Sea-level changes during the Holocene in Keum River area, West Coast of Korea; based on the diatom assemblages

In other to reveal Holocene sea-level change history based on the diatom assemblage analysis was taken core sediment KS2009 from the Susong-dong area in Kunsan, West Coast of Korea. A total of 150 samples were collected from the horizons 29.5 m thick layer. A total of 173 species belonging to 63 genera were identified from the Core KS2009 in the Susong-dong area in Kunsan. Number of diatom valves ranged from 0.5 similar to 33.0 x 10(6) valves/g dry sediments in core. Four diatom zones and three diatom subzones are identified on the basis of frequency of the critical taxa throughout the section: diatom assemblage zone I from 2950 to 2630 cm (terrestrial environment), diatom assemblage zone II from 2620 to 2060 cm (the influx of sea water), diatom assemblage zone III included in subzone IIIa, IIIb and IIIc from 2050 to 600 cm (sea-level fluctuations), and diatom assemblage zone IV from 540 to 400 cm (Sea-level rising). Thus, during the deposition of the diatom zone II begins the influx of seawater. After approximately 6430 +/- 50 yr B.P., the rising and falling sea level fluctuations appear to repeat.