ARS | Publication request: Applications of Ground-Penetrating Radar in the Southeastern U.S.

Submitted to: American Society of Agricultural Engineers
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: January 19, 1992
Publication Date: January 19, 1992
Citation: TRUMAN, C.C., BOSCH, D.D. APPLICATIONS OF GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR IN THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S. - AN OVERVIEW. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS. Paper #GL-92-40:42-43. 1992.

Interpretive Summary: Soils in the Southeastern U.S. vary in depth, texture, and depth to water table. Nondestructive and cost-efficient ways are needed to determine the lateral extent and depth to soil features or interfaces that alter vertical water movement. An overview is provided on the uses of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) in the Southeastern U.S. with emphasis on how these uses directly relate to how agriculture and the environment co-exist. GPR has been used to map soil features, water tables, wetting fronts, and geologic materials in the Southeastern U.S. Applications of GPR, including its limitations, will be presented.

Technical Abstract: Soils in the Southeastern U.S. vary in depth, texture, depth to water table, and other intrinsic properties. Nondestructive and cost-efficient ways are needed to determine the lateral extent and depth to soil features or interfaces that cause lateral and preferential flow of water and agrichemicals. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the uses of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) in the Southeastern U.S. with emphasis on how these uses directly relate to how agriculture and the environment interact. GPR has been used to nondestructively investigate the spatial variability of soil properties, water tables, wetting fronts, and geologic materials in the Southeastern U.S. Past and current uses of GPR, including its limitations, will be presented.