Monsoon-influenced deposition systems in a rhodolith beach on Udo Island, Korea

Abstract

A beach on Udo Island, off the coast of Jeju Island, Korea was formed by long-term deposition of rhodoliths, which comprise more than 99% of all deposits on the beach. This phenomenon is very rare on the global scale. This rhodolith beach in 2004 was designated a natural monument to preserve its geoheritage. However, to date, no geological studies have been conducted to examine its sedimentary mechanisms and properties. Recent tourist developments and climate change have raised the possibility of erosion on the rhodolith beach. The objective of the present study was to examine the evolution and sedimentation characteristics of this beach through analysis of grain size and aerial photographs, and seasonal beach surveys. Geomorphologically, the beach is divided into reef areas to the north, with high altitudes and rocks mainly distributed along the coastline, and sandy beach to the south, which is strongly affected by waves and tidal currents. Particle sizes decrease toward the upper part of the beach, with gravel-sized sediments in the south and sand-sized sediments in the north. The mean grain size of deposited sediments increases from spring to autumn. In spring, the beach experiences greater erosion in the north and deposition in the south, whereas in summer, the opposite trends are seen. The sediment deposition volume is largest in autumn. There is also annual variation, where the beach was dominated by erosion in three recent years due to a decrease in sediment volume toward the south. The beach increased in volume from 1985 to 2003, and decreased thereafter. Due to the influence of the East Asian Monsoon, the beach experiences typhoons in summer and north-northwesterly waves and tidal currents in autumn and winter. However, erosion occurs in in the south due to a lack of berm for rhodoliths deposition.