考研英语阅读篇章: 探秘活火山济州岛

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    考研英语阅读篇章：探秘活火山济州岛
   
    In Jeju, Korea, a place emerging as a world-famous vacation spot with
natural tourism resources, a recent study revealed a volcanic eruption occurred
on the island. The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM)
indicated that there are the traces that indicated that a recent volcanic
eruption was evident 5,000 years ago. This is the first time the date of the
explosion has been made clear in the region. The research team led by Dr.
Jin-Young Lee confirmed in results from radiocarbon dating for carbonized wood
(charcoal) found below the basaltic(玄武岩的) layer located in Sangchang-ri,
Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do it dated back to 5,000 years ago; which means the time when
the basalt on the upper layer was formed took place relatively recently, i.e.
5,000 years ago, and which demonstrates that the island has experienced a
volcanic eruption fairly recently.
    The latest volcanic eruption occurring on Jeju Island was volcanic activity
known to have spewed around 7,000 years ago at Mt. Songak. The basaltic layer in
Sangchang-ri is known to be formed due to the eruption in the vicinity of(在……附近)
Byeongak Oreum 35,000 years ago; though, this study revealed that the layer is a
product of the most recent volcanic activity among those known ever. Volcanic
activity at Mt. Songak was limited hydro volcanic activity out of which a great
deal of volcanic ash was released while it is evident that Sangchang-ri was a
dynamic active volcano out of which lava was spewed(喷涌) and then flowed down in
all directions along the inland slope.
    It is also remarkable that the research team enhanced the accuracy of the
findings in the radiocarbon dating technique using carbonized wood, consequently
raising the reliability of the findings. Until now, previous research used the
dating method for rocks covering the upper sedimentary layer, in which such
dating method with the relatively longer half-life period shows limitations in
determining the time the basalt was formed about 10,000 years ago.
    In order to overcome the limitations of the dating method for the rocks
covering the upper sedimentary layer, the research team led by Dr. Jin-Young Lee
concurrently used radiocarbon dating and optically stimulated luminescence
dating (OSL), using such cross-validation of which raised the accuracy of
tracing the past volcanic activities.
    Judging from the findings, Jeju Island is not an extinct volcano, but seems
to rather be a potentially live volcano because a volcano that has erupted
within 10,000 years is defined to be a live volcano on a geological basis.
    Not remaining complacent(自满的) for the findings, the research team plans to
continuously conduct the studies on the time the volcanic rocks were formed in
several regions on the island in order to identify the latest volcanic
activity.