• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2019

Earthquake can change underground stress condition around the hypocenter and affect the fracture systems of the rocks. In Korea, the M5.8 Gyeongju earthquake on September 12, 2016 and M5.4 Pohang earthquake on November 15, 2017 occurred inside the Yangsan fault zone and possibly affected the fracture systems in the Yangsan fault zone and nearby rock masses. In this study, the characteristics of the fracture system (fracture orientation, number of the fractures, fracture spacing and aperture, dip angle, fracture density along depth, and relative rock strength) of the rocks in the low/intermediate level radioactive waste repository site located in the coastal area of the East Sea are analyzed by the impact of the Gyeongju and Pohang earthquakes using acoustic televiewer data taken from the boreholes at the radioactive waste repository site in 2005 and 2018. As a result of acoustic televiewer logging analysis, the fracture numbers, fracture aperture, and fracture density along depth overall increased in 2018 comparing to those in 2005. This increase tendency may be due to changes in the fracture system due to the impact of the earthquakes, or due to weathering of the wall of the boreholes for a long period longer than 10 years after the installation of the boreholes in 2005. In the borehole KB-14, on the whole, the orientation of the fractures and the average fracture spacing are slightly different between 2005 and 2018, while dip angle and relative rock strength in 2005 and 2018 are similar each other.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.17-23
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• 2006

The research on strong ground motions became important recently due to more severe requirement of seismic design for the domestic buildings and structures. The empirical Green's function method, which uses similarities between small and large earthquakes, was applied to make synthetic ground motions. That method was applied to the 2 earthquakes which occurred sequently in time within narrow area in Japan. The strong ground motions for the virtual earthquake (magnitude 6.5) were synthesized using those observed from the magnitude 4.7 earthquake. Then, the synthesized ground motions (acceleration, velocity, and displacement) were compared to those observed from real earthquake (magnitude 6.5). The results showed that the general shapes of waveforms in time domain and the Fourier spectrum In frequency domain from synthesized ground motions (acceleration, velocity, and displacement) are similar to the observed strong ground motions within acceptable degree. The peak values of 3 kinds of synthesized strong ground motions in time domain are comparable between the synthesized and the real strong ground motions, especially only about 9% difference in acceleration peak value.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.217-246
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• 2018

During the selection and characterization of target formations in the Small-scale Offshore $CO_2$ Storage Demonstration Project in the Pohang Basin, we have carefully investigated the possibility of induced earthquakes and leakage of $CO_2$ during the injection, and have designed the storage processes to minimize these effects. However, people in Pohang city have a great concern on $CO_2$-injection-intrigued seismicity, since they have greatly suffered from the 5.4 magnitude earthquake on Nov. 15, 2017. The research team of the project performed an extensive self-investigation on the safety issues, especially on the possible $CO_2$ leakage from the target formation and induced earthquakes. The target formation is 10 km apart from the epicenter of the Pohang earthquake and the depth is also quite shallow, only 750 to 800 m from the sea bottom. The project performed a pilot injection in the target formation from Jan. 12 to Mar. 12, 2017, which implies that there are no direct correlation of the Pohang earthquake on Nov. 15, 2017. In addition, the $CO_2$ injection of the storage project does not fracture rock formations, instead, the supercritical $CO_2$ fluid replaces formation water in the pore space gradually. The self-investigation results show that there is almost no chance for the injection to induce significant earthquakes unless injection lasts for a very long time to build a very high pore pressure, which can be easily monitored. The amount of injected $CO_2$ in the project was around 100 metric-tonne that is irrelevant to the Pohang earthquake. The investigation result on long-term safety also shows that the induced earthquakes or the reactivation of existing faults can be prevented successfully when the injection pressure is controlled not to demage cap-rock formation nor exceed Coulomb stresses of existing faults. The project has been performing extensive studies on critical stress for fracturing neighboring formations, reactivation stress of existing faults, well-completion processes to minimize possible leakage, transport/leakage monitoring of injected $CO_2$, and operation procedures for ensuring the storage safety. These extensive studies showed that there will be little chance in $CO_2$ leakage that affects human life. In conclusion, the Small-scale Offshore $CO_2$ Storage Demonstration Project in the Pohang Basin would not cause any induced earthquakes nor signifiant $CO_2$ leakage that people can sense. The research team will give every effort to secure the safety of the storage site.

