• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.127-145
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• 1998

Unlike water or air quality standards that have been established by legislation using potential human health impact as the primary criterion, soil quality depends on the soils primary function and its relevant environmental factors, which is much more site- and soil specific. A properly characterized soil quality assessment system should serve as an indicator of the soil capacity to produce safe and nutritious food, to enhance human and animal health, and to overcome degrative processes. For our proposed example, a high quality soil with regard to maintaining an adequate soil productivity as a food production resources must accommodate soil and water properties, food chain, sustainability and utilization, environment, and profitability, that (i) facilitate water transfer and absorption, (ii) sustain plant growth, (iii) resist physical degradation of soil, (iv) produce a safe food resources, (v) cost-effective agricultural management. Possible soil quality indicators are identified at several levels within the framework for each of these functions. Each indicator is assigned a priority or weight that reflects its relative importance using a multi-objective approach based on principles of systems to be considered. To do this, individual scoring system is differentiated by the several levels from low to very high category or point scoring ranging from 0 to 10, And then weights are multiplied and products are summed to provide an overall soil quality rating based on several physical and chemical indicators. Tlne framework and procedure in developing the soil quality assessment are determined by using information collected from an alternative and conventional farm practices in the regions. The use of an expanded framework for assessing effects of other processes, management practices, or policy issues on soil quality is also considered. To develop one possible form for a soil quality index, we should permit coupling the soil characteristics with assessment system based on soil properties and incoming and resident chemicals. The purpose of this paper is to discuss approaches to defining and assessing soil quality and to suggest the factors to be considered.

• Spatial Information Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.39-50
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• 2012

The objective of this study is the quantitative analysis of climate change effects by performing several statistical analyses with hydrometeorological data sets for past 30 years in Geum river watershed. Temperature, precipitation, relative humidity data sets were collected from eight observation stations for 37 years(1973~2009) in Geum river watershed. River level data was collected from Gongju and Gyuam gauge stations for 36 years(1973~2008) considering rating curve credibility problems and future long-term runoff modeling. Annual and seasonal year-to-year variation of hydrometeorological components were analyzed by calculating the average, standard deviation, skewness, and coefficient of variation. The results show precipitation has the strongest variability. Run test, Turning point test, and Anderson Exact test were performed to check if there is randomness in the data sets. Temperature and precipitation data have randomness and relative humidity and river level data have regularity. Groundwater level data has both aspects(randomness and regularity). Linear regression and Mann-Kendal test were performed for trend test. Temperature is increasing yearly and seasonally and precipitation is increasing in summer. Relative humidity is obviously decreasing. The results of this study can be used for the evaluation of the effects of climate change on water resources and the establishment of future water resources management technique development plan.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.43-57
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• 2005

Twelve bottom sediments and three cores were collected in Juam reservoir for a study on transportation, which was controlled by particle grain size (2mm-200{\mu}m,\;200-100{\mu}m,\;100-50{\mu}m,\;50-20{\mu}m,\;<20{\mu}m), and vertical distribution of heavy metals. Sediment cores were sliced into 2 to 5 cm intervals to measure heavy metal concentrations in interstitial water and sediments with depth. Pb isotopic compositions of core samples were determined to calculate sedimentation rate. Regardless of sampling sites, levels of heavy metals and trace elements in bottom sediments are nearly constant with mean values of $14.9\;{\mu}g/g\;for\;As,\;0.81{\mu}g/g\;for\;Cd,\;30.7{\mu}g/g\;for\;Cu,\;34.7{\mu}g/g\;for\;Ni,\;63.3{\mu}g/g\;for\;Pb\;and\;87.9{\mu}g/g\;for\;Zn$. In general, Cu, Pb, Zn, Wi, and Cr in fraction of $<20{\mu}m$ exhibit the highest concentration, but content of As is the highest in grain size of $2\;mm-200\;{\mu}m$ and $200-100\;{\mu}m$. Fe and Mn occur as the dissolved compositions of the highest concentrations in interstitial waters and increase in their concentrations toward lower part of cores. On the contrary, concentrations of Zn and Cu show the highest value in the uppermost part in cores, suggesting these elements are released from reductive dissolution of hydroxides and oxidation of organic matters under different redox conditions. The highest accumulations of Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn contents in the sediment cores are observed at 0-4 cm layers, and concentrations of Cu and Pb are especially high, implying these heavy metals are originated from anthropogenic sources. The apparent sedimentation rate estimated using unsupported $^{210}Pb$ is 0.91 cm $year^{-1}$, corresponding about 10 cm sedimentation in total depth since construction of Juam dam. These results will provide available information for management of bottom sediment in Juam reservoir.

• 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.