• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.23-33
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• 2015

This study was conducted to provide the preliminary data on preparation for policy decisions regarding the groundwater supply scheme for N. Korea vulnerable to drought. Agricultural activities oriented to upland field due to the mountainous terrain more than 79% as well as the diversity of rainfall distribution over the country make more vulnerable to structural problems in the drought in N. Korea. Therefore, in anticipation of the expansion of exchange policies in agricultural sector, the available amount of groundwater needed for sustainable water resources supply was estimated for each administrative district after analyzing alluvium and hydrogeology distribution in N. Korea. Overall, the available amount of groundwater was estimated to 22.3 billion m³ (0.18 million m³/km²). The available amount of groundwater per unit area in Ryanggangdo and Gaesungsi was appeared very high in each of 0.56 and 0.39 million m³/km², respectively, and it would be interpreted that two districts have relatively wide area of volcanic rocks and alluvium with highly permeable characteristics, respectively. Finally, to maximize the utilization of this study result, the available amount of groundwater distribution map was developed on the basis of the 1 × 1 km grid network over the entire N. Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2011

Last April, Europe was severly damaged as all social and economic activities came to a halt prompted by the cancellation of all flights resulting from volcanic ash. This exemplifies that the meteorology conditions have significant influence on the flights of airplanes. Hence, in this research the influence that the meteorology has on the domestic flights and its characteristics will be examined, and the core meteorological factors that influence flights in each airport will be drawn. In order to do this, statistical analysis on the influence that the meteorology has on flights was carried out in order to analyze the data about flight cancelation and delay and also its cause, primarily based on the Gimpo, Gimhae, and the Jeju airports. As a result, first, the meteorological factors which impact flight cancellation and delay were different among the domestic airports, and second, it was analyzed that fog was the main meteorological factor in the Gimpo airport, strong wind in the Jeju airport, and fog in the Gimhae airport. Third, between the day the flights were cancelled and delayed occurred, and the day that weren't, the fact that there existed a difference among the actual meteorological factors was statistically drawn. With the result of such analysis, meteorological factors pertaining to the cancellation and delay of flights must be considered seperately by each airport and specialized meteorological information must be provided accordingly. Further, when selecting the position of an airport that is to be constructed in the future, implications that there is a definite need for the meteorology effect evaluation based on past meteorology data can be drawn.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.4 s.179
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• pp.495-505
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• 2006

Atmospheric infrasound is defined as low frequency inaudible sound waves generated from natural phenomena and human activities. One property of long-distance travelling of infrasound makes it possible to detect the wave propagated from remote sound sources and to understand many geophysical phenomena generating it. Recently, advanced global infrasound sensor arrays are being deployed to monitor the clandestine nuclear test and to study geophysical phenomena in the world. In Korea, five seismo-acoustic arrays consisting of co-located seismometer and micro-barometer have been operated to discriminate the artificial explosions from the natural earthquakes in and around the Korean Peninsula. In addition to the discrimination purpose, these ways also record distinct infrasonic signals from natural phenomena on global scale such as large earthquake, bolide event, volcanic explosion, typhoon, and so on. As a new frontier in monitoring the earth, infrasound is being applied to understand various phenomena in and above the earth's surface.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.141-147
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• 2015

Snow albedo can be decreased if there are any impurities on the snow surface other than the snow itself. Due to the decrease of snow albedo, melting rates of surface snow can increase, which is very crucial in climate change and hydrogeology in many parts of the world. Anthropogenic black carbons caused by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuel affect snow and tephra particles generated by geologic volcanic activities reduce snow albedo. In this study, we investigated isotopic compositions for snow covered by tephra particles and compared with this with clean snow. Isotopic compositions of snow with tephra statistically show more enriched than those of clean snow (p<0.02). This can be explained by the fact that snow becomes enriched in $^{18}O$ or D relative to meltwater as melting rates are increased. In addition, the slopes of the linear regression between oxygen and hydrogen for snow with tephra and clean snow are 6.7 and 8, respectively, and the latter is similar to that of the global meteoric water line of 8. Therefore, we can conclude that snow impurities control the isotopic compositions of snow, which is very crucial in the study of climate change and hydrogeology. To quantitatively explain these observations, melting experiments and numerical approaches are required.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.33-47
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• 2020

