The Yellow Sea experienced glacio-eustasy sea-level fluctuations during the Quaternary period. In the middle part of the Yellow Sea, the Quaternary successions were accumulated by alternating terrestrial, paralic, and shallow marine deposits that reflected the fluctuating sea levels. A long core of 69.2 m was acquired at the YMGR-102 site (33o50.1782'N and 123o48.3019'E) at a depth of 72.5 m in the middle of the Yellow Sea. A four-layered geoacoustic model was reconstructed for the sedimentary succession. It was based on seismic characteristics from 3.5 kHz SBP and air-gun seismic profiles and 96 grain-size properties in the core sample from YMGR-102. For the underwater simulation and experiments, the in-situ P-wave speeds were calculated using the sound speed ratio of the Hamilton method. The geoacoustic model of YMGR-102 can contribute to the reconstruction of geoacoustic models, reflecting the vertical and lateral variability of the acoustic properties in the continental shelf of the middle Yellow Sea.

Abstract
Introduction
Regional Marine Geology
Materials and Methods
Results
Geoacoustic Model
Discussion
Conclusions
Acknowledgments
References

• Woo-Hun Ryang(Division of Science Education and Institute of Science Education, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea) Corresponding author
• Seong-Pil Kim(Marine Geology & Energy Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Daejeon 34132, Korea)