• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2008

We present a method for interpreting seismic records with arrivals and waveforms having characteristics which could be generated by extremely inhomogeneous velocity structures, such as non-typical oceanic crust, decollement at subduction zones, and seamounts in oceanic regions, by comparing them with synthetic waveforms. Recent extensive refraction and wide-angle reflection surveys in oceanic regions have provided us with a huge number of high-resolution and high-quality seismic records containing characteristic arrivals and waveforms, besides first arrivals and major reflected phases such as PmP. Some characteristic waveforms, with significant later reflected phases or anomalous amplitude decay with offset distance, are difficult to interpret using only a conventional interpretation method such as the traveltime tomographic inversion method. We find the best process for investigating such characteristic phases is to use an interactive interpretation method to compare observed data with synthetic waveforms, and calculate raypaths and traveltimes. This approach enables us to construct a reasonable structural model that includes all of the major characteristics of the observed waveforms. We present results here with some actual observed examples that might be of great help in the interpretation of such problematic phases. Our approach to the analysis of waveform characteristics is endorsed as an innovative method for constructing high-resolution and high-quality crustal structure models, not only in oceanic regions, but also in the continental regions.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2000

The location and geometry of the Ulsan Fault play important roles in interpreting tectonic evolution of the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula. Dipole-dipole electrical resistivity surveys and seismic refraction surveys were carried out in the Yaksoo area, Ulsan in order to measure the thickness of the alluvium covering the Ulsan Fault and to find associated fracture zones and possibly the location of its major fault plane. The collected data were analyzed and interpreted. Some results reported previously by others were also used in this interpretation. No low resistivity anomalies were found in the cross-sectional resistivity image of the survey line located in the east of the Dong River. In contrast, well-developed continuous low resistivity anomalies were detected in the west of the Dong River. This strongly suggests that the major fault plane of the Ulsan Fault is located under or in the west part of the Dong River. Two refraction boundaries corresponding to the underground water level and the bottom of the alluvium were found by refraction surveys carried out on the limited part of the east survey line. The thickness of the alluvium was found to be about 30 m. Small faults in the basement rock identified by reflection surveys were not detected by both resistivity and refraction seismic surveys. This might be explained by assuming that low resistivity anomaly is more closely related to the clay contents than the water contents. On the other hand, it may be resulted by the limited resolution of the resistivity and refraction surveys. Detailed study is required to clarify the reason. Resistivity survey is frequently considered to be a good exploration method to detect subsurface faults. However, it appears to be less useful than reflection seismic survey in this work. In dipole-dipole resistivity survey, the number of separation should be increased to survey deeper subsurface with the same resolution. However, signal to noise ratio decreases as the number of separation increases. In this survey area, the signal to noise ratio of up to sixteen separations was good enough based on the statistical properties of measurements.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.293-303
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• 2002

Applying elastic plate model, we estimated elastic thickness and rigidity of the lithosphere in southern part of the Korean Peninsula($332km{\times}332km$ area of which center is $36.5^{\circ}N$ in latitude and $127.5^{\circ}E$ in longitude) by analysing terrain data and gravity data measured up to 2002. We tried to exclude the East Sea in choosing the study area because it has different tectonic environment. The mean Moho depth was estimated to be 30 km by power spectrum analysis of gravity data in the study area, Assuming one layer crust and applying elastic plate model, the loads with wavelengths of greater than 300 km are locally compensated, loads with wavelengths in the range 80-300km are partially supported by the strength of the lithosphere, and loads with wavelengths of less than 80km are almost completely supported by lithospheric strength. Assuming crustal model and rigidity, we calculated predicted coherence and compared it with observed coherence. As a result, we wert able to estimate the effective elastic thickness to be of 15 km(corresponding flexural rigidity is $3.0{\times}10^{22}Nm$). This indicates that the crust of the study area is relatively weaker than other old and stable continental regions but is similar to continental margins or oceanic area. The low rigidity could be explained by many tectonic and thermal activities such as orogenic activities, magmatic intrusions, volcanic activities, foldings, faultings, etc.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.05a
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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.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.29-36
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• 2005

The crustal structure of Korean Peninsula is investigated by analyzing phase velocity dispersion data of Rayleigh wave. Earthquakes recorded by three component seismographs during 1999 - 2004 in South Korea are used in this study. The fundamental mode signals of Rayleigh waves are obtained from vertical components of seismograms by multiple filter technique method and phase match filter method. Velocity dispersion curves of surface waves for 14 propagation paths on the great circle are computed from the fundamental mode signals on the great circle path by two-station method. Treating the shear velocity of each layer as an independent parameter, phase velocities of Rayleigh wave are inverted. The result models are regarded as average structure for surface wave propagation paths respectively. All the results can be explained by an earth model of the Korean Peninsula comprising crust of shear-wave velocity increasing from 2.8 to 3.25 km/sec from top to 33 km depth and uppermost mantle of shear-wave velocity between 4.55 and 4.67 km/sec.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.75-79
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• 2007