The bulk and partition geochemistry was studied in two sediment cores collected from the axial valley of the north-central Fonualei Rift and Spreading Center (FRSC), Lau back-arc Basin, southwest Pacific. The sediments consist of mostly volcanic ash, although minor amounts of biogenic and other components were present in some intervals. The major element composition of bulk sediments recalculated to a carbonate-free basis was in good agreement with the magma compositions of the adjacent Tofua Arc and the FRSC, with only significant difference in Mn content. The enrichment of Mn and other associated elements (e.g. Cu, Co, Ni, and P) is attributed to hydrothermal input to the sediments, as evidenced by their significant partitioning in the non-detrital phases according to the partition geochemistry. Hydrogenetic and diagenetic inputs were assessed to be relatively insignificant. Estimated hydrothermal Mn fluxes during the Holocene ranged between 5.0 and 37.1 mg cm^-2 kyr^-1, with the higher values in younger sediments, suggesting enhanced hydrothermal activity. The hydrothermal Mn fluxes comparable to or higher than those reported from other spreading centers with strong hydrothermal activities may indicate the presence of unknown hydrothermal vent sites and/or topographic restriction on the dispersal of hydrothermal plumes in the northern part of the FRSC.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.38-47
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• 1993

Clinoptilolite and mordenite are important constituents of the Nuldaeri Trachytic Tuff and Guryongpo Dacitic Tuff of the Tertiary Janggi Group which were deposited in a lacustrine environment. The diagenetic cystallization sequences of zeolites in different tuffaceous sediments and their chemical behaviors have been studied to know the process of their formation. The paragenetic sequence established from textural observations and chemical data : Ca-smectite ${\leftrightarrow}$(Ca, K)-clinoptilolite${\leftrightarrow}$(K, Na)-mordenite, indicates that the chemical activities of alkalic ions and Si/Al activity ratio in pore fluids changed systematically with diagenetic alteration. The chemical trend of zeolite formation is characterized by decreasing Ca and Mg, non-variable Na and increasing K in the Nuldaeri Trachytic Tuff and by decreasing Ca and Mg, non-variable Na and increasing-decreasing K in the Guryongpo Dacitic Tuff. The paragenesis from glass via smectite to alkali zeolites indicates a sequence of incongruent dissolution reactions and subsequent crystallization. Inhomogeneity in chemical composition of each zeolite may be attributed to such processes.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.183-201
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• 1975

The south and southwestern parts of Jeonra-namdo has been known as an alunite province in Korea. The alunite deposits investigated for the present study are Okmaisan, Seongsam, Bugog, Gasado south, Gasado north, Jangsando, Dogcheon and Jungyongri deposits. The main purpose of this study is to depict the genetical origin of the alunite deposits. The rocks distributed in the areas mentioned above consist chiefly of rhyolitic tuff, breccia tuff and andesitic tuff of Cretaceous age which represent different episodes of volcanic activities during Cretaceous epoch. The attitude of bedding of the tuffaceous rocks varies from place to place but generally dips very gently. The alunite deposits are embedded mostly in the rhyolitic tuff so that they appear as layered deposits, this occurrence may be the result of stratigraphic and lithologic controls. The result of this study can be summarized as below. The mineral sequence studied by the mineral paragenesis and the result of the spectrograph anlyses is such that (1) alunite was formed at first and pyrophyllite was nearly contemporaneous with alunite but pyrophyllite formation can be recognized as a secondary mineralization products, (2) kaoline was succeeded to form later and hematite finally deposited, and (3) pyrite was deposited from the begining to the end of the above mineralization period. The compositional change of host rocks is such that CaO, $SiO_2$ and $Na_2O$ were largely removed from the parent rocks and some $Al_2O_3$ and $SO_3$ were transported by the solution so as to enrich the rocks. The sequencial process of such mineralization has resulted in forming those distinguish mineral zones; alunite, kaoline, pyrophyllite, silicifide and sulphide zone which manifest irregular shape. These deposits were formed by hydrothermal solution which was possibly low temperature and contained sulphuric acid originated from $H_2S$ and $SO_2$ gases.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.283-298
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• 2016

