• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.14-18
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• 2004

High levels of ambient noise and safety factors often limit the use of 'active-source' seismic methods for geotechnical investigations in urban environments. As an alternative, shear-wave velocity-depth profiles can be obtained by treating the background microtremor wave field as a stochastic process, rather than adopting the traditional approach of calculating velocity based on ray path geometry from a known source. A recent field test in Melbourne demonstrates the ability of the microtremor method, using only Rayleigh waves, to resolve a velocity inversion resulting from the presence of a hard, 12 m thick basalt flow overlying 25 m of softer alluvial sediments and weathered mudstone. Normally the presence of the weaker underlying sediments would lead to an ambiguous or incorrect interpretation with conventional seismic refraction methods. However, this layer of sediments is resolved by the microtremor method, and its inclusion is required in one-dimensional layered-earth modelling in order to reproduce the Rayleigh-wave coherency spectra computed from observed seismic noise records. Nearby borehole data provided both a guide for interpretation and a confirmation of the usefulness of the passive Rayleigh-wave microtremor method. Sensitivity analyses of resolvable modelling parameters demonstrate that estimates of shear velocities and layer thicknesses are accurate to within approximately $10\%\;to\;20\%$ using the spatial autocorrelation (SPAC) technique. Improved accuracy can be obtained by constraining shear velocities and/or layer thicknesses using independent site knowledge. Although there exists potential for ambiguity due to velocity-thickness equivalence, the microtremor method has significant potential as a site investigation tool in situations where the use of traditional seismic methods is limited.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.252-258
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• 2007

We have studied the feasibility of geostatistics approach to enhancing analysis of sparsely obtained seismic data by combining with satellite gravity data. The shallow depth and numerous fishing nets in The Yellow Sea, west of Korea, makes it difficult to do seismic surveys in this area. Therefore, we have attempted to use geostatistics to integrate the seismic data along with gravity data. To evaluate the feasibility of this approach, we have extracted only a few seismic profile data from previous surveys in the Yellow Sea and performed integrated analysis combining with the results from gravity data under the assumption that seismic velocity and density have a high physical correlation. First, we analyzed the correlation between extracted seismic profiles and depths obtained from gravity inversion. Next, we transferred the gravity depth to travel time using non-linear indicator transform and analyze residual values by kriging with varying local means. Finally, the reconstructed time structure map was compared with the original seismic section given in the previous study. Our geostatistical approach demonstrates relatively satisfactory results and especially, in the boundary area where seismic lines are sparse, gives us more in-depth information than previously available.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.85-98
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• 2009

The tau-p inversion algorithm is widely employed to generate starting models with most computer programs, which implement refraction tomography. This algorithm emphasises the vertical resolution of many layers, and as a result, it frequently fails to detect even large lateral variations in seismic velocities, such as the decreases which are indicative of shear zones. This study demonstrates the failure of the tau-p inversion algorithm to detect or define a major shear zone which is 50m or 10 stations wide. Furthermore, the majority of refraction tomography programs parameterise the seismic velocities within each layer with vertical velocity gradients. By contrast, the Generalized Reciprocal Method (GRM) inversion algorithms emphasise the lateral resolution of individual layers. This study demonstrates the successful detection and definition of the 50m wide shear zone with the GRM inversion algorithms. The existence of the shear zone is confirmed by a 2D analysis of the head wave amplitudes and by numerous closely spaced orthogonal seismic profiles carried out as part of a later 3D refraction investigation. Furthermore, an analysis of the shot record amplitudes indicates that a reversal in the seismic velocities, rather than vertical velocity gradients, occurs in the weathered layers. The major conclusion reached in this study is that while all seismic refraction operations should aim to provide as accurate depth estimates as is practical, those which emphasise the lateral resolution of individual layers generate more useful results for geotechnical and environmental applications. The advantages of the improved lateral resolution are obtained with 2D traverses in which the structural features can be recognised from the magnitudes of the variations in the seismic velocities. Furthermore, the spatial patterns obtained with 3D investigations facilitate the recognition of structural features such as faults which do not display any intrinsic variation or 'signature' in seismic velocities.

• Journal of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea
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• v.9 no.4 s.44
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• pp.29-42
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• 2005

Total 350 borehole profiles were selected from the database of borehole logs in Seoul, for the site-specific seismic evaluation at two 4km${\times}$4km plain areas. Equivalent-linear site response analyses for the selected 350 sites were conducted based on shear wave velocity (Vs) Profiles, which were determined from the N-Vs correlation established using borehole seismic testing results in the inland areas of Korea. Most sites were categorized as site classes C and D based on the mean Vs to 30 m in depth (Vs30) ranging from 250 to 550 m/s. The she periods of the plains in Seoul ranging between 0.1 and 0.4 sec were significantly lower than those of the western US, from which the site coefficients in Korea were derived. For plains in Seoul, the site coefficients, Fa's and Fv's specified in the Korean seismic design guide, underestimate the ground motion in short-period (0.1-0.5 sec) band and overestimate the ground motion in mid-period (0.4-2.0 sec) band, respectively, because ol the differences in the geotechnical conditions between Seoul and the western US, although the Fa's in several sites overestimate the motion due to the base Isolation effect resulted from the soft layer in soil deposit.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.81-92
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• 2011

