Jeju Island: A Final Assessment

Jeju Island: The Physical Geography

Many landscapes inhabit Jeju Island. For this final blog, I would like to focus on the coastal landscape of the island. With Jeju being surrounded by water on all sides, the different varieties of beaches exhibit a beauty all their own. The forms and processes that have formed Jeju Island, mainly the coastal landscapes are: volcanic eruption (which also formed the island), chemical weathering through salt (chemical alteration or decomposition of rocks and minerals), and physical weathering (disintegration of rocks and minerals by a physical or mechanical process) by wind and waves have contributed to the landscapes on the island.

As I have mentioned in earlier blogs, the once erupted Mt. Hallasan is the tallest mountain in Korea. At 1,950 meters (6,397 feet), it holds over 1,800 plant species and 4,000 animal species. On top of Mt. Hallasan, there is a crater lake called Baeknokdam: meaning White Deer Lake. While there are legends behind the origin of the name, wild deer inhabit a large portion of Hallasan National Park and can be seen drinking water from the lake; which is the main reason the waters are protected. Baeknokdam is considered one of the holiest places on Jeju Island.

As you move away from the mountainside, the beautiful beaches have made the island a popular honeymoon destination. The natural formation of the island creates beautiful views. In the picture below, calm spilling breakers (slow dissipating waves that create gentle waves) reach the bottom of the sea cliffs (a high, steep rocky formation found on the edges of the land on the coast). The force of the waves striking against rocks form wave-cut notches (narrow flat area often found at the base of a sea cliff that are created by the action of the waves). With the continuation of this kind of physical weathering, the top part of the rock will become too heavy to receive support from the bottom resulting in it to break apart.



Here is a sea cliff with spilling breakers coming to the shore

The efforts to slow down the breakdown of coastal landscapes have resulted in the construction of sea walls and revetments (sloping structures placed on banks to absorb the energy of incoming water). Although they are not always successful, revetments and sea walls have been a proven method to stop on shore erosion.



Revetment process on Jeju Island

Also, there are other efforts of Jeju Islanders to preserve the natural beauty that they enjoy. They are still in a battle to stop the construction of a United States Naval Base. Jeju Islanders want to preserve the land and keep peace on the island by not getting involved in political issues that would arise from having a naval base placed there.

A political cartoon protesting the building of the U.S. Navy base.

Another project that is in the works is the construction of a large-scale resort and hotel. This project is another thing that the Jeju Islanders are fighting to prevent. They are against any more hotels and resorts being built on Jeju Island as they have already deteriorated the coast. The design for the hotel was proposed in 2011, the date of construction has still not been released. The picture below is a rendering of what the resort may look like. There is also a link below of the eventual construction process.



Digital Rendering of Jeju Hills Resort

http://tinyurl.com/cwxd37s   

From the Laboratory for Visionary Architecture

 Jeju Island: A Hypothesis

Based on the current trend of weathering and possible construction in the future, here are my hypothesis of where Jeju Island will be in the next 1,000, 10,000, and 1,000,000 years.

Jeju Island in 1,000 Years

I think that new construction (the Naval base and hotel) will have occurred, bringing more people to the island than the land and water table can support. There will continue to be issues over land and what is protected. Some stretches of land that were once protected will be up for grabs to make more room for the people coming to the island, mainly tourists and military personnel. This will lead to erosion along the shore and more attempts at revetments and sea walls against the growing population and the erosion of the shore from typhoons (a mature tropical cyclone that develops in the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean).


A typhoon hitting Korea in 2012. Jeju Island is circled in yellow.

Jeju Island in 10,000 Years



Sea stack on Udo-Island near Jeju Island.

 

Over the years leading up to this point, sea level change will have occurred.  The sea level rise will drastically change the coastline. Wave-cut notches that were once receding will break, creating sea stacks (a land form consisting of steep and often vertical column or columns of rock in the sea near the coast, isolated by erosion) jutting out from the mainland. If the construction continues, deforestation will occur and a decrease in biodiversity. The 1,800 plant species and 4,000 animal species will drastically decline. Due to the continuous chemical weathering, the basalt cliffs will form a more round shape and exhibit a smoother surface. The salt weathering will also cause the A’a (stony rough lava) lava surface to become smoother.




A'a lava formation

Jeju Island in 1,000,000 Years

The bigger wave-cut notches will continue to fall, especially since eventually buildings will have been built there for some time now. The weight of not only the rock, but the building as well will cause it to fall. Since it is an island with limited land mass and fresh water the population will try to preserve the land as long as possible with revetments, seawalls, and beach nourishment. However, these are not processes that can be done forever. Eventually the land will die off and there will be a mass exodus back to the mainland for more space. With those two construction projects in the works, it will only bring Jeju to overpopulation and eventual demise.

