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http://dx.doi.org/10.9720/kseg.2018.2.313

Relationship of Radon-222 and Chemical Composition of Groundwater as a Precursor of Earthquake  

Jeong, Chan Ho (Department of Construction Safety and Disaster Prevention Engineering, Daejeon University)
Park, Jun Sik (Department of Construction Safety and Disaster Prevention Engineering, Daejeon University)
Lee, Yong Cheon (Department of Construction Safety and Disaster Prevention Engineering, Daejeon University)
Lee, Yu Jin (Department of Construction Safety and Disaster Prevention Engineering, Daejeon University)
Yang, Jae Ha (EGI Consulting)
Kim, Young Suk (Department of Geological Environment, Bukyoung National University)
Ou, Song Min (Department of Construction Safety and Disaster Prevention Engineering, Daejeon University)
Publication Information
The Journal of Engineering Geology / v.28, no.2, 2018 , pp. 313-324 More about this Journal
Abstract
In order to study the earthquake precursor in the Korean peninsula, long-term variations of chemical composition, radon-222, and water level were measured at depths (-60 m, -100 m) in the groundwater monitoring wells of the Daejeon and the Cheongwon area. The pH and electrical conductivity of groundwater in the monitoring wells showed some relationship with the Pohang earthquake. The ${HCO_3}^-$ and $Cl^-$ concentration of groundwater in the Daejeon and $Mg^{2+}$, $Cl^-$ and ${NO_3}^-$ in the Cheongwon showed some relation with the Pohang earthquake. However, it is not distinct to find the relationship between their variation and earthquake. The radon-222 concentration in Daejeon was observed a significant increase from a minimum of 162 Bq/L prior to the earthquake to 573 Bq/L right after the earthquake, that indicating a strong correlation with earthquakes. In the case of groundwater levels, it can not find some correlation between earthquakes and continuous decreasing trend in the monitoring wells of Daejeon and Cheongwon area. However, water level of a national groundwater observation well within 10 kilometers of Pohang epicenter was recorded as an abrupt drop right before the earthquake. Conclusively, although the location of monitoring wells is more than 180 kilometers apart from the epicenter of the Pohang earthquake, the radon gas in groundwater can be considered as a reliable candidate among earthquake precursors. The pH, electrical conductivity, ${HCO_3}^-$ and $Cl^-$ among hydrochemicals showed some correlation with earthquake should be monitored during a longer term to recognize distinctly as a precursor of earthquake.
Keywords
Earthquake; Groundwater; Radon-222; Chemical composition; Precursor;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 5  (Citation Analysis)
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