• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2002

Pollen analyses and $^{14}$ C dating of the sediments of the Akindonuma moor, which is situated in a closed depression of an old landslide, were peformed in order to study the vegetation history of the montane zone of the Miyagi Prefecture, Northeast Japan. The main results are as follows: Two forest zones have been distinguished: 1) the A-I zone, or the Fagus-Quercus-Betula forest (R I stage, before about 11,700 yrs B.P.), and 2) the A-II zone, or the Fagus-Quercus forest (R II stage, after about 11,700 yrs B.P.). By comparing the geological section with the pollen diagram of the moor, it is assumed that the deposit environment of the Middle Part, which mostly consists of peat layers, is very stable. During the period, the Ulmus/Zelfkova pollen ratio was very low and small peak was not recognized. According to the preceding research, theme is a close relationship between the fluctuation of the Ulmus/Zelkova pollen ratio and the general trend of hillslope instability in the changing balance of temporature and precipitation Actually, Zelkova serrata tends to cover the footslope and the lower sideslope. Ulmus davidiana covers the footslope and the alluvial cone. Therefore, the fact that the Ulmus/Zeikova pollen ratio was very low and small peak was not recognized, is believed to reflect the stability of the earth's surface environment, which was estimated from the geological section.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.397-416
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• 2024

This study assessed the hydrogeological properties of the deep geological environment to develop safety criteria for the natural barriers used in the deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste in Korea. The assessment focused on the distribution and trends of hydraulic conductivity and permeability properties appropriate for the domestic geological environment, using various in-situ hydraulic test data collected for groundwater development and management. To develop a depth-hydrogeological property relationship model suitable for domestic conditions, the study reviewed various international research examples and applied a representative model that explains the trends of hydraulic conductivity and permeability with depth. The development of the model suitable for Korea involved applying ensemble regression analysis to account for the uncertainty of various factors in the collected data. The results confirmed that existing international depth-hydrogeological property relationship models adequately describe the characteristics of the domestic geological environment. Considering the preferred hydrogeological criteria suggested by countries like Sweden, Germany, and Canada, there is a high likelihood that a suitable geological environment exists in Korea. Additionally, the application of hydrogeological criteria indicative of low-permeability environments showed that suitable conditions for disposal construction increase at depths greater than 300 m, where the influence of fractures on groundwater flow might be minimal at depths exceeding 500 m. This research can serve as foundational information for establishing hydrogeological safety standards for natural barriers in Korea according to international regulatory guidelines.

• Journal of the speleological society of Korea
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• no.4
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• pp.23-32
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• 1996

The geographic environment means the general state of the environment in the area. Especially, which means the generation cause, the development process of the cave, and the validity of cave development and conservation in the side of the place of the cave. This study put emphasis on lying in which place Hwaam cave in Tong-myon, Chong son-gun, Kangwondo is situated and having in which stand is in comparison with other districts, and how the geological structure which determine the cave forming cause is.(omitted)

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.93-107
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• 2018

The concepts of geotourism and geoparks have emerged due to the paradigm shift in tourism and the increased recognition of geosites and geoheritage as legacies that must be protected and preserved. The number of geoparks designated by UNESCO and national governments is increasing globally. The purpose of this paper is to propose directions for enhancing Jeju Geopark to perform as a geological educational venue. This study reviewed the present conditions of the education and communication, the media, and the facilities of the geopark with respect to the required conditions to be effective for geological education. Data surveys, field surveys, visitor questionnaires, and interviews were conducted to examine the educational and guidance system of the geopark, the physical space configuration, and the operation and management methods. The research process is as follows. First, the study analyzed the status of the education and communication in Jeju Geopark, according to the criteria of the UNESCO GGN, using data acquired from the survey. Second, the study analyzed and evaluated the educational and communication facilities, and media, focusing on four aspects of the geopark: the geo-trail, spatial composition and layout, communicational and educational facilities, and the system and design of signboards. Third, the study assessed the perception and satisfaction of visitors to the geopark. Fourth, the study summarized the potential and limitations of the Jeju Geopark through in-depth interviews. The four analyses showed that enhancements in the exploration environment, communication, media, and operation and management system are all necessary for effective geological education. Based on these results, this study suggests directions for enhancing the geopark in the four following aspects. Management and maintenance must be improved to meet UNESCO criteria, while the improvements in the visiting environment quality, the supplementing of communication and facilities, and enhancements in the organization and system of operation and management also must be taken on.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.273-282
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• 2009

