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Review

Marine Geological Survey in the Arctic Ocean Using the Icebreaker ARAON

쇄빙선 아라온호를 이용한 북극해 해저지질조사

JONG KUK HONG1*
,
YOUNG KEUN JIN1
홍 종국1*
,
진 영근1
1Principal Research Scientist, Division of Galcier & Earth Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Korea
1극지연구소 빙하지권연구본부 책임연구원
*Corresponding Author
31 May 2025. pp. 134-148
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Abstract

During the glacial period, the Arctic Ocean was a much smaller, enclosed basin disconnected from the Pacific Ocean. Following the last glaciation, a rapid rise in sea level led to extensive marine transgression, doubling the ocean’s size and significantly altering its seafloor environment. Submarine permafrost, gas hydrates, and methane seepage, primarily distributed along the continental shelf, have undergone gradual changes due to sea-level fluctuations and global warming, contributing to the instability of the seafloor. To systematically investigate these environmental changes, Korea deployed its first icebreaking research vessel, IBRV Araon, built in 2009, into the Arctic Ocean. This review paper presents key findings from seafloor geological investigations conducted in the Arctic Ocean since 2012. Major results include: (1) the formation of various glacial features and depositional records on the continental shelf due to repeated advances and retreats of marine-based ice sheets during the Pleistocene; (2) the first discovery of gas hydrates and widespread bottom-simulating reflectors (BSRs) in the southwestern Chukchi Sea; and (3) the identification of mud volcanoes and extensive submarine permafrost degradation in the Canadian Beaufort Sea, accompanied by seafloor features such as thermokarst, craters, and pingo-like structures. These findings enhance our understanding of the interactions among glaciation, climate change, and seafloor geology, and provide a foundation for future drilling and long-term monitoring aimed at responding to environmental changes in the Arctic region.

Keywords
Arctic ocean
Marine geological survey
Icebreaker araon
Subsea permafrost
Gas hydrate

빙하기 동안 북극해는 현재보다 면적이 훨씬 작고 태평양과의 연결이 차단된 폐쇄적 해역이었다. 그러나 빙하기 이후 급격한 해수면 상승으로 인해 해역 면적이 두 배 이상 확장되었고, 해저 환경에도 중대한 변화가 나타났다. 특히, 해수면 변화와 지구온난화에 따라 북극해 대륙붕을 중심으로 해저 영구동토층이 붕괴되고 가스하이드레이트가 해리되면서 다량의 메탄이 분출하는 등 해저 환경의 불안정성이 가속화되고 있다. 우리나라는 이러한 북극해 해저지질환경 변화에 대한 체계적인 연구를 위하여 2009년에 건조된 국내 최초의 쇄빙연구선 아라온호를 투입하였다. 본 논문은 아라온호를 이용하여 2012년부터 북극해에서 수행한 해저지질 조사 결과를 소개하고자 한다. 대표적인 성과로는 (1) 플라이스토세 동안 반복된 빙상의 확장과 후퇴로 인해 형성된 다양한 빙하성 지형과 퇴적 기록, (2) 척치해 남서부에서의 가스하이드레이트 최초 발견과 광범위한 해저면 모방 반사면(BSR, bottom simulating reflector)의 확인, (3) 캐나다 보퍼트해에서의 진흙화산 및 해저 영구동토층 융해로 인한 다양한 지형 변화 발견 등이 있다. 이러한 연구결과는 빙하, 기후, 해저지질 간 상호작용에 대한 이해를 증진시키며, 북극 지역의 기후 변화에 따른 해저 지질환경 변화 예측과 대응 전략 수립을 위한 기초 자료로 활용될 것이다.

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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society of Oceanography
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국해양학회
  • Journal Title :The Sea Journal of the Korean Society of Oceanography
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국해양학회지 바다
  • Volume : 30
  • No :2
  • Pages :134-148
  • Received Date : 2025-04-15
  • Revised Date : 2025-05-10
  • Accepted Date : 2025-05-12
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7850/jkso.2025.30.2.134
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