• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.22-36
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• 2022

Water resources in Jeju Island are dependent virtually entirely on groundwater. For groundwater resources, drought damage can cause environmental and economic losses because it progresses slowly and occurs for a long time in a large area. Therefore, this study quantitatively evaluated groundwater level fluctuations using principal component and cluster analyses for 42 monitoring wells in Jeju Island, and further identified the types of groundwater fluctuations caused by drought. As a result of principal component analysis for the monthly average groundwater level during 2005-2019 and the daily average groundwater level during the dry season, it was found that the first three principal components account for most of the variance 74.5-93.5% of the total data. In the cluster analysis using these three principal components, most of wells belong to Cluster 1, and seasonal characteristics have a significant impact on groundwater fluctuations. However, wells belonging to Cluster 2 with high factor loadings of components 2 and 3 affected by groundwater pumping, tide levels, and nearby surface water are mainly distributed on the west coast. Based on these results, it is expected that groundwater in the western area will be more vulnerable to saltwater intrusion and groundwater depletion caused by drought.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.32-43
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• 2024

Recently, numerous earthquakes have caused significant casualties and property damage worldwide, including major events in 2023 (Türkiye, M7.8; Morocco, M6.8) and 2024 (Noto Peninsula, Japan, M7.6; Taiwan, M7.4). In South Korea, the frequency of detectable and noticeable earthquakes has been gradually increasing since the M5.8 Gyeongju Earthquake. Notable recent events include those in Jeju (M4.9), Goesan (M4.1), the East Sea (M4.5), and Gyeongju (M4.0) since 2020. This study, for the first time in South Korea, monitored groundwater levels and temperatures at a 1Hz frequency to observe the responses in groundwater to moderate and small earthquakes primarily occurring within the country. Between April 23, 2023, and May 22, 2023, 17 earthquakes were reported in the East Sea region with magnitudes ranging from M2.0 to M4.5. Analysis of groundwater level responses at the Gangneung observation station revealed fluctuations associated with five of these events. The 1Hz observation data clearly showed groundwater level changes even for small earthquakes, indicating that groundwater is highly sensitive to the frequent small earthquakes recently occurring in South Korea. The analysis confirmed that the maximum amplitude of groundwater level changes due to earthquakes is proportional to the earthquake's magnitude and the distance from the epicenter. These findings highlight the importance of precise 1Hz-level observations in earthquake-groundwater research. This study provides foundational data for earthquake monitoring and prediction and emphasizes the need for ongoing research into monitoring the changes in groundwater parameters (such as aquifer characteristics, quantity/quality, and contaminant migration) induced by various magnitudes of earthquakes that may occur within the country in the future.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.337-345
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• 2020

In order to provide information for proper management of groundwater resources, an analysis of the effects of precipitation and groundwater withdrawal on groundwater levels is needed. In this study, we analyzed the correlation of precipitation-groundwater level and groundwater withdrawal-groundwater level using time series data converted by normalized standard deviation (Nor.St.Dev) and cross correlation coefficient (CCC) for nine groundwater monitoring wells in the middle mountainous area in the southeastern Jeju Island. First, the CCCs of precipitation-groundwater level were estimated using daily time series data, and the low CCCs of up to 0.3 were obtained. However, the result of using the Nor.St.Dev showed a clearer correlation by obtaining a CCC of up to 0.8. In addition, in most cases, precipitation variability and groundwater level variability had positive CCCs, whereas groundwater withdrawal variability and groundwater level variability had negative CCCs. Therefore, the groundwater level in this study area was largely influenced by precipitation with little effect of groundwater withdrawal. Lastly, as a result of analyzing the relative effects of Seongpanak and Gyorae rainfall station on the groundwater level, the rainfall at the relatively downstream Gyorae rainfall station has more influence. The analysis method used in this study can be easily used for analyzing the effects of precipitation and groundwater withdrawal on groundwater level variability in other regions in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.35-51
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• 2015

