• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.727-740
• /
• 2018

The media in the undersaturated zone is defined as the uppermost layer of the water table at which the groundwater is unsaturated or saturated discontinuously. The properties of the unsaturated zone can affect the reduction of contaminants that flow from the lower part of soil to the water table. In recent, there have been problems in evaluating groundwater contaminations vulnerability because weighted value for permeability is given, regardless of anisotropy and heterogeneity in the unsaturated media. Geological media have various ranges of permeability. When applying the weighted value, representative of permeability for grain sizes standardized, to construction of contamination vulnerability, it will produce more exaggerated result than the case that considers unsaturated geological properties. In this study, we performed laboratory column tests considering two sets of the unsaturated layers in order to investigate the permeability in anisotropic unsaturated zone with anisotropy. On the basis of the tests, average permeability coefficients were calculated considering the properties of unsaturated media obtained from drill cores in the field. The final contamination vulnerability map constructed shows that the contamination vulnerability map applying the properties of geological media of the unsaturated zone coincides much better with the results measured in the field, compared to the case of contamination vulnerability considering the weighted value in the unsaturated zone.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
• /
• 2019.05a
• /
• pp.223-223
• /
• 2019

기후 변화에 따른 해수면 상승은 해안 지하수의 해수침투를 야기해 해안 지하수의 염도를 증가시킨다. 또한 해수면 상승은 토양 염류화를 심화시켜 농작물에 피해가 발생하며, 지하수위를 증가시켜 불포화대의 토양두께가 감소한다. 이처럼 지하수 해수침투가 발생하는 포화대와 토양 염류화가 발생하는 불포화대는 서로 연관되어 있지만, 대부분 포화대와 불포화대 연구는 별도로 진행되어왔다. 본 연구에서는 해안 간척지의 해수면 상승에 따른 포화대의 해수침투 및 불포화대의 토양염류화 영향을 연계하여 모의하였다. 포화대 모의는 미국지질조사국(United States Geological Survey, USGS)에서 개발한 3차원 이송확산 모델인 SUTRA, 불포화대 모의는 미국환경청(United States Environmental Protection Agency, USEPA)에서 개발한 1차원 이송확산모델인 VADOFT를 사용하였다. 해수면 상승 시나리오는 IPCC에서 공표한 바와 같이 RCP 4.5와 RCP 8.5 시나리오를 사용하였고, 미래 2100년까지 자료를 사용하였다. 해수면 상승 시나리오에 따라 해수침투 및 토양염류화 면적 그리고 지하수위 및 불포화대 토양두께를 정량적으로 산정하였다. 한반도 91개 간척지에 대해서 모의를 수행하였고, 과거 대비 미래 후반기 RCP 4.5 시나리오에서는 지하수 해수침투 면적이 $82.19km^2$, RCP 8.5 시나리오에서는 $83.71km^2$ 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 토양 염류화 면적은 과거 대비 미래 후반기 RCP 4.5 시나리오에서는 $22.25km^2$, RCP 8.5 시나리오에서는 $24.86km^2$ 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 담수호 또는 저수지가 있는 대상 지역에서는 해안선으로부터 거리 및 관리 수위가 해수 침투를 야기시키는 중요한 요인으로 나타났으며, 해수침투 저감을 위해서는 해안선 인근 저수지 수위의 적절한 유지관리가 필요할 것으로 판단된다. 본 연구에서는 해수면상승에 따른 해안선의 위치변화와, 기존 관정에서의 양수량, 강수량 변화를 고려하는 것에 한계가 있기 때문에, 향후 위의 세 가지 사항을 복합적으로 고려한 추가 연구가 필요하다고 사료된다.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.119-131
• /
• 2020

A numerical model was developed using COMSOL Multiphysics to evaluate groundwater flow that causes radionuclide migration in the unsaturated zone of a near-surface disposal facility, which is considered as a domestic low and an intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal facility. Each scenario was modeled by constructing a two-dimensional domain that included the disposal vault, backfill, disposal cover, and unsaturated aquifer. A comparison of the continuous and intermittent rainfall conditions exhibited no significant difference in any of the factors considered except the wave pattern of water saturation. The input data, such as porosity and residual water content of the unsaturated aquifer, were observed to not have a significant effect on the groundwater flow. However, the hydraulic conductivity of the unsaturated aquifer was found to have a significant effect on the groundwater flow. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the hydraulic conductivity of an unsaturated aquifer to determine the extent of groundwater infiltration into the disposal vault.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.29-37
• /
• 2007

A conventional single compartment model cannot simulate reasonably the migration phenomenon of contaminants through unsaturated zone, due to the intrinsic unrealistic assumption of the compartment model that contaminants entering a compartment are immediately and uniformly mixed. Although, a multi-compartments model, in which even physically identical layer is divided into multiple compartments, may be used for explaining the retardation of contaminant mass flux along with increasing number of compartments, its numerical modeling is usually time-consuming and appropriate analytical solutions have not been reported yet. In order to improve the conventional compartment models on contaminant migration through unsaturated zone, a series of analytical solutions for multi-compartments model were derived and a generalized constraint under which the results from multi-compartments model can be simply approximated by single compartment model was proposed. The simplified approximation method was verified by a simple numerical analysis on the constraint under hypothetical conditions. It was also proved that the influent contaminant transfer rate from the bulk unsaturated zone can be generally represented into a time-dependent nominal transfer rate rather than a constant. In addition, the nominal transfer rate turned out to be very sensitive to the contaminant transfer rate between compartments in unsaturated zone, but to be almost insensitive to the transfer rate from contaminated zone. It is expected that the simplified approximation method developed in this study can be used for rapid and reasonable estimation of the migration phenomenon of contaminant through unsaturated zone, instead of time-consuming multi-compartments modeling.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.87-99
• /
• 2016

