• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.131-140
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• 2014

Lava caves could be useful as outposts for the human exploration of the Moon. Lava caves or lava tubes are formed when the external surface of the lava flows cools more quickly to make a hardened crust over subsurface lava flows. The lava flow eventually ceases and drains out of the tube, leaving an empty space. The frail part of the ceiling of lava tube could collapse to expose the entrance to the lava tubes which is called a pit crater. Several pit craters with the diameter of around 100 meters have been found by analyzing the data of SELENE and LRO lunar missions. It is hard to use these pit craters for outposts since these are too large in scale. In this study, small scale pit craters which are fit for outposts have been investigated using the NAC image data of LROC. Several topographic patterns which are believed to be lunar caves have been found and the similar pit craters of the Earth were compared and analyzed to identify caves. For this analysis, the image data of satellites and aerial photographs are collected and classified to construct a database. Several pit craters analogous to lunar pit craters were derived and a morphological pit crater model was generated using the 3D printer based on this database.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.138.2-138.2
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• 2012

Cave on the Moon is considered as the most appropriate place for human to live during the frontier lunar exploration. While the lava flows, the outer crust gets cooled and solidified. Then, the empty space is remained inside after lava flow stops. Such empty space is called the lava caves. Those lava tubes on the Earth are formed mostly by volcanic activity. However, the lava tubes on satellite like Moon and planet like Mars without volcanic activity are mostly formed by the lava flow inside of the crater made by large meteorite impact. Some part of lava tube with collapsed ceiling appears as the entrance of the cave. Such area looks like a deep crater so called a pit crater. Four large pit craters with diameter of > 60 m and depth of > 40 m are found without difficulty from Kaguya and LRO mission image archives. However, those are too deep to use as easily accessible human frontier base. Therefore, now we are going to identify some smaller lunar caves with accessible entrances using LRO camera images of 0.5 m/pixel resolution. Earth's lava caves and their entrances are well photographed by surface and aerial camera in immense volume. Thus, if the image data are sorted and archived well, those images can be used in comparison with the less distinct lunar cave and entrance images due to its smaller size. Then, we can identify the regions on the Moon where there exist caves with accessible entrances. The database will be also useful in modeling geomorphology for lunar and Martian caves for future artificial intelligence investigation of the caves in any size.

• Journal of the Speleological Society of Korea
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• no.84
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• pp.43-45
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• 2008

Jeju Island is formed by lava flow streams with the Mt. Halla in the center. The Mt. Halla‘s crater or other parasitic volcano produced lava flows creating lava plateau in this area. There are one thousand volcano caves in the world, and 50% of them are located in the west coast of United States. There are 186 volcano caves in Italy, 100 in Mt. Fuji, Japan, and 70 in Jeju Island. Jeju Island‘s east-west axis four sides are world-renown volcano zones with basalt strata that feature low viscosity and fluidity.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 2022

BACKGROUND: The Geomunoreum Lava Tube System (GLTS) is both vast and culturally valuable. The Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes, which are partly composed of the GLTS, have been declared as a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site. Exploration of the caves is strictly regulated to conserve these vulnerable environments. Photographs provide limited information and do not describe the entire environment comprehensively. Therefore, we created several illustrations of the lava tubes to display their environmental features. METHODS AND RESULTS: We explored six lava caves (upstream and downstream) in the GLTS and photographed their geological features and yellow walls, the colors of which are influenced by microbial mats. We compared the hex codes of the wall colors using the Clip Studio v1.10.5 software and created illustrations that accurately represent the scale and features of the caves. CONCLUSION(S): Upstream and downstream caves of the GLTS differ in scale and volcanic features. We illustrated various characteristics of the caves including lava cave features, vegetation, and microbial mats. We also described the internal and external cave environments.