Sangumburi crater, designated as Natural Monument No. 63, recognized as a maar, but precise geological mapping and geological characteristics in the field indicate that Sangumburi crater is a pit crater. Two stages of volcanic activities created Sangumburi pit crater. Lava flow (aphanitic pyroxene basalt I) and associated pyroclastic deposit (pyroclast I), composed of ash and lapilli, were formed at the stage 1. In the stage 2, lava flow (feldspar olivine basalt) was overlain by lava flow (aphanitic pyroxene basalt II) and associated pyroclastic deposit (pyroclast II), composed of agglomerate. Sangumburi pit crater formed at $0.073{\pm}0.036Ma$, determined by Ar-Ar age dating for the feldspar olivine basalt at the stage 2. It is not clear the preferred migration direction of subsurface magma after Sangumburi pit crater formed.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.18-30
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• 2006

This paper describes the cumulative deposition of fallout Pu in soil and lichen at the present time and give the characteristics of fallout Pu deposits in the soil. In the soil of the forest, the accumulated depositions of $^{239,240}Pu$ were estimated to be in the range of 34.0 to $101.2Bq\;m^{-2}$ with an average value of $65.3{\pm}21.6Bq\;m^{-2}$. The average inventory of $^{239,240}Pu$ in the forest was calculated to be two times higher than that in the hill. Also, the deposited activities of $^{239,240}Pu$ in cultivated soil were significantly lower than those in the hill or forest. However, the cumulative depositions of fallout Pu in the volcanic ash soil on Cheju Island were much higher than those in the forest and hill soils. The measured activity concentrations of Pu isotopes in lichens and mosses showed large variations, due to characteristics of species and life span of lichen and moss colonies. From depth profiles, it was found that most of the fallout Pu has been accumulated in upper 10 cm layer of soil. Except for a few cases, the concentrations of $^{239,240}Pu$ in soil tended to decrease exponentially with increasing soil depth. Among parameters affecting the cumulative deposition of fallout Pu, organic substances and rainfall play an important role in the retention and relative mobility of fallout Pu in the soil. However, pH showed a weak correlation with the deposition of fallout Pu in the soil. From sequential leaching experiments, Pu was found to be associated predominantly with the "organic" and "oxy-hydroxy" fractions. Both the activity ratios of $^{238}Pu/^{239,240}Pu$ and $^{241}Pu/^{239,240}Pu$ in soils, lichens and mosses and the atomic ratios of $^{240}Pu/^{239}Pu$ in soils are close to those observed in the cumulative deposit global fallout from nuclear weapon testings. The results obtained from this research make it possible to interpret and predict the behavior of fallout Pu under natural conditions.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.423-436
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• 2000

The lithofacies, biofacies, and paleosol development of the Jindong Formation, the Geoncheonri Formation, and the lacustrine deposits of Mt. Hwangryeong at Pusan, which occur in the southeastern part of the Gyeongsang Basin, were analyzed in comparative sedimentology and in stratigraphy. The common features of these lacustrine deposits are: 1) clastic deposits are prevailing, 2) deltaic deposits are not associated, 3) mudflat deposits are common, and 4) stromatolites are absent. The distinct differences among these deposits are: 1) in the Jindong Formation, the mudflat deposits are predominant, pedogenic calcretes are commonly present, and dinosaur tracks frequently occur, compared with other two lacustrine deposits, and 2) in the Geoncheonri Formation, invertebrate fossils are relatively common and storm deposits are not recognized, compared with other deposits, and 3) evaporite mineral casts and tuffaceous turbidite deposits are common in the Mt. Hwangryeong lacustrine deposits. In stratigraphy, the Geoncheonri Formation is correlated with the lower part of the Jindong Formation, and the Mt. Hwangryeong lacutsrine deposits are deemed to overlie the Jindong Formation. On the basis of comparative sedimentology and stratigraphic relationship among these lacustrine deposits, general paleoenvironements of the southeastern part of the Gyeongsang Basin from the late Hayang time to the early Yucheon time are interpreted as follows. During the late Hayang time, tectonic and volcanic activities were generally inacitive in the Gyeongsang Basin, and lacustrine environments expanded since the paleoclimatic condition became less arid compared with the middle Hayang time. In general, however, paleoclimate during the late Hayang time was still arid, and wetting and drying periods were alternated. The occasional occurrences of severe droughts were also characteristic of the late Hayang time. Mudflats existed in wide area in the southeastern part of the Gyeongsang Basin during the late Hayang time, and sedimentation rate was accordingly low. The sedimentation rate became relatively high during the latest Hayang time and the early Yucheon time since tectonic and volcanic activities had been active. Generally arid climate continued for the early Yucheon time, enough for evaporite minerals to precipate occasionally.