• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.217-246
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• 2018

During the selection and characterization of target formations in the Small-scale Offshore $CO_2$ Storage Demonstration Project in the Pohang Basin, we have carefully investigated the possibility of induced earthquakes and leakage of $CO_2$ during the injection, and have designed the storage processes to minimize these effects. However, people in Pohang city have a great concern on $CO_2$-injection-intrigued seismicity, since they have greatly suffered from the 5.4 magnitude earthquake on Nov. 15, 2017. The research team of the project performed an extensive self-investigation on the safety issues, especially on the possible $CO_2$ leakage from the target formation and induced earthquakes. The target formation is 10 km apart from the epicenter of the Pohang earthquake and the depth is also quite shallow, only 750 to 800 m from the sea bottom. The project performed a pilot injection in the target formation from Jan. 12 to Mar. 12, 2017, which implies that there are no direct correlation of the Pohang earthquake on Nov. 15, 2017. In addition, the $CO_2$ injection of the storage project does not fracture rock formations, instead, the supercritical $CO_2$ fluid replaces formation water in the pore space gradually. The self-investigation results show that there is almost no chance for the injection to induce significant earthquakes unless injection lasts for a very long time to build a very high pore pressure, which can be easily monitored. The amount of injected $CO_2$ in the project was around 100 metric-tonne that is irrelevant to the Pohang earthquake. The investigation result on long-term safety also shows that the induced earthquakes or the reactivation of existing faults can be prevented successfully when the injection pressure is controlled not to demage cap-rock formation nor exceed Coulomb stresses of existing faults. The project has been performing extensive studies on critical stress for fracturing neighboring formations, reactivation stress of existing faults, well-completion processes to minimize possible leakage, transport/leakage monitoring of injected $CO_2$, and operation procedures for ensuring the storage safety. These extensive studies showed that there will be little chance in $CO_2$ leakage that affects human life. In conclusion, the Small-scale Offshore $CO_2$ Storage Demonstration Project in the Pohang Basin would not cause any induced earthquakes nor signifiant $CO_2$ leakage that people can sense. The research team will give every effort to secure the safety of the storage site.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.439-448
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• 2010

General consensus on typical vertical profile of dissolved oxygen in the Ulleung Basin is that dissolved oxygen concentration beyond 300 m decreases with increasing depth. However, the results of our observations in 2005 and 2006 revealed three different dissolved oxygen distribution types in the deep layer of the Ulleung Basin. The first type showed oxygen concentration decreasing with increasing depth (Type-1), the second showed oxygen concentration decreasing very sharply near the bottom boundary layer but constant in the bottom adiabatic layer (Type-2), the final was of the oxygen minimum layer above the bottom boundary layer (Type-3). Type-2 was the most common pattern in the Ulleung Basin. Type-1 was most common close to the Japan Basin, including the Ulleung Interplane Gap, while Type-3 was found around Dok do. Oxygen Consumption Rate (OCR) at surface sediment estimated using the dissolved oxygen distribution at the bottom boundary layer was $0.2{\sim}5.8\;mmol{\cdot}m^{-2}d^{-1}$, which coincided with OCR from direct sediment incubation. This implies that organic matter decomposition at surface sediment may play an important role in dissolved oxygen distribution patterns at the bottom boundary layer of the Ulleung Basin.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.691-697
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• 2010

Three legume fossils collected from the Miocene Duho Formation of Yeonil Group in the northern Pohang Beach, Gyeongsangbug-do, Korea were described as Albizia miokalkora Hu and Chaney. This species has only appearing in the Miocene floras of Korea, China and Japan until present. It has wide distribution from warm temperate to subtropical-tropical regions but, the diversity of the species of Albizia is not so high. It is considered that the fossil Albizia miokalkora Hu and Chaney might have adapted to the warm climate such as warm temperate climate and subtropical to tropical climate.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2009