• Water for future
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.73-81
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• 1981

More than 650 numbers of water well ranging in depth from 100M to 200M were installed in South Korean Penninsula during the last decade for the purpose of industrial use and municipal water supply. Those data were compiled and synthesized by writer to determine their hydrogeologic occurences in accordance with their geologic and areal characteristics. Rocks yielding the deep seated ground water beared in the geologic primary and secondary porosities are classified into 6 groups according to their geologic, hydrogeologic, and topographic characteristics, that are: volcanic, sedimentary, meta-sediment and/or schist, andesitic, gneissic, and granitic rocks. The order of ground water productivity of the groups is as written above. Even granitic rocks including porphyries, granite, and intermediate and basic plutonic rocks is considered to be the most poorest ground water yielding group among 6, it's average yield form a single well with average drilling depth of 116M is about 225 cubic meters per day if it's drilling site is properly located. Generally speaking, seizable geologic structures such as fractured, sheared, and faulted zone at the flat surface and valley center yield almost 310% more of deep seated bet rock ground water in comparision with minor structures of joints, bedding planes, and so on that are occured at high land. 50 numbers of water well drilled at crystalline rocks were specially checked and measured it's ground water yie 1ds at each drilled depth to determine each interval's productivity while hammer drilling was going on. The results indicate that the specific capacity and yield of each water well at a depth below 70M to 80M was almost neglegible. It means that optimum well depth of crystalline rocks, except the area having seizable geologic structures, shall be not deeper than 80M.

• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• 제12권1호
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• pp.27-33
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• 2006

The possibility of oil reserve has been conformed because the oil has been produced by 450 barrel per day in the West Korea Bay basin of the North Korea. There is also possibility of giant oil reserve since it is geographically close to one of the biggest oil fields of Bohai Basin, China. Based on the on-going oil exploration and the present condition of investment, the areas of ongoing oil exploration are three: West Korea Bay B&C prospect explored by Swedish Taurus, the north of West Korea Bay and Anju basin explored by Canadian SOCO, and East Korea Bay explored by Australian Beach Petroleum. However, there is little or no possibility of oil reserve in the rest sea areas of three. Even though oil reserves were discovered in the some parts of land areas such as Kilju and Myungcheon, it was presumed to have no economical efficiency. Geology in West Korea Bay off the North Korea is similar to that in Bohai Bay off China. The basement consists of thick carbonate rock of the Late Proterozoic and Early Paleozoic overlain by Mesozoic ($6,000{\sim}10,000\;m$) and Cenozoic ($4,000{\sim}5,000\;m$) units. Source rocks are Jurassic black shale (3,000 m or more), Cretaceous black shale ($1,000{\sim}2,000\;m$), and pre-Mesozoic carbonates (several thousand meters). Reservoir rocks are Mesozoic-Cenozoic sandstone with high porosity and pre-Mesozoic fractured carbonate rocks. Petroleum raps are of the anticline, fault sealed, buried hill, and stratigraphic types. It absolutely needs to take up a positive attitude, the activation of ocean science and technology exchange, and the joint research and development of modern MT (Marine Technology) considering the state of establishing new international ocean order forcing on building up 200 nautical mile EEZ (exclusive economic zone) among coastal nations. Both South and North Koreas should extend the ocean jurisdiction and contiguity, and MT development dealing with the same sea areas. It is more urgent problem to find a way to have the North Korea participated in, and then to develop ocean management and ocean industry individually.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• 제56권1호
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• pp.118-130
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• 2023

Decay or large cavities inside trees are the main causes of trees overturning and broken branches, and structurally weakened trees are more vulnerable to strong winds and heavy snowfall. Recently, as strong winds and typhoons increase due to climate change, the damage to human life and property due to trees overturning continues to increase, and cultural assets are in a similar situation. In particular, old big trees are structurally vulnerable to external shocks such as strong winds and heavy snowfall. This study was aimed at providing a scientific basis for preventive protection measures by conducting a structural stability diagnosis of seven retusa fringe trees designated as natural monuments. For the structural stability diagnosis, tree risk assessment and internal tree defect measurements were performed. As a result of the tree risk assessment, the Retusa Fringe Trees in Sinjeon-ri, Yangsan and Gwangyangeupsu had the highest risk of broken branches due to weak branch attachment strength. As a result of the diagnosis of internal defects of cross sections of measured trees, there were suspected cavities or severe decay in all except two trees of the population of Retusa Fringe Trees in Pyeongji-ri. Natural disasters due to climate change are increasing, and the scale is getting larger, so it is very important to preemptively manage large old trees through scientific structural safety diagnosis to manage trees that are vulnerable to environmental changes.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.367-376
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• 2017