To investigate the shear-wave velocity structures 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. First arrival times of shear wave were inverted to derive the velocity tomograms. Initial shear-wave 1-D models were built using the initial P-wave velocity models used by Kim et al. and $V_p/V_s$ ratios of the IASP91 model. The raypaths indicate existence of mid-crust interfaces at the depth of 2-3 km and 16 km. The deepest significant interface corresponding to the Moho discontinuity varies in depth from 32 km to 36 km. The refraction velocity along the interface varies from 4.4 km/s to 4.6 km/s. The velocity tomograms also indicate existence of a low-velocity zone at the depth of 7.8 km under the Okchon fold belt.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.12a
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• pp.43-51
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• 2007

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 P-wave and S-wave first arrival times. The raypaths indicate several midcrust interfaces. The shallowest one is at the approximate depth of $2{\sim}3\;km$ with refraction velocities of approximately Vp=6.0 and Vs=3.5 km/s, respectively. The second one of $15{\sim}17\;km$ depth has refraction velocities of approximately Vp=7.1 and Vs=3.7 km/s, respectively. The deepest significant interface varies in depth from 30.8 km to 36.1 km. The critically refracting Vp of $7.8{\sim}8.1\;km/s$ and Vs of $4.2{\sim}4.6\;km/s$ along this interface which may correspond to the Moho discontinuity. The velocity tomograms show (1) existence of a low-velocity zone centered at $6{\sim}7\;km$ depth under the Okchon fold belt and the Yeongnam massif, (2) extension of the Yeongdon fault down to greater than 10 km, and (3) existence of high-velocity materials under the Gyeongsan basin less than 4.2 km thick.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 2018

2017 Pohang earthquake (M 5.4) was more disastrous than 2016 Gyeongju earthquake (M 5.8), partly because of its shallow focal depth. However, precise focal depth of Pohang earthquake is still controversial. Close crustal model showed 6 ~ 11.5 km in relocation depth, whereas other models showed almost surface range. Geothermal study indicated temperature of $300^{\circ}C$ at depth of 7.5 km. Related with observations of seismogenic layer, the focal depth of Pohang earthquake seems to be 7 km depth as obtained by close model.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.10a
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• pp.55-55
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• 2010

북한 지난 2006년 2009년에 두차례 핵실험을 실시하였다. 이 핵실험은 한국, 일본, 중국에 위치한 지진관측소에 높은 신호대 잡음비를 보이며 관측이 되었다. 북한 핵실험의 지진파형 자료를 분석하여 북한 핵실험 특성 파악을 수행한다. 또한 지역지진파의 전파 경로별 변화 특성을 살펴본다. 한반도의 경우, 동해의 지각구조가 급격하게 변화하므로 동해를 가로지는 경로상에 급격한 지역지진파 변화가 관측된다. 이러한 지역지진파의 경로별 변화로 인해 관측소별 판정에 있어 어려움을 야기한다. 여러 관측소 자료를 종합 분석하는 핵실험 탐지 방법을 제시하며, 이를 북한 핵실험에 적용한다. 과거 구소련과 미국의 핵실험 자료와의 차이점을 살펴보고, 북한 핵실험의 탐지의 효율성을 위해 고려해야 할 사항에 대하여 토론한다. 과거 두 번의 북한 핵실험의 특징인 스펙트럼상의 모서리주파수 부근 에너지 강화 현상이 강하게 관측되며, P파의 상대적 강화 현상이 관측된다. 또한 2010년 천안함 침몰사건에 대하여 지진학적 기법을 활용하여 천암한 침몰 원인에 대하여 추정한다. 침몰 사건시간대에 기록된 지진파형 기록을 수집하여 분석한다. 3개의 관측소 지진파형 자료가 분석에 활용된다. 지진파의 분석을 통해 진앙위치를 추정하며, 지진파형에 드러난 특성을 통해 천암함 침몰과의 연관성을 유추한다. 또한, 지진파 진폭과 주파수 특성을 통해 진원 특성과 침몰 원인등을 추정한다.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.227-239
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• 2007

The MT data at the Okchon Belt show peculiar phase responses exceeding $90^{\circ}$. A reasonable explanation is that those responses are due to an electrical anisotropy structure which is composed of a narrow anisotropic block and an anisotropic layer. Considering the dominant anisotropic strikes of the block (NE-trend) and the layer (NW-trend) inferred from the MT data, if existing, the electrical anisotropy in the Okchon Belt was probably produced by the deformations in the pre-Jurassic period, since the NE-trending shearing or thrusting should create alternating bands of metamorphic rocks and fractures with NE-trending. Correlation of the structural strike of 2-D block with the latest EW-trending deformation events demonstrates that the geometrical structure of the anisotropic block was formed by the latest Daebo and Bulgugsa orogeny.