In the long run, if big construction projects are in the works for Jeju Island it does not bode well for the sustainability of the island. Yes, Jeju Island is a beautiful place and deserves to be admired. However, nothing will take the admiration away faster than overpopulating a space that it already strained to capacity for livable space. Hopefully these construction projects can be stopped before any more of the island is torn apart to support an already thriving tourism system.

An example of beach erosion

 

Sources

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgcPJZw1NgzVSaZzcWFLSh0ZOml8kOsSoJHbM8xtWy1ogfX2eatZhosfoquV9HYNRrC7wEl7tH9yw_srYCp-pMHQtP2tPKw-ac6A4hQNKX1T6jAhD5PVa_6G83_XbPl_6XlZoTAB3cb9A/s1600/007.jpg

http://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/photogallery/images/beach9.jpg

http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/Imgs/Jpg/Photoglossary/aa_large.jpg

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/681478main_BolavinMODISFull.jpg

http://wikimapia.org/18436980/Baeknokdam 

http://culturesofresistance.org/files/images/south-korea-2.img_assist_custom.jpg

http://www.archello.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/header_detail_large/story/media/1_1991.jpg

http://clasfaculty.ucdenver.edu/callen/1202/Landscapes/KarCoast/KarCoast.html

제주 날씨- Weather on Jeju Island

Jeju Island has the mildest weather in Korea, allowing tourists to visit all-year-long. Jeju Island resides 33.6’North and 126.5’ East on the Earth. By being near the equator, Jeju has a subtropical oceanic climate and temperate climate. According to Wladimir Koppen’s classification of climate, Jeju Island maintains a mild winter with consistent precipitation.

Ocean Currents

The climate is also due in part to the Kuroshio (north-flowing ocean current on the west side of the North Pacific Ocean) and Tshushima (warm branch of the Kuroshio current) current; they have a direct effect on the island. The translation of Kuroshio is The Black Current and is a reference to the deep blue of its water. 

The ocean currents surrounding Japan and Korea: 1. Kuroshio Current 2. Kuroshio extension 3. Kuroshio countercurrent 4. Tsushima Current 5. Tsugaru Current 6. Sōya Current 7. Oyashio 8. Liman Current

Both of these currents are a part of the North Pacific Ocean gyre (giant, circular ocean currents that are driven by subtropical high pressure). By being surrounded by the ocean, the temperature range is quite small, yet Jeju Island displays four distinct season.

The four distinct seasons displayed on Jeju Island. 

Jeju Island in April

Springtime occurs in mid-February to April leading into the summer typhoon season in late June to early July. The figure below is a graph illustrating annual climate in Jeju Island. The left y-axis represents temperature (in Celsius), the right y-axis shows precipitation (mm) and x-axis represents months of the year.

As you can see from the figure above, the warmest and rainiest months on Jeju Island are June-September. Throughout April, the most common forms of precipitation are moderate rain and light rain. In April, the average high is 17.5 degrees Celsius (63.4 degrees Fahrenheit), with the average low being 10.2 degrees Celsius (50.4 degrees Fahrenheit).

References

http://weatherspark.com/averages/33274/Jeju-Jeju-do-South-Korea 

http://weatherspark.com/averages/33274/4/Jeju-Jeju-do-South-Korea

http://english.jeju.go.kr/index.php/contents/AboutJeju/intro/weather 

http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/play/10-things-do-jeju-island-045157

http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/Jeju_Island

http://english.jeju.go.kr/index.php/contents/culture-nature/nature/geographical/climate

Hydrology on Jeju Island

“The Lung of Jeju”

Cheonjiyeon Waterfall on Jeju Island, South Korea, and one of the most popular tourist attractions on the island.

 

The Gotjawal Forest, located on the middle slopes of Mt. Hallasan is the main groundwater (water that moves in the pore spaces of rock beneath the surface) source for the entire island, a population of 565,000 people.

Covering an area of 86 square miles, the Gotjawal Forest has remained untouched until the mid 20th century. The base of the forest is a mixture of Pahoehoe (smooth, billowy, ropy surface) and ‘A’a (rough, jagged and clinkery surface) lava, both of which were created during the development of Mt. Hallasan

The lava mixture makes for a beautiful landscape. On the other hand, the Pahoehoe and ‘A’a lava have made it difficult to develop the land for agriculture. The rainwater on the island penetrates into their groundwater aquifer (an underground layer of water bearing rock where groundwater can be removed) through the cracks of the Pahoehoe and ‘A’a lava under the forest floor making it the most active aquifer in Korea.

 

(Side view of the aquifer cycle)
This is what happens in Gotjawal Forest when precipitation occurs.

Maintaining a balance of the water usage is essential to avoid drawdown, which is the process of depleting groundwater before it has time to recharge (the replenishing ground water as precipitation allows). This also creates a cone of depression (water levels around the well decrease).By successfully maintaining this balance achieves dynamic equilibrium (the balance between drawdown and recharge).

 

Example of a drawdown pump
and the development of a cone of depression.