Recently, tunneling under the seabed is becoming increasingly common in many countries. In Korea, there are proposals to tunnel from the mainland to Jeju Island. Safe construction requires geologic structures such as faults to be characterized during the design and construction phase; however, unlike on land, such structures are difficult to survey seabed. This study aims to develop an algorithm that uses geostatistics to automatically derive large-scale geological structures on the seabed. The most important considerations in this method are the optimal size of the moving window, the optimal type of spatial statistics, and determination of the optimal percentile standard. Finally, the optimal analysis algorithm was developed using the R program, which comprehensibly presents variations in spatial statistics. The program allows the type and percentile standard of spatial statistics to be specified by the user, thus enabling an analysis of the geological structure according to variations in spatial statistics. The geotechnical defense-training algorithm shows that a large, linear geological lineament is best visualized using a $3{\times}3$ moving window and a 10% upper standard based on the moving variance value and fractile. In particular, setting the fractile criterion to the upper 0.5% almost entirely eliminates the error values from the contour image.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• 제10권2호
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• pp.18-35
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• 2000

The most dominant type of landslide in Korea is debris flows which mostly take place along mountain slopes during the rainy season, July to August. The landslides have been reported to begin activation when rainfall is more than 200mm within 2days. The debris flows are usually followed by translational slips which occur upper part of mountain slopes and they transit to debris flow as getting down to the valleys. Lithology, location, slope inclination, grain size distribution of soil, permeability, dry density and porosity have been proved as triggering factor causing translational slides. The triggering data taken from mapping are statistically analysed to get landslide potential quantitatively. Rock mass creeps mostly occur on well bedded sedimentary rocks in Kyeongsang Basin. Although the displacement of rock mass creep is relatively small about 1m, the creep can cause severe hazards due to relatively large volume of the involved rock mass. Examples are rock mass creep occurred in the mouth of Hwangryongsan Tunnel, in Chilgok and in Sachon in 1999. Although the direct factor of the creeps are due to slope cutting at the foot area, more attention is required A rotational slide occurring within thick soil formation or weathered rock is also closely related to bottom part of slope cutting. It is propagated circular or semi-circular type. Especially in korea, the rotational slide may be frequently occurred in Tertiary tuff area. Because they are mainly composed of volcanic ash and pyroclastic materials, well developed joints and high degree of swelling and absorption can easily cause the slide. The landslide among the Pohang-Guryongpo national road is belong to this type of slide.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.161-169
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• 2011

Focal mechanism solutions in the central and western areas of the Korean Peninsula (36-37.8$^{\circ}N$, 126-128$^{\circ}E$) were obtained from the analysis of the recent seventeen earthquakes (M${\geq}$2.2) which occurred from January, 2005 to May, 2010. The spatial differences between the epicenters recalculated by this study and those announced by the Korea Meteorological Administration are less than $0.03^{\circ}$, indicating a small deviation. Focal mechanism solutions were obtained from the analysis of P wave polarities, SH wave polarities and SH/P amplitude ratios. The focal mechanism solutions show dominant strike-slip faulting or oblique slip faulting with strike-slip components. The P-axes trends are mainly ENE-WSW or E-W directions. The direction of fault plane and auxillary fault plane with NNE-SSW and WNW-ESE are almost parallel to the general trends of lineaments in the study area. The results also show that focal mechanism solutions and the main axis of stress field in the Kyonggi massif and Okchon belt are almost same.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국지구물리탐사학회 2005년도 공동학술대회 논문집
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• pp.103-107
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• 2005

In order to investigate the velocity structure of the southern part of the Korean peninsula, exploded seismic signals were recorded for 120 s along a 294-km WNW-ESE line and 150 s along a 335-km NNW-SSE line in 2002 and 2004, respectively. Velocity tomograms were derived from inverting first arrival times. One-dimensional velocity models derived by joint analyses of teleseismic receiver functions and surface wave dispersion at several stations near the profiles were uesd to build initial models. The raypaths indicate several midcrust interfaces including ones at approximate depths of 2.0 and 14.9 km with refraction velocities of approximately 6.0 and 7.1 km/s, respectively. The deepest significant interface varies in depth from 30.8 km to 36.1 km. The critically refracting velocity varies from 7.8 to 8.1 km/s along this interface which may correspond to the Moho discontinuity. The velocity tomograms show (1) existence of a low-velocity zone centered at 6-7 km depth under the Okchon fold belt, (2) extension of the Yeongdon fault down to greater than 10 km, and (3) existence of high-velocity materials under the Gyeongsan basin whose thickness is less than 4.2 km.