Abstract
The Saemangeum Dyke is located in an estuarine setting, regulated in a complicated manner by a macrotidal regime, rivers, and winter monsoon. Accordingly, the constructed dyke resulted in a variety of artificial changes in geological characteristics in the estuary and its vicinity. To investigate those dyke-induced changes, the KORDI (Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute) performed sedimentological and sediment-dynamical observations from 2002 to 2010. On the basis of the KORDI results, the major geological changes and associated dynamical processes are reviewed. Five phenomena, among others, are focused on: depositional-channel creation; gap-related erosion; forced movements of surface sands; tidal-flat growth inside the dyke; and blanketing of mud over the sandy seafloor. These phenomena were unforeseen before the dyke construction, and reflect that the dyke could cause both erosion and deposition on an estuarine scale. The investigations conclude that the sediments in the dyke-influenced region were derived from the two rivers, Mangyeong and Dongjin, of the estuary. This is completely contrary to the offshore origin proposed before the dyke construction. As a result, the review supports the proposal that a thorough geological investigation and rational forecast is necessary prior to dyke construction to avoid economic loss and a fractious environmental debate.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chu YS, Lee HJ, Choi KW, Eo D (2001) Accelerated seaward growth of tidal sand bar during giant Dyke construction off the Mangyung river mouth, west coast of Korea. J Korean Soc Oceanogr 36:72–82
Kim YH, Lee HJ, Chun SS, Han SJ, Chough SK (1999) Holocene transgressive stratigraphy of a macrotidal flat in the southeastern Yellow Sea: Gomso Bay, Korea. J Sediment Res 69:328–337
KORDI (1999) A pilot study on suspended sediments transport around the Saemankeum dyke in terms of construction of artificial tidal flats. KORDI, Ansan, Korea, Annual Report BSPE99772-00-1232-5, 211 p
KORDI (2003) Integrated preservation study on the oceanic environments in the Saemangeum Area (1st Year): Marine geological processes from tidal flats to inner shelf. KORDI, Ansan, Korea, Annual Report BSPM139-06-1514-5, 293 p
KORDI (2004) Integrated preservation study on the marine environments in the Saemangeum Area (2nd Year): Marine geological processes from tidal flats to inner shelf. KORDI, Ansan, Korea, Annual Report BSPM195-05-1581-5, 357 p
KORDI (2005) Integrated preservation study on the marine environments in the Saemangeum Area (3rd Year): Projection and management of coastal topographic changes. KORDI, Ansan, Korea, Annual Report BSPM26008-1691-5, 663 p
KORDI (2006) Integrated preservation study on the marine environments in the Saemangeum Area (4th Year): Projection and management of coastal topographic changes. KORDI, Ansan, Korea, Annual Report BSPM32007-1764-5, 487 p
KORDI (2007) Integrated preservation study on the marine environments in the Saemangeum Area (1st Year of 2nd Phase): Projection and management of coastal topographic changes. KORDI, Ansan, Korea, Annual Report BSPM37907-1861-5, 532 p
KORDI (2008) Integrated preservation study on the marine environments in the Saemangeum Area (2nd Year of 2nd Phase): Monitoring of and control on seabed environments outside the Saemangeum Dyke. KORDI, Ansan, Korea, Annual Report BSPM43704-1959-1, 425 p
KORDI (2011) Saemangeum coastal system research for marine environmental conservation. KORDI, Ansan, Korea, Annual Report BSPM55630-2269-2, 893 p
Lee, HJ, Chu YS (2001) Origin of inner-shelf mud deposit in the southeastern Yellow Sea: Huksan Mud Belt. J Sediment Res 71:144–154
Lee HJ, Lee S (2011) Sand transport offshore the Saemangeum Dike, midwest coast of Korea. J Coast Res 27:153–165
Lee HJ, Ryu SO (2007) Role of the giant Saemangeum dyke in sedimentation at the mouth of an estuarine complex. Mar Geol 239:173–188
Lee HJ, Ryu SO (2008) Changes in topography and surface sediments by the Saemangeum dyke in an estuarine complex, west coast of Korea. Cont Shelf Res 28:1177–1189
Lee HJ, Kim MJ, Kim TK (2008) Modern sedimentary environments within the Gogunsan Archipelago. Ocean and Polar Res 30: 519–536
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lee, H.J., Lee, S.H. Geological consequences of the Saemangeum Dyke, mid-west coast of korea: A review. Ocean Sci. J. 47, 395–410 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12601-012-0037-z
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12601-012-0037-z