The purpose of this study is to improve the previous groundwater contamination vulnerability assessment method, apply it to the study area, and select priority areas for groundwater management based on the quantitative analysis of groundwater contamination vulnerability. For this purpose, first, the previous 'potential contamination' based on groundwater contamination vulnerability assessment method was upgraded to the methodology considering 'adaptation capacity' which reduced contamination. Second, the weight of groundwater contamination vulnerability assessment factors was calculated based on the analytical hierarchy process(AHP) and the result of survey targeting groundwater experts. Third, Gyeonggi-do was selected as the study area and the improved methodology and weight were implemented with GIS and actual groundwater contamination vulnerability assessment was carried out. Fourth, the priority area for groundwater contamination management was selected based on the quantitative groundwater contamination vulnerability assessment diagram. The improved detailed groundwater contamination vulnerability assessment factors in this study were a total of 15 factors, and 15 factors were analyzed as new and improved weight with higher 'adaptation capacity' than the assessment factor corresponding to the previous 'potential contamination' in the weight calculation result using AHP. Also, the result of groundwater contamination vulnerability assessment in Gyeonggi Province using GIS showed that Goyang and Gwangmyeong which were adjacent to Seoul had a high groundwater contamination vulnerability and Pocheon and Yangpyeong County had a relatively low groundwater contamination vulnerability. In this study, the previous groundwater contamination vulnerability assessment was improved and applied to study areas actually. The result of this study can be utilized both directly and indirectly for the groundwater management master plan at national and local government level in the future.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.33-38
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• 2014

This study was performed to evaluate the applicability of pump and treat technology as well as to identify the changes of groundwater level by continuous pumping at the petroleum contaminated site. A total of 9 monitoring wells were installed at the site and the contaminant concentrations, TPH, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene, of groundwater were measured. With the results of the groundwater monitoring, a total of 9 wells were set up for pumping contaminated groundwater in 3 locations. The waste water treatment facility with a capacity of $10m^3/hr$ was installed in the site and operated for about 1 year. The concentrations of the contaminated groundwater from the 3 pumping wells were exceeded groundwater regulation for benzene and TPH. However, the effluent concentration of benzene and TPH was under the regulation showing the maximum level of 0.011 mg/L and 1.2 mg/L during the operation periods. Groundwater levels were decreased by continuous pumping and those were not recovered during the operation period. Groundwater levels of PW-1,2, PW-3,4,5,6 and PW-7,8,9 were decreased about 5 m, 0.7 m, 2 m, respectively. The hydraulic conductivity (K) of the region of PW-1,2, PW-3,4,5,6 and PW-7,8,9 was estimated to be $6.143{\times}10^{-5}cm/sec$, $2.675{\times}10^{-5}cm/sec$, $1.198{\times}10^{-4}cm/sec$. Groundwater level was seemed to be affected not by hydraulic conductivity but by morphological effect. These results show that the pump and treat technology has high applicability for the restoration of petroleum contaminated groundwater but needs continuous monitoring to prevent rapid groundwater drawdown.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.130-143
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• 2021

Wetlands are one of the most representative groundwater dependent ecosystems(GDEs) that require access to groundwater on a permanent or intermittent basis to maintain their biological communities and ecological processes. In this study, the seasonal characteristics of the GDEs in Baekseok Reservoir Wetland were evaluated through the monitoring of the temporal and spatial community of benthic macroinvertebrates in the wetland. The appearance of benthic macroinvertebrates appearance was changed seasonally depending on environmental factors such temperature, precipitation and water level for their habitat and it also showed the clear spatial difference in the wetland. The scores of Diversity index(H'), Richness Index (R1) and the Ecological score of benthic macroinvertebrates (TESB/AESB) were relatively high at St.3 and 4(i.e., north area) where groundwater inflows into wetland(i.e., high ²²²Rn conc.). The statistical analysis (ANOVA test and PCA) investigated the correlation among the benthic macroinvertebrates' community, groundwater level, wetland water level and water quality. The results showed that the community of benthic macroinvertebrates at St. 3 and 4 in Baekseok Reservoir Wetlands was spatially dependent on groundwater level and groundwater inflow. The characterization and assessment of GDEs requires understanding the hydrological, biogeochemical and biological process and this study will provide information for characterization and assessment of GDEs.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.2285-2291
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• 2013