The mixture of lava (Pahoehoe and ‘A’a) beneath the forest floor has created a layer of permeable (having pores or openings that permit liquids or gases to pass though) rock. 46 percent of the rainwater that falls over the Gotjawal Forest penetrates the aquifer, because of this there are no rivers on the east and west side of the island. The active aquifer has earned the Gotjawal Forest the nickname “The Lung of Jeju” and has made it unique throughout the region.







Saturated surface of the forest floor.

The Gotjawal Forest was named an Internationally Important Wetland in 2011 under the Ramsar Convention (intergovernmental treaty that works to maintain the ecological character of their Wetlands of International Importance and plan for the sustainable use of all the wetlands in their territories); because it is a habitat for unique plant species and a main source for groundwater.





Indian Pitta

Unfortunately, due to the development of the Gotjawal Forest in the 1980’s for golf courses and resorts researches say that development is the main cause for groundwater exhaustion and pollution. However, the only information shown to support this hypothesis is the decreasing habitats of birds and plant life. There are currently no efforts to protect the streams, plants, or the natural habitats of the birds; even some species like Indian Pittas who are classified as endangered by the Korean Government. 

References:

http://clasfaculty.ucdenver.edu/callen/1202/Battle/Destroy/Hydrology/HydrologyBasics.html

http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-about-about-ramsar/main/ramsar/1-36%5E7687_4000_0 

http://www.lovethesepics.com/2011/06/volcanic-jeju-island-of-the-gods-33-pics

http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=301

http://portals.iucn.org/2012forum/sites/2012forum/files/gotjawal.pdf

http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch/archive/1999/99_05_27.html

 

Jeju: The Volcanic Island

 

“Jeju Island is Hallasan; and Hallasan is Jeju”

Mt. Hallasan

 

 

Mt. Hallasan, a shield volcano also adds to the landscape of Jeju Island including crater lakes and lava plains. It is the highest mountain in South Korea and the area around it has been labeled a national park. The lavas of this volcano cover the bulk of the island, so much to that it is taken to represent the whole island.  

The basalt volcanic form is the least dangerous of all the volcanoes. The low angle of the volcanic form and multiple lava flows lends to the lava plains.

Multiple Lava Flows

This volcano is still active but hasn’t erupted since 1570 A.D. Mt. Hallasan as well as the lava tubes have become major tourist attractions for the island. The summit has been free from any natural disasters like earthquakes. The peak of Mt. Hallasan a dome that was formed by intrusion and emplacement between 25,000-30,000 years ago.

 Lava Tubes

Lava Tubes

Jeju Island, already being a volcanic island is also comprised of lava tubes. Geomunoreum is looked upon as the finest lava tube system. It is regarded as a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.

Jeju and the lava tubes fall under two criteria for a World Heritage Site: exceptional natural beauty or natural phenomena and it reveals the Earth’s history through landforms, geology or record of life.

The lava tubes are some of the largest in the world. The island itself is important in biodiversity. Almost half of the plants that grow in the region of South Korea flourish the most on Jeju Island; another reason why it is registered as a World Natural Heritage Site.

There are more than 120 lava tubes throughout Jeju Island. They were formed with large amounts of basaltic lava that was given off by the Geomunoreum volcano. Some of the lava tubes contained artifacts from previous man, and have been used as a shelter or scared place.

References and Photos:

"Cultural Heritage, the Source for Koreans' Strength and Dream".Cultural Heritage, the Source for Koreans' Strength and Dream. Web. 14 Feb. 2013.

"Formation of Jeju Island - Jeju Special Self-Governing Province." Formation of Jeju Island - Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2013.

"Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes." - UNESCO World Heritage Centre. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2013.

"UNESCO Kids." The World Natural Heritage/UNESCO Kids. Web. 14 Feb. 2013.

http://www.vulcanospeleology.org/sym05gui/ISV5G07.pdf 

 

 

 

 

Jeju Island: Nature's Paradise in the North Pacific

This blog was created and will be maintained by Brittany Richardson.

My name is Brittany Richardson, I am a Senior undergraduate English/writing student at the University of Colorado Denver. The subject of this blog will be Jeju Island or Jeju Province, which is one of the nine provinces of South Korea. It is the nation's largest island and is a volcanic island that is dominated by Halla Mountain, a volcano, and the highest mountain in South Korea. I was supposed to visit this island during the summer on my study abroad trip, but it was too expensive for the amount of time that we had. So, the curiosity is still there, I guess. 

Mount Hallasan

After doing a bit of research before the trip began, I was fascinated by how an island that is only  45 miles long and 40 miles wide can sustain over half a million people!! Also, the forest is the main groundwater source and water source for the entire island. How has that sustained this population for so long? Will it cause problems in the near future? Hopefully, I can go back and visit this summer with some little known geographical facts! Looking forward to learning something new! 

Dol Hareubangs:
They are considered to be gods offering protection and fertility.