• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.37-50
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• 2024

The magnetotelluric (MT) survey can be affected by external environmental factors. In particular, when acquiring MT data in islands, it is essential to consider the combined effect of topography and sea to understand the results and make accurate interpretations. To analyze the MT response (apparent resistivity, phase) with consideration of the effect of topography and sea, a small cone-shaped island model surrounded by deep sea was created. Two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) forward modeling were performed on the terrain model considering topography and the island model considering both topography and sea. The 2-D MT response did not reflect the topographic and sea effect of the direction orthogonal to the 2-D profile. The 3-D MT response included topographic and sea effects in all directions. The XY and YX components of the apparent resistivity were separated on undulating topography, such as a hill. A conductor at 1 km below sea level could be distinguished from topographic and sea effects in the MT response, and low resistivity anomaly was attenuated at greater depths. This study will facilitate understanding of field data measured on small islands.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2005

To investigate the feasibility of a new concept of storing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in a lined hard rock cavern, and to develop essential technologies for constructing underground LNG storage facilities, a small pilot plant storing liquid nitrogen (LN2) has been constructed at the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM). The LN2 stored in the cavern will subject the host rock around the cavern to very low temperatures, which is expected to cause the development of an ice ring and the change of ground condition around the storage cavern. To investigate and monitor changes in ground conditions at this pilot plant site, geophysical, hydrogeological, and rock mechanical investigations were carried out. In particular, geophysical methods including borehole radar and three-dimensional (3D) resistivity surveys were used to identify and monitor the development of an ice ring, and other possible changes in ground conditions resulting from the very low temperature of LN2 in the storage tank. We acquired 3D resistivity data before and after storing the LN2, and the results were compared. From the 3D images obtained during the three phases of the resistivity monitoring survey, we delineated zones of distinct resistivity changes that are closely related to the storage of LN2. In these results, we observed a decrease in resistivity at the eastern part of the storage cavern. Comparing the hydrogeological data and Joint patterns around the storage cavern, we interpret this change in resistivity to result from changes in the groundwater flow pattern. Freezing of the host rock by the very low temperature of LN2 causes a drastic change in the hydrogeological conditions and groundwater flow patterns in this pilot plant.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.1 s.182
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• pp.67-85
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• 2007

We have performed the CSAMT survey to examine the geoelectrical structure and groundwater distribution for two survey lines across the south-eastern region of Jeju Island. Three kinds of 1-D inversion techniques were employed taking account of the geological situation around the observation sites, and their inversion results were concurrently compared and analyzed to improve the reliability of interpretation. The resultant inverted resistivity structures reveals the three-layered structure, which is composed of the layers with a high-low-lower resistivity from the surface downward. Through the comparison of the inverted resistivity model and core log of deep borehole nearby observation sites, the lithology of each inverted layer was inferred. The first layer and second layer corresponded to the basaltic layer with a thickness of $100{\sim}250m$, and the third layer to the Seoguipo Formation and the U Formation; the thickness of the Seoguipo Formation could not be estimated due to the limitation of investigation depth and little resistivity difference between both Formations. Nevertheless, the Seoguipo Formation, which is strongly associated with the groundwater system in the south-eastern region of Jeju Island, showed the conspicuous spatial continuity from the middle mountain area to coastal area.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.30 no.1C
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• pp.45-51
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• 2010

In urban area, design and construction of civil engineering structures such as subway tunnel, underground space and deep excavation is impeded by unreliable site investigation. Variety of embedded objects, electric noises and traffic vibrations degrades the quality of site investigation, whatever the site-investigation technique would be. In this research, a preliminary research was performed to develop a dedicated site investigation technique for urban geotechnical sites, which can overcome the limitations of urban sites. HiRAS (Hybrid Integration of Surface Waves and Resistivity) technique which is the first outcome of the preliminary research was proposed in this paper. The technique combines surface wave as well as electrical resistivity. CapSASW method for surface-wave technique and PDC-R technique for electrical resistivity survey were incorporated to develop HiRAS technique. CapSASW method is a good method for evaluating material stiffness and PDC-R technique is a reliable method for determination of underground stratification even in a site with electrical noise. For the inversion analysis of HiRAS techniuqe, a site-specific relationship between stress-wave velocity and resistivity was employed. As for outgrowth of this research, the 2-D distribution of Poisson's ratio could be also determined.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.184-196
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• 2008

We perform MT soundings in Bendigo, the northern part of Victoria, Australia, to investigate the deep subsurface geologic structure. The primary purpose of this survey is to figure out whether the discontinuity such as faults extends northward. The time series of MT signal were measured over 11 days at 71 measurement stations together with at remote reference, which help enhance the quality of impedance estimation and its interpretation. The impedances are estimated by robust processing using remote reference technique and then inverted with 2D MT 2D inversion. We can see that known faults are clearly imaged in MT 2D inversion. Comparing resistivity images from MT 2D inversion with interpreted boundary from reflection seismic exploration, two interpretations match well each other.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.6D
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• pp.905-913
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• 2008

Recently, concrete tracks are introduced into high-speed railroads as an alternative to ballast tracks. Concrete tracks are superior to ballast tracks in the aspect of durability, maintenance and safety. However, deteriorated stiffness of railroad bed and settlement of soft ground induced by trapped or seepage water lead to problems in safety of train operation. In this research, flexural rigidity of concrete tracks was employed as an index of track displacement and a new seismic technique called FRACTAL (Flexural-Rigidity Assessment of Concrete Tracks by Antisymmetric Lamb Waves) method was proposed to delineate flexural rigidity of concrete tracks in a 2-D image. In this paper, to establish theoretical background, parametric research was performed using numerical simulations of stress-wave tests at concrete tracks. Feasibility of the FRACTAL technique was proved at a real concrete track for Korean high-speed trains. Validity of the FRACTAL technique was also verified by comparing the results of impulse-response tests performed at the same measurement array and the results of DC resistivity survey performed at a shoulder nearby the track.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.136-147
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• 2004

