This book describes surface sediments and biological communities in nearly 60 tidal flats in Korea. The tidal flats were regularly visited every one or two years from 2015 to 2024 to sample and observe them. The data were collected about sediment texture, elevation, elementary chemical components, halophytes, microbenthic and marine-protected animals, and coastal birds. Every tidal flat reflects its unique sedimentary environments associated with adjacent rivers or streams and the local geography governing wave and tidal current regimes. The book illuminates how sensitively the tidal flats vary in sediment according to how much they are open to winter waves or summer typhoons and how close they are to the rivers. The volume also shows that the observed biological communities have adapted to the specific physical conditions (and thus the substrates) and, if any, the artificial intervention. The book is a valuable resource for graduate students, practitioners, and seasoned experts.

The book consists of nine chapters. Chapter 1 briefly introduces the Holocene evolutionary history of the Korean tidal flats, followed by a synopsis of their characteristics regarding geology, geochemistry, and biology, and then by the subsections of 'Study Area' and 'Materials and Methods.' Chapters 2-8 describe tidal flats classified into seven environmental settings, including all five major Korean rivers, as well as macrotidal beaches and offshore islands. The description of a tidal flat includes the geologic setting, data of observed entities, and a summary. Chapter 9 summarizes all observations under each measurement entity. In this final chapter, the authors briefly address the characteristics of the tidal flats in the seven environmental settings.

Provides a comprehensive review of the Korean tidal flats with decade-long data from nationwide coastal localities Includes time-series data on both sedimentology and biology of the tidal flats Shows data through tables and diagrams

Autorentext

Dr. Hee Jun Lee was awarded his M.Sc. and Ph.D.d from the Department of Oceanography, Seoul National University. He worked at the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST, formerly Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute) for 37 years until he retired in 2021. During the last five years of his career at KIOST, Dr. Lee taught sedimentology courses as an affiliated professor at the Korea Maritime & Ocean University. Since then, he has worked as a senior consultant at the cooperation Mare Care. Dr. Lee is now a board member of the Korean Academy of Marine Sciences, which was established in 2022 under the auspices of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF). Dr. Lee received a Presidential Award for contributions to marine sciences in 2009, and he won a Best Paper Award and Lifetime Achievement Award from the Korean Society of Oceanography in 2014 and 2022, respectively. Dr. Lee has published about 70 papers and one book. His main research interest is a broad spectrum of the Holocene sedimentary environments in the Korean seas, from tidal flats and beaches to shelves to continental slopes. Therefore, his studies have focused on Holocene stratigraphy, slope stability, and sediment dynamics.

Dr. Sang Ock Ryu was awarded his M.Sc. and Ph.D. from the Department of Oceanography, Chonnam National University. He worked as a research professor at Mokpo National University from 2006 to 2012, in addition to several other universities where he taught sedimentology courses. He established the Institute of Coastal Management and Technology (CMT) and has worked as the CEO. Dr. Ryu received many awards from the President and the Prime Minister of Korea for contributions to preserving wetlands and marine environments and promoting marine resources between 2014 and 2024. He won a Special Academy Award and Technology Award from the Korean Society of Oceanography in 2019 and the Korean Federation of Water Science and Engineering Society in 2021, respectively. Dr. Ryu published about 30 papers in journals and 5 books. His main research interest is sedimentology on tidal flats and coastal environments associated with the biological ecosystem. With biological research teams, Dr. Ryu studied the effects of sediment characteristics, coastal geomorphology, and pollution on the coastal ecosystem.

Inhalt

Introduction.- Han Estuary.- Geum Estuary.- Yeongsan Estuary.- Seomjin Estuary.- Nakdong Estuary.- Bays.- Macrotidal Beaches and Offshore Islands.- Concluding Remarks.