High resolution seismic profiles (chirp and sparker system) were analyzed for the interpretation of nearshore sedimentary environments of Suyeong Bay, Busan. The sedimentary sequence is classified into three seismic units (SU1a, SU1b, and SU2), overlying acoustic basement, and each units can be defined as erosional and disconformable strata. The lowermost SU1a is characterized by the acoustically parallel and prolonged inner reflections, compared with the upper SU1b displays irregular internal reflectors. The uppermost unit, SU2, is acoustically transparent. The acoustic basement is incised with channels, probably due to the active erosion during the early period of transgression. The acoustic basement deepens eastward in the study area, suggesting primary association with the Suyeong River. The upper SU1a and SU1b units constitute lowland-fill strata. SU2 is widely distributed over the study area. High resolution seismic profiles of Suyeong Bay provide significant information crucial to the interpretation of sedimentary environmental history, which is closely related to the sea level change, estuarine environment and influx of terrestrial sediments from the adjacent rivers.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.77-90
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• 2000

Five electrical resistivity dipole-dipole and two seismic reflection surveys were performed in the southeastern margin of the Yongdong basin to delineate the shallow basin architecture. To investigate the intra-basin structure, twenty four resistivity sounding points and three dipole-dipole lines were selected especially in the vicinity of volcanic masses. The basin-fault boundaries are identified in electrical dipole-dipole resistivity section as high resistivity-contrast of approximately $1,500\;{\Omega}{\cdot}m$, characterized as a band of high standard-deviation. They are also effectively clarified in the seismic reflection data: amplitude and continuity contrasts in the common shot gather, first-arrival profiles, complex attribute plots. The intra-basin resistivity structures are constructed by interpolating vertical electrical sounding data and dipole-dipole profiles. The high-resistivity anomalies most likely originate from the northsouth-trending and northeast-dipping volcanic masses, which are to be further quantitatively investigated with geomagnetic and magnetotelluric surveys.

• Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.17-33
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• 2007

Downhole seismic method is widely used for obtaining shear wave velocity profile of a site because it is simple and economical. Determining accurate travel time of shear wave is very important to obtain reliable result in downhole seismic method. In this paper, comparison study of various travel time determination methods was performed. Numerical study and model chamber test were performed for effective comparison study. Signal traces were acquired by performing downhole test at each numerical simulation and soil box test. Travel time data for each signal traces were determined by using six different methods and Vs profiles were evaluated. Comparing travel time data and Vs profiles with the reference value, the first arrival picking method proved to be ambiguous and unreliable. Other methods also did not always provide accurate results and the magnitude of error was dependent on the signal to noise ratio. Cross-correlation method proved to be the most adequate method for the field application and it was verified additionally with field data.

• Journal of the korean society of oceanography
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.96-106
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• 2004

A total of 116 surface sediment samples were obtained on the Yellow Sea and analyzed for grain size and geochemical elements in order to interpret the present sediment transportation. Thirty-nine cores and 3,070 line-km shallow seismic profiles are analyzed for sedimentary records of Yellow Sea in the past. Results show that the boundary of sediment transport between Korean side and Chinese side is about between $123^{\circ}E$ and $124^{\circ}E$. The similar result is produced from Shi et al. (in this publication). Two cyclonic patterns of surface sediments are recognized in the northeastern and southwestern Yellow Sea, while the strong front zone of the mud patch and sandy sediments are found in the southeastern Yellow Sea (the southwestern part of Korean coasts). The formation of fine-particle sediment packages, called for Northwest Mudbelt Deposit (NWMD), Hucksan Mudbelt Deposit (HSMD) and Jeju Mudbelt Deposit (JJMD), are resulted from eddies (gyres) of water circulations in the Yellow Sea. NWMD has been formed by cyclonic (anticlockwise) eddy. NWMD is composed of thick, homogeneous, relatively semi-consolidated gray clay-dominated deposit. On the other hand, HSMD and JJMD are formed by anticyclonic (clockwise) eddies. They are thick, homogeneous, organic-rich gray, silt-dominated deposit. Both core and surface sediments show that the middle zone across Chinese and Korean side contains bimodal frequency of grain-size distribution, indicating that two different transport mechanisms exist. These mud packages are surrounded by sand deposits from both Korea and China seas, indicating that Yellow Sea, which is the shallow sea and epicontinental shelf, is formed mostly by sand deposits including relict sands. The seismic profiles show such as small erosional/non-depositional channels, sand-ridges and sand-waves, Pleistocene-channelfilled deposits, a series of channels in the N-S major channel system, and thick Holocene sediment package, indicating that more complex sedimentary history exists in the Yellow Sea.

• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.1 no.1 s.1
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• pp.53-62
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• 1993

The geologic structure of the Yongil Bay was studied in detail based on high resolution seismic profiles. The seafloor trends NE to SW with a deeper part off the Kuryong Peninsula. The seafloor is rather smooth due to the Quaternary fluvial deposits in the lower part and muddy sediments in the upper part. The seafloor off Umockri is very irregular due to erosion where Tertiary sedimentary rocks crop out. The underlying basement rocks were strongly deformed with faults and folds. High-angled reverse faults mostly trend N-S and NNW-SSE and are indicative of westward thrusting. Normal faults in NW-SE and WNW-ESE directions occur locally. Large folding structures trend NE-SW nearshore area of Umockri. The geologic structure suggests that the bay was subject to compressional stress regimes trending E-W and/or NW-SE prior to the early Late Miocene.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 1999

From refraction data along four seismic profiles near Eonyang which the Yangsan fault passes through, the Slope Variation Indicators (SVI) are computed and interpreted in terms of fault distribution. The average velocities of 2,250-2,870 m/s are estimated using velocity-analysis functions for the target boundary along those profiles. The average velocity for Line 1 is approximately 600 m/s lower than ones for the other lines. The SVI's with amplitude greater than or equal to 0.5 ms/m are turned out to be located near faults shown on the high-resolution reflection section, as closely as one station spacing (3 m). Large amplitude SVI's are densely distributed near National Road 35, and the fault having the largest vertical slip is indicated to be located approximately 930 m west of the inferred fault on the published geologic map.