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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » National Sedimentation Laboratory » Watershed Physical Processes Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #403068
Research Project: Acoustic and Geophysical Methods for Multi-Scale Measurements of Soil and Water Resources

Location: Watershed Physical Processes Research

Title: Groundwater aquifer delineation using electrical resistivity tomography and vertical electrical sounding

Author
item MAMUD, MD LAL - University Of Mississippi
item HOLT, ROBERT - University Of Mississippi
item HICKEY, CRAIG - University Of Mississippi
item DAVIDSON, GREGG - University Of Mississippi
item WODAJO, LETI - University Of Mississippi
item BAKHTIARA RAD, PARSA - University Of Mississippi
item SAMAD, MD ABDUS - University Of Mississippi
item BUSKES, ELSIE - University Of Mississippi
item MAMUD, MD ILIAS - University Of Mississippi

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/13/2022
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Abstract only.

Technical Abstract: Electrical resistivity geophysical surveys provide dense spatial data that can be used to identify numbers of sedimentary layers, determine their thickness and map an aquifer. In this study, Vertical electrical soundings and electrical resistivity tomography surveys were conducted to map the aquifer within the facility. Vertical electrical soundings data was collected using the Wenner array with a maximum A-spacing of 40 meter centering the monitoring well number MMRI-BFS-1. Sedimentary layers were identified in this location by analyzing the cumulative plot of the vertical electrical soundings data for the inversion. And, the inverted layered resistivity model of the vertical electrical soundings data shows the top and bottom of the aquifer at 7.5 meters and 22 meters respectively. Data for the three electrical resistivity tomography profiles were collected along and across the Bay Spring Flood Plain at the site to determine the extent of the aquifer. The mixed Dipole-Dipole and Strong Gradient array types with 2 meters electrode spacing were adopted to collect electrical resistivity tomography data. Data for the two 334 meters long electrical resistivity tomography profile-2 and profile-3 were collected with a roll along of 50% overlapping. The finite element method and Cholesky Decomposition solver with Dirichlet boundary conditions using EarthImager two dimensional were used to invert electrical resistivity tomography data. The inverted electrical resistivity tomography profile-2 was calibrated with a new borehole log to delineate the aquifer. The electrical resistivity tomography profile-2 and profile-3 show the aquifer is confined and pinches out on the southern and eastern sides and has a maximum thickness of about 33 meters under the Flood Plain close to the old shed. The electrical resistivity tomography profile-1 shows the aquifer changes from confined to unconfined on the northern side of the valley.