensional condition. Only a few studies have been conducted on the three-dimensional load transfer to the adjacent ground, whereas most studies in literature on the three-dimensional active earth pressure have been conducted by focusing on the stability of active wall. For accurate prediction of the three-dimensional active earth pressure, it is required to study not only the three-dimensional earth pressure distribution but also the three-dimensional load transfer to the adjacent ground. In this paper, size and distribution of the three-dimensional active earth pressure as well as the load transfer according to aspect ratio of retaining wall are investigated through a series of model tests. As a results, the three-dimensional active earth pressure distribution showed the highest value at the wall height of 0.5–0.55h when the aspect ratio of equal to 1.2 or higher. The load transfer showed higher values in vertical direction than horizontal direction. The load transfer distribution can be evaluated by applying the size and effect range of the loads transferred to the adjacent soil of the retaining wall.     

Three‐dimensional responses of buried corrugated pipes and ANN‐based method for predicting pipe deflections

This study investigated localized responses, such as circumferential stresses, on corrugation and pipe deflections. Also, this study examined the effect of corrugation geometry on the overall and localized response of corrugated pipes with refined three‐dimensional modeling of the entire soil–pipe interaction system, including corrugation. To investigate the availability of the traditional two‐dimensional method, the results from the three‐dimensional finite element method (FEM) were compared with those from the two‐dimensional FEM. The soil–pipe modeling techniques of this study were verified by comparing the FEM results by Utah State University and analytical results. An artificial neural network (ANN)‐based model to predict vertical deflections of buried corrugated pipes was developed to overcome the shortcomings of existing methods and obtain results that are close to the level of accuracy of FEM results. In order to train an ANN, analyses on a large amount of data were executed with various standardized pipe geometries and burial depths regulated by the Korea Highway Corporation using the two‐dimensional FEM verified in this study. The widely used back propagation algorithm was adopted. The ANN‐based model developed in this study was shown to be an effective tool by comparing the results with test data and sensitivity analyses were executed based on the data from the developed ANN. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impact of climate change on water resources in Yongdam Dam Basin,Korea

The main purpose of this study is to investigate and evaluate the impact of climate change on the runoff and water resources of Yongdam basin, Korea. First, we construct global climate change scenarios using the YONU GCM control run and transient experiments, then transform the YONU GCM grid-box predictions with coarse resolution of climate change into the site-specific values by statistical downscaling techniques. The downscaled values are used to modify the parameters of a stochastic weather generator model for the simulation of the site-specific daily weather time series. The weather series is fed into a semi-distributed hydrological model called SLURP to simulate the streamflows associated with other water resources for the condition of 2CO₂. This approach is applied to the Yongdam dam basin in the southern part of Korea. The results show that under the condition of 2CO₂, about 7.6% of annual mean streamflow is reduced when it is compared with the current condition. Seasonal streamflows in the winter and autumn are increased, while streamflow in the summer is decreased. However, the seasonality of the simulated series is similar to the observed pattern An erratum to this article can be found at     

Analysis of GPS RTK performance using external NOAA tropospheric corrections integrated with a multiple reference station approach

For high-accuracy geodetic applications, time-variable tropospheric propagation delay errors limit global positioning system real-time kinematic positioning accuracy. Potential improvements in positioning accuracy are evaluated by using the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) real-time tropospheric corrections (herein called NOAA model) within a multiple reference station network approach. The results are compared with those for modified Hopfield tropospheric model corrections, for six scenarios in three geographical regions in the U.S. National Geodetic Survey network of Continuously Operating Reference Stations, for baseline lengths of 60~150 km. Analyses are conducted at rover locations for relatively humid days, and misclosures for various double difference observations are computed; these observations include each frequency (L1 and L2) and three linear combinations [wide lane, ionosphere free (IF), and geometry free]. The effectiveness of the network approach is demonstrated, with overall performance improvements of 15 and 19%, using the modified Hopfield and the NOAA model, respectively. The IF linear combination, a measure of tropospheric and orbital errors, shows a 3% improvement for the NOAA model compared with the modified Hopfield model.     

Fluidization Process in Submarine Landslides: Physical and Numerical Considerations

Fluidization processes in submarine landslides were studied by physical and numerical means. To examine soil-water interactions in the fluidization process, the computer axial tomography (CAT)-scan imaging techniques and laboratory vanes were utilized with a focus on the transition from failure to post-failure. Based on the results that were obtained from the scanning images and laboratory vane tests after the process of water infiltration into the soil sample, it appears that a gradual decrease in shear strength is unavoidable with increasing water content in a shear zone. From the numerical results, which were based on the dam-break problem using the transport equation coupled with the Navier-Stokes equation, if the slide is assumed to be initially unstable, a possible transition of fluidization processes that are dependent upon a change in density occurs. The density of the mud decreases with time during the flow at the interface between mud and water. The upper part of the mud pushes the lower part of the mud and then induces a rotation of mud that moves substantial distances. These results emphasize the importance of the soil-water interaction, the need for sediment rheology and the influence of the water circulation on the motion of the landslide.     

