SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — The devastating earthquake that occurred in Turkey and Syria last week turned out to have impacted not only the South Korean landmass but also its underground water levels.
A research team from the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources detected a change in the underground water levels at two underground water observation wells after the mainshock and aftershocks of the earthquake.
At the observation well in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, the underground water level increased by 7 centimeters after the mainshock and dropped by 3 centimeters following a series of aftershocks.
Scientists at the observation well in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, detected a 3-centimeter increase in the underground water level after the mainshock.
Once an earthquake occurs, the seismic wave exerts pressure on the rocks around the aquifer, a stratum containing underground water, causing compression and expansion in the aquifer, which causes the underground water level to increase and decrease.
Image Credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