We present the results of two-dimensional numerical simulations predicting the flow of groundwater in a fractured unsaturated zone. We applied the k-field distribution of permeability derived from discrete fracture network (DFN) modeling as the hydraulic properties of a model domain. To model an unsaturated zone, we set the depth from the ground surface to the underground aquifer. The rate of water infiltration into the unsaturated zone was divided into two parts, an artificial structure surface and unsaturated soil zone. The movement of groundwater through the unsaturated zone was simulated with particular emphasis on contaminant transport. It was clearly observed that the contaminants dissolved in groundwater transported vertically from the ground surface to the saturated zone.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.37 no.8
• /
• pp.465-471
• /
• 2015

Adsorption experiments for radionuclides such as $^3H$, $^{90}Sr$ and $^{99}Tc$ were conducted using fractured rock collected in unsaturated zone. The released radionuclide through artificial barrier from the near surface repository can be transported by the flow of rainfall or pore water through fractures in unsaturated zone and reach to groundwater flow. Therefore, it is important to investigate transport behavior (retardation) of radionuclides through fractured rock for the safety assessment and long-term performance of repository. Fractured rock samples were collected and characterized by X-ray microtomography (XMT) analysis, which can be used to develop a more robust unsaturated fracture transport model. When fracture-filling materials are exist, distribution coefficient of $^{90}Sr$ is higher than without fracture-filling materials. In this study, batch sorption distribution coefficient ($K_d$) of radionuclide was determined and used to increase our understanding of radionuclide retardtion through fracture-filling materials.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 1999.10a
• /
• pp.39-43
• /
• 1999

불포화대에서 LNAPL의 이동과 분포를 수치 모의를 통하여 예측하였다. 균질한 매질에서 LNAPL의 이동은 조립질 매질에서 빠르고, 세립질 매질에서 더 많은 면적으로 확산되며, 더 많은 LNAPL이 불포화대에 잔류한다. 조립질 매질내에 세립질층이 존재할 경우, 이 층이 지하수면으로부터 멀수록 LNAPL이 많이 포획된다. 조립질 매질에 세립질 또는 더 조립질인 매질이 렌즈 상으로 존재하는 환경에서는, LNAPL이 이들 렌즈를 통과하지 못한다. 불균질한 렌즈가 존재할 때의 LNAPL 분포를 초기조건으로 이용하여, 지하수 면의 수직 이동과 물의 침투에 따른 LNAPL의 이동을 모의하였다. 두 경우 모두 불포화대에 잔류되어 있던 LNAPL의 수직방향 이동이 증가되었다. 특히, 지하수면의 하강 시 LNAPL이 조립질 렌즈를 통해 이동하나, 세립질 렌즈를 통해서는 이동하지 못한다.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.48-56
• /
• 2006

Using a continuous injection tracer test at a multi-soil layer deposit, the difference of hydrodynamic dispersions in unsaturated and saturated zones were analyzed through breakthrough curves of Rhodamine WT, linear regression of concentration versus time, concentration variation rates versus time, and concentration ratio according to the distance from injection well. As a result of continuous injection tracer test, the difference of the maximum concentrations of Rhodamine WT in unsaturated and saturated zones were 13-15 times after 160 hours, and the increased rate of concentration versus time in unsaturated zone was about 10 times higher than in saturated zone. The fluctuation of Rhodamine WT breakthrough curve and concentration variation rate with time in saturated zone were larger than in unsaturated zone. Rhodamine WT concentration ratio with the distance from the injection well in saturation zone was linearly decreased faster than in unsaturated zone, and the elapsed time necessary for the concentration ratio less than 2 was longer in saturation zone. The differences resulted from the lower concentration and slower hydrodynamic dispersion of Rhodamine WT at the saturation zone of the multi-soil layer deposit, in which groundwater flow significantly flow and aquifer materials have high hydraulic heterogeneity. Effective porosity, longitudinal and transverse dispersivities were estimated $10.19{\sim}10.50%,\;0.80{\sim}1.98m$ and $0.02{\sim}0.04m$, respectively. The field longitudinal dispersivity is over 12 times larger than the laboratory longitudinal dispersivity by the scale-dependent effect.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.184-190
• /
• 2004

To analyze soil properties of unsaturated zone, we applied electrical resistivity tomography(ERT) of high resolution image. From linear relationship with each soil texture between results of ERT and soil properties such as electrical conductivity of pore water, water contents and ionic contents, we could be analyzed the result of ERT more effectively. Consequently, ERT can be useful for estimating soil properties between the two holes and evaluating indirectly pH and organic contents of soil.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.185-193
• /
• 2004

A physical model experiment was conducted using a sand and gravel-filled tank model, to investigate the influence on the GPR response of LNAPL vapor phase effects in the unsaturated zone and of residual phase of LNAPL trapped in the saturated zone. Background measurements of GPR were made with only water in the tank using a fluctuating water table model. Gasoline was, then, injected into the bottom of the model tank to simulate a subsurface discharge from a leaking pipe or tank at depth, obtaining GPR data with rising and lowering of water table. Results from the experiment show the GPR sensitivity to the changes in the moisture content in the vadose zone and its effectiveness for monitoring minor fluctuation of the water table. The results also demonstrate a potential of GPR for monitoring possible vapor phase effects of volatile hydrocarbons in the vadose zone as a function of time, and for detecting the effects of residual phase of hydrocarbons in the water saturated system. In addition, the results provide the basis for a strategy that has the potential to successfully detect and delineate residual LNAPL contamination in the water-saturated system at field sites where the conditions are similar to those simulated in the physcial models described herein.