• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.98-104
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• 2007

A survey was performed to evaluate the distribution of radon concentrations in groundwater of South Korea. Groundwaters of 615 wells were sampled for this study during the four years from 1999 to 2002. The results showed radon values ranging from 4 pCi/L to 40,010 pCi/L with a mean and a median of 1,862 pCi/L and 920 pCi/L, respectively. The samples were classified into five groups according to the rock types; granite, sedimentary rocks, metamorphic rocks, Ogcheon metamorphic rocks, and Cheju volcanics. Mean radon concentrations were highest (2,595 pCi/L) in granites and lowest (238 pCi/L) in Cheju volcanic rocks. The groundwaters generally showed the highest radon content (2,298 pCi/L) in the weathered and the fractured bedrock complex and the lowest level (672 pCi/L) in the alluvium. The results showed that the radon concentrations in South Korea are low relative to those reported from other countries. But further investigations are suggested to confirm our results.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.427-437
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• 2012

A total of 100 groundwater samples were collected from the Nonsan area and the behaviors of uranium and radon as natural radionuclides were investigated with respect to other physicochemical components in the groundwater in order to understand their occurrence, properties, and origins. Radionuclide levels were used to construct detailed concentration maps. The concentration of uranium ranges from 0 to 378 ${\mu}g/L$, with an average of 8.57 ${\mu}g/L$, standard deviation of 42.88 ${\mu}g/L$, and median of 0.56 ${\mu}g/L$. The correlation coefficient between uranium and radon is 0.42, whereas these radionuclides show no relation with other physicochemical components in groundwater. It is noteworthy that the uranium level in most samples (97% of the samples) is less than 30 ${\mu}g/L$, where the bedrock of the aquifer is granite or complex rocks located along the boundary between granite and metamorphic rocks. In the Okcheon metamorphic belt, the uranium concentration of most groundwater is less than 1 ${\mu}g/L$. Radon levels varies from 128 to 9,140 pCi/L, with an average of 2,186 pCi/L, standard deviation of 1,725 pCi/L, and median of 1,805 pCi/L. High radon levels (> 4,000 pCi/L) are most common in regions of Jurassic granite, whereas low radon areas are found in regions of sedimentary rock. In conclusion, the distribution and occurrence of radionuclides are intimately related to the basic geological characteristics of the rocks in which the radiogenic minerals are primarily contained.

• The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Korea
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.168-176
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• 2019

When an array receives a signal with a frequency higher than the design frequency, there is an ambiguity in beamforming due to spatial aliasing. In order to overcome this problem, Abadi proposed frequency-difference beamforming. However, there is a constraint that the minimum frequency bandwidth is required according to the value of the difference frequency. In this paper, we propose a method to find the direction of the target signal with spatial aliasing based on the frequency-wavenumber spectrum combined with Radon transform. The proposed method can estimate the direction of the target without ambiguities when the signal has nonnegligible bandwidth. We tested the algorithm by simulating a broadband signal and verified the results with the frequency-difference beamforming method using SAVEX15 (Shallow Water Acoustic Variability EXperiment 2015)'s shrimp noise data.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.71-78
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• 2016

This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of natural radionuclides in Korean groundwater. Groundwater radionuclide data for the period 2000-2011 were obtained from the National Institute of Environmental Research and published literature, classified into five groups according to host rock type, and used to construct detailed concentration maps. Radon, uranium, gross-α, and radium concentrations ranged from 0.4 to 64,688.0 pCi/L (mean: 4,907 pCi/L), 0 to 2,297 μg/L (mean: 27.5 μg/L), 0 to 312 pCi/L (mean: 3.9 pCi/L), and 0 to 17.4 pCi/L (mean: 0.2 pCi/L), respectively. Radon concentrations in 562 of a total 1,501 wells (i.e., 53.5%) exceeded 4,000 pCi/L, which is the acceptable contamination threshold established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Uranium, gross-α, and radium concentrations exceeded the respective thresholds of 30 μg/L, 15 pCi/L, and 5 pCi/L in 121 of 1,031 wells (11.9%), 34 of 978 wells (3.5%), and 4 of 89 wells (4.5%), respectively. The mean radionuclide concentration in groundwaters hosted by igneous and metamorphic rocks was higher than that in groundwaters hosted by other rock types, such as volcanics, carbonates, and other sedimentary rocks. The correlations between individual radionuclides were weak or insignificant.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.477-491
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• 2013