• Journal of the speleological society of Korea
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• no.5
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• pp.37-52
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• 1997

In Japan, on the volcanic line from Mt.Fuji to Hachijou Isl. in Pacific, we can see the many fissure erupted craters. The fissure eruption hasn't always left the rift caves. Recently I am investigated this era and recognized the rift caves. at Mt. Fuji 4. Miyake Isl. 3, Hachijou Isl. 3. The time of fissure eruption in Miyake Isl. make the long crack and gush the lava flow. But. we can see the rift caves only in the caldera. In the rift caves, we can see the thin coated lava on the scoria wall of the cavity and not only the side ways to extend by gasic pressure, on the surface of the earth. It is tow type rift caves. 1) The gas run to the side direction and built the cavities and after blowout the ground. 2) The gas built the cavity and then blowout the earth. I think that the thick scoria layers the most important factor and indispensable condition to built the rift caves.

• Journal of the speleological society of Korea
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• no.4
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• pp.79-96
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• 1996

Since lava tube caves began to be mapped in large numbers, numerous claims to possession of the world's longest have been advanced by caverns from various countries. Among the caves for which this distinction has been claimed are Ape Cave, washington (halliday, 1962); the Cueva de los Verdes, Canary Islands (Montoriol and de Mier, 1969); the Cueva del Viento, Canary Islands (Montoriol and de Mier, 1974); Kazumura Cave, Hawaii (Gagne and Howarth, 1975); Leviathan Cave, Kenya (Simon, 1976); Man Jang Gul, South Korea (Anon., 1981); and Bilemot Gul, South Korea (Ogawa, 1982).(omitted)

• Journal of the Speleological Society of Korea
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• no.95
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• pp.23-33
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• 2009

This study analyzed the distribution of China's caves and cave resources in Research. The results are as follows: First, China's melting karst caves are mainly distributed in southwest widely distributed. Recently in Beijing and other northern areas found in many caves. First, China's Karst caves are mainly distributed in karst-flung southwest. Recently in Beijing and other northern areas found in many caves. Second, although China is widespread volcanic landscapes, but most of the extinct volcano, the lava caves less so. Are mainly distributed in Hainan Island, north-east there are some distribution. Third, China's recent development and evolution of the cave, analysis of the paleo-environment records of cave stalagmites, cave biology, cave tourism development, environmental aspects of cave research more active.

• Journal of the speleological society of Korea
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.1-6
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• 1995

The research of caves widely deals with geomorphology, meteology, geology, biology, archaeology and physiochemistry. Most famous caves in Korea are in Dongrong Cave in Yongbyun-Goon in 1929, Sungru Cave in Uljin in 1960s. Lava caves were developed as Gymrung Sa Cave, Manjang Cave and Hupje Cave in Cheju Island. Limestone caves, Gosi Cave, Gosu Cave, Nodong Cave and Chundong Cave, were developed for the commercial purposes. Visiting and researching caves are active in Korea. Caves will more be commercialized than before.(omitted)

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.1338-1348
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• 2019

The Geomunoreum Lava Tube System, declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a unique natural ecosystem. The information available about this ecosystem, which contains lava caves with secondary carbonate speleothems, is sparse. Hence, extensive research is warranted for establishing a conservation standard. We commenced microbial research on the system and have been studying the microorganisms coating the lava tube wall to acquire fundamental information for understanding the lava cave ecology of Jeju Island. Samples were collected from yellow-colored walls in six caves that are part of the system-the Bengdwi, Utsanjeon, Bukoreum, Manjang, Gimnyeong, and Yongcheon caves. This study focused on yellow walls as it is the most easily distinguished color. According to previous studies, the color of cave walls is attributed to microorganisms or their components. To determine whether the yellow mats from the Jeju lava tube walls are caused by microorganisms, we examined samples at the microscopic scale, by staining mats and analyzing bacterial isolates from glitter particles. As a result, we found that the yellow walls of lava tubes are comprised of microbial mats.

• Journal of the speleological society of Korea
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• no.5
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• pp.53-55
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• 1997

In September 1996 I spent 8 days in Kamchatka Oblast of Silberia, speaking at the institute of Volcanic Geology and Geochemistry in Petropavlovsk and participating ina field excursion to the 1740 and 1975 lava beds of Tolbachik volcano. By international standards, the caves of these flows are small. But recently it has appeared that variations in chemistry and gas content of pahoehoe basalts makes profound variations in their lava tube caves. Thus it is important to look at as many speleoliferous regions as possible. This trend continued at Tolbachik.(omitted)