In this study, the characteristics of magnetotelluric (MT) responses due to a three-dimensional (3-D) body are analyzed with 3-D numerical modeling. The first model for the analysis consists of a single isolated conductive body embedded in a resistive homogeneous half-space. The second model has an additional conductive overburden while the other conditions remain the same as the first one. The analysis of apparent resistivities shows well that the 3-D effects are dominant over some frequency range for the first model. Two mechanisms, current channeling and induction, for secondary electric fields due to the conductive body are analyzed at various frequencies: at high frequencies induction is more dominant than channeling, while at low frequencies channeling is more dominant than induction. Tippers have a strong relation to the position of anomalous body and the real and imaginary parts of induction vector also indicate the position of anomalous body. off-line conductive anomaly sometimes causes severe problem in 2-D interpretation. In such case, induction vector analysis can give information on the existence and location of the anomalous body. Each parameter of the second model shows similar responses as those of the first model. The only difference is that the magnitude of all parameters is decreased and that the domain showing the 3-D effects becomes narrower. As shown in this study, the analysis of 3-D effects provides a useful and effective means to understand the 3-D subsurface structure and to interpret MT survey data.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.99-108
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• 2008

To extend our detailed knowledge for the Hwasan caldera, we carried out magnetotelluric (MT) survey, which is pretty sensitive to electrical property variation in both horizontal and vertical direction of subsurface, across the Hwasan caldera with the direction of EW. The 2-D inversion results of observed MT data lead to following conclusions. Firstly, the depth of the basin basement inferred by the MT inversion results matches well with that suggested by previous potential studies, but the basement resistivity seems fairly low when compared to that of general case. This feature might be related with the large-scaled, highly conductive layer beneath the Euisung Sub-basin suggested by the previous MT study. Secondly, the high resistivity zones reaching to 4000 $\Omega{\cdot}m$ are imaged around two external ring fault boundaries. These zones are thought of as the response of the rhyolitic dykes intruding along the ring fault, and in the previous gravity data correspond to relatively high density anomalies. Thirdly, low resistivity zone reaching to 200 $\Omega{\cdot}m$ is detected around a depth of 1km beneath the central part of the caldera, which has not been yet reported in korean geophysical literatures. If we take account of the evolution model of the Hwasan caldera, this zone is regarded as the past sedimentary layer that subsided during the period of forming external ring fault system. In addition, the relatively low density anomaly observed in the central part of the caldera may be attributed to this sedimentary layer.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.224-231
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• 2005

In geophysical field surveys, commercial equipments often fail to resolve the subsurface target or even sometimes fail to be applied because they do not fit to the various field situations or the physical properties of the medium or target. We developed a geophysical measurement system, which can be easily adapted for the various field situations and targets. The system based on PXI with A/D converter and some stand alone equipment such as Network Analyzer was applied to borehole radar survey, borehole sonic measurement and electromagnetic noise measurement. The system for borehole radar survey consists of PXI, Network Analyzer, dipole antennas, GPIB interface is used for PXI to control Network Analyzer. The system for borehole sonic measurement consists of PXI, 24 Bit A/D converter, high voltage pulse generator, transmitting and receiving piezoelectric sensors. The electromagnetic noise measurement system consists of PXI, 24 Bit A/D converter, 2 horizontal component electric field sensors and 2 horizontal and 1 vertical component magnetic filed sensors. The borehole radar system has been successfully applied to detect the width of the artificial tunnel through which the borehole pass and to image buried steel pipe, while the commercial borehole radar equipment failed. The borehole sonic system was tested to detect the width of artificial tunnel and showed a reasonable result. The characteristic of electromagnetic noise was grasped at an urban area with the data from the electromagnetic noise measurement system. The system is also applied to characterize the signal distortion by induction between the electric cables in resistivity survey. The system can be applied various geophysical problems with a simple modification of the system and sensors.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.187-201
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• 2007

The first magnetotelluric (MT) transect across the Korean Peninsula was obtained traversing from the East Sea shoreline to the Yellow Sea shoreline. The MT survey profile was designed perpendicular to the strike of the principal geologic structure of the Korean Peninsula $(N30^{\circ}E)$, so-called 'China direction'. MT data were achieved at 50 sites with spacings of $3{\sim}8km$ along the 240 km survey line. The impedance responses are divided into four subsets reflecting typical geological units: the Kyonggi Massif, the Okchon Belt, the western part of the Kyongsang Basin, and the eastern part of the Kyongsang Basin. In the western part of the Kyongsang Basin, the thickness of the sedimentary layer is estimated to be about 3 km to 8 km and its resistivity is a few hundred ohm-m. A highly conductive layer with a resistivity of 1 to 30 ohm-m was detected beneath the sedimentary layer. The MT data at the Okchon Belt show peculiar responses with phase exceeding $90^{\circ}$. This feature may be explained by an electrically anisotropic structure which is composed of a narrow anisotropic block and an anisotropic layer. The Kyonggi Massif and the eastern part of Kyongsang Basin play a role of window to the deep geoelectrical structure because of the very high resistivity of upper crust. The second layers with highest resistivities in 1-D conductivity models occupy the upper crust with thicknesses of 13 km in the Kyonggi Massif and 18 km in the eastern Kyongsang Basin, respectively.