Natural radionuclides in groundwater in the Danyang area were investigated to characterize the behaviors of uranium and radon with respect to lithology and physico-chemical components, which can aid our understanding of their occurrence, properties, and origins. To this end, a total of 100 groundwater samples were collected and analyzed, and radionuclide levels were used to construct detailed concentration maps. The water type of the groundwater, assessed using a Piper diagram, is mainly Ca-Na-$HCO_3$. The concentrations of uranium range from 0.02 to $251.0{\mu}g/L$ (average, $3.85{\mu}g/L$) and only 1% exceed USEPA's MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level). Uranium is enriched in groundwaters of Cretaceous granites and Precambrian metamorphic rocks, whereas it is depleted in groundwaters of sedimentary rocks. The concentrations of radon range from 13 to 28,470 pCi/L (average, 2397 pCi/L). Only 15% of the samples exceed AMCL (Alternative Maximum Contaminant Level) of 4000 pCi/L. The radon concentration is highest in groundwater of Cretaceous granites and lowest in groundwater of sedimentary rocks. In conclusion, the distribution and occurrence of radionuclides are intimately related to the basic geological characteristics of the rocks in which the radiogenic minerals are primarily contained. The behavior of uranium is only weakly related to that of radon (correlation coefficient = 0.15). There are also weak correlations between radionuclides and the main chemical components, pH, EC, Eh, and well depth. Of note, the correlation coefficient between radon and $SiO_2$ is 0.68, and that between radon and $HCO_3$ is -0.48. Factor analysis shows that radionuclides behave somewhat independently of each other because there are no significant factors that control the behavior of chemical components as well as radionuclides. The detailed concentration maps during this study will be used to establish useful database of radionuclide distribution and geological properties throughout Korea.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.261-276
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• 2016

The occurrence of natural radioactive materials such as uranium and radon-222 in groundwater was examined with hydrogeochemistry and geology at ○○ village in the Yongin area. Two rounds of 19 groundwater and 5 surface water sampling were collected for analysis. The range of pH value in groundwaters was 5.81 to 7.79 and the geochemical types of the groundwater were mostly Ca(Na)-HCO₃ and Ca(Na)-NO₃(Cl)-HCO₃. Uranium and radon-222 concentrations in the groundwater ranged from 0.06 to 411 μg/L and from 5.56 to 903 Bq/L, respectively. Two deep groundwaters used as common potable well-water sources exceeded the maximum contaminant levels of the uranium and radon-222 proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). Three groundwater samples from residential areas contained unsuitable levels of uranium, and 12 groundwater samples were unsuitable due to radon-222 concentrations. Radioactive materials in the unsuitable groundwater are naturally occurring in a Jurassic amphibole- and biotite-bearing granitic gneiss. High uranium and radon-222 groundwater concentrations were only observed in two common wells; the others showed no relationship between bedrock geology and groundwater geochemical constituents. With such high concentrations of naturally occurring radioactive materials in groundwater, the affected areas may extend tens of meters for uranium and even farther for radon-222. Therefore, we suggest the radon-222 and the uranium did not originate from the same source. Based on the distribution of radon-222 in the study area, zones of higher radon-222 concentrations may be the result of diffusion through cracks, joint, or faults. Surface radioactivity and uranium concentrations in the groundwater show a positive relationship, and the impact areas may extend for ~200m beyond the well in the case of wells containing high concentrations of uranium. The highest uranium and thorium concentrations in rock samples were detected in thorite and monazite.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.51-61
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• 2009

This study was performed to research the characteristic of radionuclides of 80 groundwater monitoring networks in Busan. According to the research, average concentration of Uranium was $4.33\;{\mu}g/L$, maximum concentration of Uranium was $171.55\;{\mu}g/L$ among the 80 sampling sites. One sample exceeded the Proposal standard of drinking water in USA in Uranium ($30\;{\mu}g/L$) and four samples exceeded the recommendatory value of WHO about Uranium ($15\;{\mu}g/L$). Radon and gross-$\alpha$ concentration of all samples were far less than the Proposal standard of drinking water in USA. In this study average concentration of radionuclides in underground water wasn't too high, but needed to control the concentration of them to prevent exposure to the people. And it needs to be taken measures in some sites with high concentration of Uranium by closing the pipe line or etc through more studies.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2020.06a
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• pp.380-380
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• 2020