Two fruit fossils of Albizia miokalkora were collected from the Miocene Duho Formation of Yeonil Group in the northern Pohang Beach and Changpodong, Gyeongsangbug-do, Korea. The legume is flat and long and has 7 rounded seeds. Although the legume fossils are preserved as impression, they show their whole shape well. It is considered that the fossil Albizia might have flourished in a warm temperate climate in East Asia. This discovery is the second record of Albizia from the Neogene of Korea.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.267-268
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• 2010

Many countries has been interested in studying the East Sea to look ahead into the world oceans' future, since the East Sea has been known as a miniature ocean. In this respect, PICES decided the East Asian Seas Time-series (EAST) studies, and the East Sea as the first subject (EAST-I). Since 2006 Ministry of Land, Transport & Maritime Affairs, Korea has supported the Korean EAST-I program. Through the Korean EAST-I program, 44 research papers were published in various scientific journals. This special issue contains 6 research articles including results from the interdisciplinary observation in the summer, 2008. Those articles cover the entire East Sea from the Korea Strait to the Japan Basin, and also cover the studies of the euphotic layer to the bottom sediment. MLTM and KIMST have provided full support to EAST-I program. KHOA carried out the joint cruises in the Ulleung Basin. Those are deeply appreciated. Finally, we would like to express our gratitude to the editorial board of Ocean & Polar Research.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2021

This study tried to reveal relative surface denudation resistance and ranking by geologic types in the Southern Korean Peninsula using an 1:250,000 digital geologic map and ASTER GDEM. Among rock types such as igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, metamorphic rock showed the greatest resistance to surface denudation. The most resistant rock to surface denudation by geologic periods (e.g., the Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic) was found from the Precambrian. Among the major tectonic settings in the Southern Korean Peninsula such as the Gyeonggi massif, Okcheon belt, Yeongnam massif, Gyeongsang basin and Pohang basin, the Okcheon belt indicated the greatest resistance. The most and least resistant rocks from the representative nine rocks in the Southern Korean Peninsula were Paleozoic limestone, and Cretaceous sedimentary rock and Cenozoic sedimentary rock, respectively. This study suggests that Paleozoic limestone, Cretaceous volcanic rock, Paleozoic sedimentary rock and Precambrian gneiss can be regarded as hard rocks with high elevation, steep slope and complicated relief, while soft rocks with low elevation, gentle slope and simple relief are Jurassic granite, Cretaceous sedimentary rock and Cenozoic sedimentary rock.

• Korean Journal of Heritage: History & Science
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.218-231
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• 2012

A total of 126 fossil scaphopods (121 specimens from the Hagjeon Formation and 5 specimens from the Duho Formation) were found from the Cenozoic strata, Hagjeon and Duho Formations, Pohang Basin, Korea. Five species belonging two genera (Fissidentalium yokoyamai, F. sp. A, B, and Rhabdus sp. A, B) were classified: the most dominant species is Fissidentalium yokoyamai. The species of Fissidentalium yokoyamai is characterized by curved shell (accuration=3.90%) and very closely spaced longitudinal ribs on shell surfaces, while the species of Rhabdus is a nearly straight shell characterized by concentric growth lines without longitudinal ribs. Identification of two genera is somewhat easy due to such morphological differences but classification at generic level is hard because diagnostic features (e.g., cross section and apical structure) are lost in the most specimens. Consequently, except for Fissidentalium yokoyamai, the rest were classified temporarily as F. sp. A, B, and Rhabdus sp. A, B. Two types of preservation state were recognized: one is three-dimensionally preserved specimen (3D specimen) and the other is compressed specimen. Internal parts of the 3D specimen is filled with clastic sediments identical to the surrounding sediments of the shells, which is not observed in the compressed specimens. It is, thus, concluded that the 3D fossils were originally empty but internal cavity were immediately filled with the sediments, which may have protect from the compaction due to pressure during deposition of the gravelly to coarse sandstone of the Hagjeon Formation.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.100-107
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• 2002