In this study, daily based groundwater recharge was estimated under unsteady state by using groundwater table fluctuation model developed by Kim et al. (2013). This technique analyzes groundwater variation characteristics by using reaction factor related with groundwater flow and specific yield related with recharge. For the application of this model, measured groundwater level at JD Yongdam 1 and JW Konghang for 5 years were used. This model can estimate daily based groundwater recharge and the computed groundwater levels showed good agreement with measured groundwater levels. At JD Yongdam 1 and JW Konghang, the estimated recharges (rates) were 520.4~904.0mm (32.7~61.8%) and 447.4~633.4mm (24.0~45.1%), respectively. The developed model can be suggested as an efficient and precise method to estimate daily based groundwater recharge by using groundwater level data.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.34-42
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• 2015

Feasibility tests for the hydraulic fracturing were conducted in order to secure additional saline groundwater for irrigating to the land-based aquaculture farm. Two boreholes were placed to the aquaculture farm A and B, respectively. A hydraulic fracturing using single packer was applied to major fracture zones within two boreholes. To identify effects of hydraulic fracturing on securing additional saline groundwater, some selective methods including well logging methods, pumping tests, and groundwater quality analysis were commonly applied to the boreholes before and after the hydraulic fracturing. Enlarging/creating fracture zones, increasing water contents in bedrock near boreholes, and increasing transmissivity were observed after the hydraulic fracturing. Even though the hydraulic fracturing could be an alternative to secure additional saline groundwater to the land-based aquaculture farm, salinity of the groundwater did not meet optimal thresholds for each fingerling in two farms: Fresh submarine groundwater discharge flowed the more into borehole of the farm A that resulted in decreasing a salinity value. Increased saline groundwater quantity in the borehole of the farm B rarely affect to the salinity. Although salinity problem of groundwater limited its direct use for the farms, the mixing with seawater could be effectively used for the fingerlings during the early stage. A horizontal radial collector well placed in the alluvial layer could be an alternative for the farms as well.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.112-120
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• 2015

Statistical trend analysis using the data from the National Groundwater Quality Monitoring Network (NGQMN) of Korea was conducted to establish a new groundwater quality management framework. Sen’s test, a non-parametric statistical method for trend analysis, was used to determine the linear trend of the groundwater quality data. The analysis was conducted at different confidence levels (i.e., at 70, 80, 90, 95, and 99% confidence levels) for three of groundwater quality parameters, i.e., nitrate-nitrogen, chloride, and pH, which have sufficient time series of the NGQMN data between 2007 and 2013. The results showed that different trends can be determined for different depths even for the same monitoring site and the numbers of wells having significant trends vary with different confidence levels. The wells with increasing or decreasing trends were far less than the wells with no trend. Chloride had more wells with increasing trend than other parameters. On the other hand, nitrate-nitrogen had the most wells with increasing trend and concentration exceeding 75% of the threshold values (TVs). Based on the methodology used for this study, we suggest including groundwater TVs and trend analysis to evaluate groundwater quality and to establish an advanced groundwater quality management framework.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2016

Groundwater flow paths and groundwater ages at a radioactive waste repository located in a coastal area of South Korea were evaluated using the hydrochemical and hydrogeological characteristics of groundwater, surface water, rain water, and seawater, as well as by numerical modeling. The average groundwater travel time in the top layer of the model, evaluated by numerical modeling and groundwater age (34 years), approximately corresponds to the groundwater age obtained by chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-12 analysis (26-34 years). The data suggest that the groundwater in wells in the study area originated up-gradient at distances of 140-230 m. Results of CFC analyses, along with seasonal variations in the δ¹⁸O and δD values of groundwater and the relationships between ²²²Rn concentrations and δ¹⁸O values and between ²²²Rn concentrations and δD values, indicate that groundwater recharge occurs in the summer rainy season and discharge occurs in the winter dry season. Additionally, a linear relationship between dissolved SiO₂ concentrations and groundwater ages indicates that natural mineralization is affected by the dilution of groundwater recharge in the rainy summer season.