• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.737-760
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• 2022

For the geological disposal of high-level radioactive wastes (HLW), an understanding of deep subsurface environment is essential through geological, hydrogeological, geochemical, and geotechnical investigations. Although South Korea plans the geological disposal of HLW, only a few studies have been conducted for characterizing the geochemistry of deep subsurface environment. To guide the hydrogeochemical research for selecting suitable repository sites, this study overviewed the status and trends in hydrogeochemical characterization of deep groundwater for the deep geological disposal of HLW in developed countries. As a result of examining the selection process of geological disposal sites in 8 countries including USA, Canada, Finland, Sweden, France, Japan, Germany, and Switzerland, the following geochemical parameters were needed for the geochemical characterization of deep subsurface environment: major and minor elements and isotopes (e.g., ³⁴S and ¹⁸O of SO₄^2-, ¹³C and ¹⁴C of DIC, ²H and ¹⁸O of water) of both groundwater and pore water (in aquitard), fracture-filling minerals, organic materials, colloids, and oxidation-reduction indicators (e.g., Eh, Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺, H₂S/SO₄^2-, NH₄⁺/NO₃^-). A suitable repository was selected based on the integrated interpretation of these geochemical data from deep subsurface. In South Korea, hydrochemical types and evolutionary patterns of deep groundwater were identified using artificial neural networks (e.g., Self-Organizing Map), and the impact of shallow groundwater mixing was evaluated based on multivariate statistics (e.g., M3 modeling). The relationship between fracture-filling minerals and groundwater chemistry also has been investigated through a reaction-path modeling. However, these previous studies in South Korea had been conducted without some important geochemical data including isotopes, oxidationreduction indicators and DOC, mainly due to the lack of available data. Therefore, a detailed geochemical investigation is required over the country to collect these hydrochemical data to select a geological disposal site based on scientific evidence.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.354-364
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• 2008

The variability in the phosphorus concentrations and the decomposition rates of organic phosphorus were measured in two rivers, the Youngsan River and the Sumjin River through four surveys in June, August and December of 2006 and February of 2007. Water samples were incubated for 20 days in a dark incubator and the change of forms of phosphorus (POP, DOP, DIP) were analyzed. By fitting the change to four types of models the decomposition rates of organic phosphorus were determined. The mean total organic phosphorus (TOP) decomposition rate coefficients in the Youngsan River and the Sumjin River were $0.036day^{-1}$ and $0.035day^{-1}$, respectively. In POP$\rightarrow$DIP model, the average decomposition rate coefficients in the Youngsan River and the Sumjin River were 0.049 and $0.035day^{-1}$, respectively. The average POP decomposition rate coefficients of POP$\rightarrow$DOP$\rightarrow$DIP model were $0.042day^{-1}$ and $0.038day^{-1}$ in the Youngsan River and Sumjin River respectively while the mean DOP decomposition rate coefficients were $0.255day^{-1}$ and $0.244day^{-1}$, respectively. In the Youngsan River, the mean POP$\rightarrow$DOP decomposition rate coefficient and POP$\rightarrow$DIP decomposition rate coefficient of POP$\rightarrow$DOP$\rightarrow$DIP, POP$\rightarrow$DIP model were $0.039day^{-1}$ and $0.007day^{-1}$, respectively. And in the Sumjin River, the above decomposition rate coefficients were $0.031day^{-1}$ and $0.004day^{-1}$, respectively. The decomposition rate coefficients measured in this study might be applicable for modeling of river water quality.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.703-718
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• 2014

This study sought to investigate learning progressions for astronomical systems which synthesized the motion and structure of Earth, Earth-Moon system, solar system, and the universe. For this purpose we developed ordered multiple-choice items, applied them to elementary and middle school students, and provided validity evidence based on the consequence of assessment for interpretation of learning progressions. The study was conducted according to construct modeling approach. The results showed that the OMCs were appropriate for investigating learning progressions on astronomical systems, i.e., based on item fit analysis, students' responses to items were consistent with the measurement of Rasch model. Wright map analysis also represented that the assessment items were very effective in examining students' hypothetical pathways of development of understanding astronomical systems. At the lower anchor of the learning progression, while students perceived the change of location and direction of celestial bodies with only two-dimensional earth-based view, they failed to connect the locations of celestial bodies with Earth-Moon system model, and they could recognized simple patterns of planets in the solar system and milky way. At the intermediate levels, students interpreted celestial motion using the model of Earth rotation and revolution, Earth-Moon system, and solar system with space-based view, and they could also relate the elements of astronomical structures with the models. At the upper anchor, students showed the perspective change between space-based view and earth-based view, and applied it to celestial motion of astronomical systems, and they understood the correlation among sub-elements of astronomical systems and applied it to the system model.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.35-48
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• 2021

In this study, the assessment of field applicability of in-situ remediation of nitrate-contaminated groundwater located in Yesan-gun was performed. Zero-valent iron/bio composite media injected PRB (Permeable Reactive Barrier) and monitoring well were installed in the contaminated groundwater site and monitored main remediation indicators during the PRB operation. Nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, Fe ion, TOC, and turbidity were analyzed and the diversity and population of microorganism in the PRB installed site were investigated for the verification of effect of injected PRB. In the study site where is an agricultural area, a river flows from west to east that forms a river boundary and the southern area has an impermeable sector. It was found that nitrate flows into the river, which is similar as groundwater flow. Simulation result for the fate of nitrate in groundwater showed steady state of nitrate arrived after 3~5 years passed. However, it is just to consider current conditions with no additional input of contaminant source, if additional input of contaminant source occurs contamination dispersion and time for steady state are expected to be increased. The monitoring results showed that Fe ion, TOC and turbidity in groundwater were not clearly changed in concentration after PRB installation, which indicates adaptability of the injected PRB for remediation of groundwater with no additional harmful effect to water quality. The concentration of nitrate maintained less than 5mg/L until 42 days after PRB installation and recovered its initial concentration after 84 days passed and showed termination of reactivity of injected zero-valent iron/bio composite media for removal nitrate. Nitrite and ammonia ions found after installation of PRB indicates reductive removal of nitrate. And the outstanding increase of microorganism diversity and population of Betaproteobacteria Class which includes denitrification microorganism explains biologically reductive removal of nitrate in injected PRB.