가뭄 피해 극복을 위한 인공 함양지 통합관리시스템의 일부로써 지표수-지하수 연계 특성 분석용 의사결정을 전달하는 인공지능 스마트 계측기의 필요성이 꾸준히 제기되어 왔으나 실용성과 효율성을 동시에 갖춘 계측기는 시장에 출시되지 않았다. 기존의 계측기는 단순 측정이 목적이었으며 분석을 위해서는 일정 기간 직접 계측하여 분석하거나, 계측데이터를 원격 망을 통하여 서버로 전송하고 관리자가 데이터를 해석하는 방식을 취하였다. 또한, 수질 계측과 수질의 미소 변동성을 동시에 계측하여 수질 변화상태를 판단 할 수 있는 수질 계측기는 상품화되지 않아 다목적 수질 분석에 한계점을 갖고 있다. 이러한 한계점이 기존의 지하수 수질 계측기로는 불가능한 수중 라돈을 채수 없이 계측 가능하도록 하고, 순간 수질 변화 및 수질 변화 요인분석이 가능한 계측을 위하여 라돈, 전도도, 수위, 수온 및 필름형 pH 센서를 개발하여 적용한 다항목 계측기로 통합하는 연구가 필요한 이유이다. 개발한 계측기는 빅데이터 기반의 지능형 수질 변동성 분석 알고리즘을 내장하고 수직 깊이 방향의 다중심도 계측이 가능하도록 핵심적인 통신 연결성을 확보하였고 다양한 수질에서 견딜 수 있으며 특히 인공함양에서 발생하는 철, 망간에 부식되지 않는 재질을 이용하여 설계한 '지표수-지하수 연계 특성 분석용 다심도 및 인공지능 스마트 계측장치'이다. 본 장치는 기존 지하수 수질 계측기에서는 불가능하였던 순간 수위변화 및 수위변화 요인분석이 가능한 계측을 위하여 초당 측정 샘플링 주파수(10Hz)를 높인 계측회로를 개발하여 적용하였다.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.171-186
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• 2013

A drilling project was undertaken to characterize the geochemical relationship and the occurrence of radioactive materials at a test site among public-use groundwaters previously known to have high occurrence of uranium and radon-222 in the Daejeon area. A borehole (121 m deep) was drilled and core rocks mainly consist of two-mica granite, and associated with pegmatite and dykes of intermediate composition. The groundwater samples collected at six different depths in the borehole by a double-packed system showed the pH values ranging from neutral to alkaline (7.10-9.3), and electrical conductivity ranging from 263 to 443 ${\mu}S/cm$. The chemical composition of the borehole groundwaters was of the $Ca-HCO_3(SO_4+Cl)$ type. The uranium and Rn-222 contents in the groundwater were 109-1,020 ppb and 9,190-32,800 pCi/L, respectively. These levels exceed the regulation guidelines of US EPA. The zone of the highest groundwater uranium content occurred at depths of 45 to 55m. The groundwater chemistry in this zone (alkaline, oxidated, and high in bicarbonate) is favorable for the dissolution of uranium into groundwater. The dominant uranium complex in groundwater is likely to be $(UO_2CO_3)^0$ or $(UO_2HCO_3)^+$. Radon-222 content in groundwater shows an increasing trend with depth. The uranium and thorium contents in the core were 0.372-47.42 ppm and 0.388-11.22 ppm, respectively. These levels are higher values than those previously been reported in Korea. Microscopic observations and electron microprobe analysis(EPMA) revealed that the minerals containing U and Th are monazite, apatite, epidote, and feldspar. U and Th in these minerals are likely to substitute for major elements in crystal lattice.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.143-149
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• 2011

In order to figure out the characteristics of radionuclides concentrations of nine provinces, we analyzed uranium and radon in 681 samples of groundwater. Most of uranium concentrations in each province were less than $10{\mu}g/L$, and Gyeongnam, Jeonnam, Jeju provinces did not have groundwaters exceeding the US EPA drinking water MCL ($30{\mu}g/L$) of uranium. The ratio of radon values exceeding US EPA drinking water AMCL (4,000 pCi/L) was 22.6% (154/681) and Gyeongnam and Jeju provinces had no groundwaters exceeding the AMCL (alternative maximum contaminant level). Uranium and radon concentrations in groundwaters of Gyeonggi, Chungbuk, Jeonbuk, Chungnam mainly composed of the Mesozoic granite and the Precambrian gneiss were relatively high, but the concentrations of Gyeongnam and Jeju widely comprised of the sedimentary rock and the volcanic rock were relatively low. A week correlation between uranium and radon values showed in Gangwon, Chungbuk, Gyeonggi provinces.