Researcher Yun-Ha Jung Departs for Long-Term Dispatch to LBNL, USA

[Berkeley=GeoVis] Yun-Ha Jung, a master's student researcher at the Computational Geophysics Lab of Jeonbuk National University (JBCGL), announced her departure for collaborative research with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) in the United States.

Yun-Ha Jung will conduct long-term dispatch research at LBNL for approximately seven months, from September 1, 2023, to March 23, 2024. This dispatch was carried out through the 'Global Innovative Talent Nurturing for Geophysical Exploration and Monitoring' project, promoted as part of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning's Energy Human Resources Development Project - Energy New Industry Global.

At LBNL, she will conduct collaborative research with Dr. Nori Nakata, a world-renowned authority in microseismic monitoring. Dr. Nakata is a top expert in seismic interferometry and environmental seismology, and has achieved unique results in subsurface imaging technology using microseisms.

The core topic of this dispatch research is demonstration research on microseismic monitoring of the Utah FORGE project in the United States. FORGE (Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy) is a large-scale geothermal energy development project promoted by the U.S. Department of Energy, enabling research using actual field data in Utah.

Microseismic monitoring is an advanced technology that detects and analyzes minute seismic activities occurring underground in real-time. In particular, it is considered an essential technology for evaluating the safety and efficiency of underground reservoirs in geothermal development and CCS projects.

LBNL possesses world-class technological capabilities in microseismic monitoring. In particular, it holds a unique position in real-time processing of large-volume seismic data and automated analysis systems using artificial intelligence.

During her dispatch, Yun-Ha Jung plans to analyze actual microseismic data from the FORGE project and develop new signal processing algorithms. She will also learn how to build real-time monitoring systems using LBNL's advanced research facilities.

This research achievement is expected to contribute significantly to securing new microseismic monitoring technologies in Korea. In particular, it is expected to directly help improve monitoring technologies for geothermal power generation and CCS projects currently underway in Korea.

The Energy New Industry Global project is a government-supported program aimed at fostering next-generation global leaders in the energy sector. Selected researchers gain long-term research experience at world-class overseas research institutions and build international networks.

Professor Ju-Won Oh expressed his expectations, stating, "It is very meaningful that Yun-Ha Jung has the opportunity to conduct research at LBNL, which possesses world-class microseismic monitoring technology." He added, "I am confident that the experience gained through this dispatch will make an innovative contribution to the development of domestic seismic monitoring technology."