To render more valuable information, a spatial database is being constructed from digitalized maps in the geographic areas. Transferring file-based maps into a spatial database, facilitates the integration of larger databases and information retrieval using database functions. Geological mapping is the graphical interpretation results of the geological phenomenon by geological surveyors, which is different from other thematic maps produced quantitatively. These features make it difficult to construct geologic databases needing geologic interpretation about various meanings. For those reasons, several organizations in the USA and Australia are suggesting the data model for the database construction. But, it is hard to adapt to a domestic environment because of the representation differences of geological phenomenon. This paper suggests the data model adaptive in domestic environment analyzing 1:50,000 scales of geologic maps and more detailed mine geologic maps. The suggested model is a logical data model for the ArcGIS GeoDatabase. Using the model it can be efficiently applicable in the 1:50,000 scales of geological maps. It is expected that the geologic data model suggested in this paper can be used for integrated use and efficient management of geologic maps.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.203-212
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• 2005

Anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide($CO_2$) which arises mainly as wastes from the fossil fuel burning processes, are causing global warming. The effects of global warming become increasingly felt all over the world including sea level rise and extreme weather. The more direct consequences of the elevated atmospheric $CO_2$ on the ocean is the acidification of the surface ocean which brings a far reaching adverse impact on the life at sea and probably on the whole ecosystem of the planet. Improvement in energy efficiency and use of alternative energy sources are being made to reduce $CO_2$ emissions. However, a rapid transition to alternatives seems unachievable within a few decades due to the constraints on the associated technology and socio-economic factors in the world, since fossil fuels make up approximately 85% of the world's commercial energy demands. It has now been recognized that capture and geological sequestration of $CO_2$ could significantly reduce its emissions from fossil fuel utilization and therefore provides the means to rapidly achieve large reductions in $CO_2$ emissions(excerpts from London Convention, LC/SG 28, 2005). In Korea, well-developed sedimentary basins are spread over the vast continental shelf and slope regions, whereas, the land is densely populated and limited in area. Consequently, the offshore area is preferred to the land for the sites for geological sequestration. The utilization of the offshore area, however, may be subject to international agreements including London Convention. In this paper, the recent trends in technologies and regulations for $CO_2$ capture and geological sequestration are described to encourage its applications in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.538-550
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• 2008

Radon is an invisible, odorless, and radioactive gas. It is formed by the disintegration of radium, which is a decay product of uranium. Some amounts of radon gas and its products are present ubiquitously in the soil, water, and air. Particularly high radon levels occur in regions of high uranium content. Although radon is permeable into indoor environment not only through geological features (bed rock and permeability) but also through the construction materials and underground water, the radiation from the geological features is generally main exposure factor. So there can be a problem in a certain space such as the underground and/or relatively poor ventilation condition. In this study, a GIS technique was used in order to investigate spatial distribution of radon measured from sub- way stations of 1 thru 8 in Seoul, Korea in 1991, 1998, 2001, and 2006. Spatial analysis was applied to reproduce the radon distribution. We utilized spatial analysis techniques such as inverse distance weighted averaging (IDW) and kriging techniques which are widely used to relate between different spatial points. To validate the results from the analyses, the jackknife technique for an uncertainty test was performed. When the number of measuring sites was less than 100 and also when the number of omitted sites increased, the kriging technique was better than IDW. On the other hand, when the number of sites was over 100, IDW technique was better than kriging technique. Thus the selection of analytical tool was affected sensitives by the analysis based on the number of measuring sites.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.24-34
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• 2008