The loes-like red yellow soil of the south western coastal area of Korea in comparison with the loess of China and Japan

The analyses of the physical and chemical properties including X ray diffraction analysis of the red yellow soil of the Hwangsan-Myun, Kimje County and Gamgok-Myun, Chungeup County, in the SW coastal area of Korea were carried out and the results were compared with those of the loess in China and Japan and the red soil of Korea.It was concluded that the red yellow soil may be a little different from the loess which occurs in N China and from the clayey loess-like formationl, which occurs in the W coastal area of Japan, even though the Korean loess has undergone somewhat different soil-fermenting processes after the deposition of dust.     

Forearc serpentinite mélange from the Hongseong suture, South Korea

The signature of a prolonged subduction–accretion history from Paleozoic to Early Mesozoic is preserved within the dismembered serpentinite mélanges within the Hongseong suture. Here we present major and trace element data from the mafic fragments/blocks within the Baekdong serpentinite mélange revealing their arc-like tholeiite affinity within a suprasubduction zone tectonic setting. Chromian spinel compositions from the Baekdong hydrated mantle peridotite (serpentinite) are characterized by high Cr# (0.53–0.67) and Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ ratio, medium Mg# (0.42–0.55), and Al₂O₃ contents (17–25 wt.%) indicating a forearc tectonic environment for the hydrated mantle peridotite. The estimated melting degree (> 17.6%) and FeO/MgO of the parental melt (0.9–1.3) are consistent with that of forearc magmas. SHRIMP zircon U–Pb ages from a high-grade mafic rock and an anorthosite from the study area give protolith ages of ~ 310 Ma and ~ 228 Ma, respectively. Zircons from an associated orthogneiss block within the mélange yield a Neoproterozoic crystallization age of ~ 748 Ma. These results, together with the recent SHRIMP zircon ages from other dismembered serpentinite mélanges within the Wolhyeonri complex, suggest that Paleozoic to Early Mesozoic subduction and subsequent collision events led to the exhumation of the hydrated forearc mantle peridotites from a metasomatized mantle wedge. The Hongseong region preserves important clues to a long-lived subduction system related to global events associated with the final amalgamation of the Pangaea supercontinent.     

Assessment of tributyltin contamination in a shipyard area using a mussel transplantation approach

Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were transplanted to seven stations around a large shipyard for 126 days to evaluate tributyltin (TBT) contamination. Although the application of TBT-based paints to ships is totally banned in Korea, butyltin compounds were found to accumulate in mussels following transplantation. Concentrations of TBT and total butyltins in transplanted mussels near the shipyard were in the range of 40-350 ng Sn/g and 74-530 ng Sn/g on a dry weight basis, respectively. Obviously, low TBT concentrations (6.0-53 ng Sn/gdw) were determined in mussels at four stations outside the shipyard. A negative gradient of TBT concentrations and TBT portion to total butyltin concentrations were found in both the surface water and transplanted mussels according to distance from the shipyard. In addition, TBT concentrations in surface water and transplanted mussels showed significant correlation (r(2) = 0.71; p < 0.001). These results indicate that the shipyard still releases fresh TBT into surrounding waters even after TBT regulation in Korea, and mussel transplantation is useful in evaluating TBT contamination in shipyard area.     

Alteration of hydrologic indicators for Korean catchments under CMIP5 climate projections

The change of hydrological regimes may cause impacts on human and natural system. Therefore, investigation of hydrologic alteration induced by climate change is essential for preparing timely proper adaptation to the changes. This study employed 24 climate projections from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 scenario. The climate projections were downscaled at a station‐spacing for seven Korean catchments by a statistical downscaling method that preserves a long‐term trend in climate projections. Using an ensemble of future hydrologic projections simulated by three conceptual rainfall‐runoff models (GR4J, IHACRES, and Sacramento models), we calculated Hydrologic Alteration Factors (HAFs) to investigate degrees of variations in Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration (IHAs) derived from the hydrologic projections. The results showed that the seven catchments had similar trend in terms of the HAFs for the 24 IHAs. Given that more frequent severe floods and droughts were projected over Korean catchments, sound water supply strategies are definitely required to adapt to the alteration of streamflow. A wide range of HAFs between rainfall‐runoff models for each catchment was detected by large variations in the magnitude of HAFs with the hydrologic models and the difference could be the hydrologic prediction uncertainty. There were no‐consistent tendency in the order of HAFs between the hydrologic models. In addition, we found that the alterations of hydrologic regimes by climate change are smaller as the size of catchment is larger. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.