This study investigates the seasonal variation and spatial distribution characteristics of pollutant load, as executing the quantity valuation of pollutant load inflowing into Yeong-Il bay from on-land including the Hyeong-san river. Annual total pollutant generating rate from Yeong-Il bay region are 202ton to BOD, 620ton to SS, 42ton to T-N, 16ton to T-P respectively, if expressly point out, pollutant generating rate from the Hyeong-san river is the greatest, which BOD ratio is 78.2%, SS 88.5%, T-N 62.5%, T-P 73.1%. As calculating Tank model with input value of daily precipitation and evaporation of 2001 year in drainage basin of the Hyeong-san river, Estimated result of the annual total river discharge effluencing from this river is $830{\times}106m^3$. As result to estimating annual total effluence rate outflowing at the rivers from each drainage basins, annual total inflow pollutant rate are BOD 10,633ton, SS 19,302ton, T-N 15,369ton, T-P 305ton. The III basin which is population congestion region of the Pohang-city drain away a good many pollutant load than the V basin including the Neang-Chun with wide drainage area. Especially, a great many T-N than T-P inflow into Yeong-Il bay. The accumulation of pollutant load effluenced from on-land will happen on at the inner coast region of Yeong-Il bay, finally we would make a prediction that the water quality will take a bad turn.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.269-289
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• 2010

In Summer 2008, a multidisciplinary survey was conducted onboard R/V Haeyang 2000 to understand plankton response to the three distinct physico-chemical settings that developed in the Ulleung Basin of the East Sea. Baseline settings of hydrographic conditions included the presence of the thin (<20 m) Tsushima Surface Water (TSW) on top of the Tsushima Middle Water (TMW). It extends from the Korea Strait to $37^{\circ}N$ along the $130^{\circ}E$ and then turns offshore and encompasses the relatively saline (T>$26^{\circ}C$, S>33.7) Ulleung Warm Eddy surface water centered at $36.5^{\circ}N$ and $131^{\circ}E$. A relatively colder and saline water mass appeared off the southeastern coast of Korea. It was accompanied by higher nutrient and chlorophyll-a concentrations, suggesting a coastal upwelling. Most of the offshore surface waters support low phytoplankton biomass (0.3 mg chl-a $m^{-3}$). A much denser phytoplankton biomass (1-2.3 mg $m^{-3}$) accumulated at the subsurface layer between 20-50 m depth. The subsurface chlorophyll-a maximum (SCM) layer was closely related to the nutricline, suggesting an active growth of phytoplankton at depth. The SCM developed at shallow depth (20-30 m) near the coast and deepened offshore (50-60 m). A fucoxanthin/zeaxanthin ratio was high in coastal waters while it was low in offshore waters, which indicated that diatoms dominate coastal waters while cyanobacteria dominate offshore waters. The community structure and biomass of phytoplanktonare closely related to nitrogen availability. Zooplankton biomass was higher in the coastal region than in the offshore region while species richness showed an opposite trend. Zooplankton community structure retained a coastal/offshore contrast. These suggest that summer hydrography is a stable structure, lasting long enough to allow a hydrography-specific plankton community to evolve.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.173-184
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• 2018

Geologic structures related to the latest event in the evolution around Gyeongsang Basin are mainly associated with the Yangsan Fault. In particular, the structures in the northern part of the Yangsan Fault are mainly observed in the region between Bogyeongsa Temple and Danguri. Such structures are also clustered in the vicinity of the Yangsan Fault, exhibiting similar geometric and kinematic patterns. In general, N-S and NE-SW trending fractures and tectonogeomorphic lineament are mainly eastward dipping reverse faults, such that the blocks in the east of the structures moved west or northwest. The reverse faults are segmented by NW trending fractures that accommodate strike-slip movements. The reverse faults and geomorphotectonic lineaments related to the latest event of deformation in the northern part of the Yangsan Fault show a westward convex patterns. We infer that these structures were initially normal faults that formed during a NW-SE extensional environment and were later reactivated during an E-W compressional one. Such a deformation pattern is also well developed around Pohang-Heunghae area based on the tectonogeomorphic analysis, which appears to be closely related to the Pohang Earthquake (15 Nov. 2017), and its development of the surface rupture and highly damaged zones.