To mitigate the climate change and global warming, various technologies have been internationally proposed for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Especially, in recent, carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) technology is regarded as one of the most promising emission reduction options that $CO_2$ be captured from major point sources (eg., power plant) and transported for storage into the marine geological structure such as deep sea saline aquifer. The purpose of this paper is to review the latest progress on the development of technologies for $CO_2$ storage in marine geological structure and its perspective in republic of Korea. To develop the technologies for $CO_2$ storage in marine geological structure, we carried out relevant R&D project, which cover the initial survey of potentially suitable marine geological structure fur $CO_2$ storage site and monitoring of the stored $CO_2$ behavior, basic design for $CO_2$ transport and storage process including onshore/offshore plant and assessment of potential environmental risk related to $CO_2$ storage in geological structure in republic of Korea. By using the results of the present researches, we can contribute to understanding not only how commercial scale (about 1 $MtCO_2$) deployment of $CO_2$ storage in the marine geological structure of East Sea, Korea, is realized but also how more reliable and safe CCS is achieved. The present study also suggests that it is possible to reduce environmental cost (about 2 trillion Won per year) with developed technology for $CO_2$ storage in marine geological structure until 2050.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.157-178
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• 2013

This study gives a conceptual and basic direction to develop a URL (underground research laboratory) program for establishing the performance and safety of a deep geological disposal system in Korea. The concept of deep geological disposal is one of the preferred methodologies for the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel (SNF). Advanced countries with radioactive waste disposal have developed their own disposal concepts reasonable to their social and environmental conditions and applied to their commercial projects. Deep geological disposal system is a multi-barrier system generally consisting of an engineered barrier and natural barrier. A disposal facility and its host environment can be relied on a necessary containment and isolation over timescales envisaged as several to tens of thousands of years. A disposal system is not allowed in the commercial stage of the disposal program without a validation and demonstration of the performance and safety of the system. All issues confirming performance and safety of a disposal system include investigation, analysis, assessment, design, construction, operation and closure from planning to closure of the deep geological repository. Advanced countries perform RD&D (research, development & demonstration) programs to validate the performance and safety of a disposal system using a URL facility located at the preferred rock area within their own territories. The results and processes from the URL program contribute to construct technical criteria and guidelines for site selection as well as suitability and safety assessment of the final disposal site. Furthermore, the URL program also plays a decisive role in promoting scientific understanding of the deep geological disposal system for stakeholders, such as the public, regulator, and experts.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.17-23
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• 2003

In Korea terrestrial fluvial sequences can be used as pedological and sedimentological markers indicating a millenium-scale environmental and climatic changes imprinted in fluvial sub-environments, which in turn are represented by the cyclicity of fluvial sands, backswamp organic muds, and flooding muds intercalations of frostcracked or dessicated brown paleosols. Post LGM and Holocene fluvial and alluvial sedimentary sequences of Korea are formed in such landscapes of coastal, floodplain, backswamp and hillslope areas. Among them, the most outstanding depositional sequences are fluvial gravels, sands and organic mud deposits in coastal, fluvial, or alluvial wetlands. The aim of this study is to explain the sedimentary sequences and palynofloral zones since the last 15,000years, on the basis of organic muds layers intercalated in fluvial sand deposits. Jangheung-ri site of Nam river, Soro-ri site of Miho river, Youngsan rivermouth site in Muan, Oksan-ri site of Hampyeong and Sanggap-ri site of Gochang are illustrated to interpret their sedimentary facies, radiocarbon datings, and palynofloral zonation. Up to the Middle to Late Last Glacial(up to 30-35Ka), old river-bed, flooding, and backswamp sequences contain such arboreal pollens as Pinus, Abies, and Picea, and rich in non-arboreal pollens like Cyperaceae, Gramineae, Ranunculaceae, and Compositae. During the LGM and post-LGM periods until Younger Dryas, vegetation has changes from the sub-alpine conifer forest(up to about 17-11Ka), through the conifer and broad-leaved deciduous forest, or mixed forest (formed during 16,680-13,010yrB.P), to the deciduous and broad-leaved forest (older than 9,500yrB.P). In the Earliest Holocene flooding deposits, fragments of plant roots are abundant and subjected to intensive pedogenic processes. During Holocene, three arboreal pollen zones are identified in the ascending order of strata； Pinus-Colyus zone(mixed conifer and deciduous broad-leaved forest, about up to 10Ka), Alnus-Quercus forest (the cool temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest, about 10Ka-2Ka), and Pinus forest (the conifer forest, about after 2Ka), as examplified in Soro-ri site of Cheonwon county. The palynological zonations of Soro-ri, Oksan-ri, Sanggap-ri, Youngsan estuary, and Gimhae fluvial plain have been recognized as a provisional correlation tool, and zonations based on fluvial backswamp and flooding deposits shows a similar result with those of previous researchers.