Halophyte distribution pattern and area in the Suncheon-bay and Beolgyo estuary coastal wetlands were analyzed
using KOMPSAT-2 landsat images were taken in 2008 and 2009, and field investigations were fulfilled for confirming
the precise boundaries of individual halophyte areas. The salt-marsh vegetation in those areas can be classified mainly
into two dominant communities: Suaeda japonica-dominant and Phragmites communis-dominant communities. In
order to identify sedimentary characteristics, tidal-flat surface leveling and sedimentary facies analysis had been
conducted. The sedimentary facies of marsh area are mostly silty clayey and clay facies with a little seasonal change
and its slope is very gentle (0.0007~0.002 in gradient). Phragmites communis and Suaeda japonica communities were
distributed in the mud-flat zone between 0.7 m and 1.8 m higher than MSL (mean sea level): zone of 1.1~1.8 m in
the former and zone of 0.7~1.3 m in the latter. In the Suncheon-bay estuarine wetland, on the basis of 2009
distribution, Phragmites communis-dominant and Suaeda japonica-dominant communities are about 0.79 km2 and
0.22 km2 in distribution area, respectively. On the other hand, Bulgyo estuarine marsh shows that the distribution
areas of Phragmites communis-dominant and Suaeda japonica-dominant communities are about 0.31 km2 and 0.031 km2 in distribution area, respectively. Individual 105 and 60 dominant community areas and their distribution
patterns can be well defined and indicated in the Suncheon-bay and Bulgyo estuarine marshes, respectively. The
distribution pattern and area of hylophyte communities analyzed in this study based on 2008/2009 satellite images
would be valuable as a base of future monitoring of salt-marsh related studies in the study area which is the most
important salt-marsh research site in Korea.