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Turkiye Earthquake Affected Groundwater Levels in Korea 7400km away

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It was confirmed that the earthquake in Turkiye had a significant impact not only on the ground in Korea, which is 7400 km away, but also on the groundwater level.

The Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), led by Dr. Soo-Hyung Lee’s research team, has detected large groundwater levels in Mungyeong and Gangneung, two domestic groundwater observation wells, after the main earthquake (magnitude 7.8) and aftershock (magnitude 7.5) of the Turkiye earthquake that occurred on the 6th (local time). It was announced on the 14th that a change was detected.

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At the observation deck in Mungyeong, the groundwater level rose by 7 cm after the main earthquake, followed by a drop of 3 cm during aftershocks, and at the observation deck in Gangneung, a rise of 3 cm after the main earthquake was detected.

When an earthquake occurs, pressure is applied to the rocks around the aquifer where groundwater is located due to seismic waves, and compression and expansion occur in the aquifer, causing the groundwater level to rise and fall repeatedly, called ‘oscillation’.

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An aquifer, a stratum containing groundwater, is composed of sand, gravel, silt, and clay with a large amount of voids. A mixture of sand, gravel, and sand has large pores, allowing groundwater to flow well, whereas silt or clay has small pores, making it difficult for groundwater to move.

In particular, the groundwater level aftermath of the main earthquake and aftershock of the Turkiye earthquake was clearly detected at the Mungyeong observation boat.

Dr. Soo-Hyung Lee’s team, which is the only one in Korea to conduct earthquake-groundwater change research, has been involved in earthquakes in Indonesia (magnitude 7.7 in 2010), the Great East Japan earthquake (magnitude 9.0 in 2011), Nepal (magnitude 7.8 in 2015), as well as earthquakes in New Zealand that are 9300 km away. (2021 scale 7.8) At that time, the change in groundwater level was observed, studied, and published in an international journal.

When a strong earthquake occurs, the outflow and inflow can occur irregularly due to the rapid flow of groundwater. Since groundwater can have a serious impact on the underground environment, such as rich aquifers, radioactive waste sites, and contaminated areas, continuous research through earthquake-groundwater connection inspections is necessary.

Dr. Lee Soo-hyung said, “Through this observational study, we have confirmed the results that when a strong earthquake occurs, it can affect not only the shaking of the earth’s crust but also the groundwater even thousands of kilometers away.” We will strive to preserve and utilize underground water, which is a treasure.”

“Earthquakes are unpredictable, but if we apply multidisciplinary seismic technology, we can be prepared to minimize damage,” said Lee Pyeong-gu, director of the Korea Institute of Geological Sciences. “We will take the lead in creating a safe Korea through our earthquake preparedness technology.”

[대전=뉴시스]

Source: Donga

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