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Title:	Military hydrology : Report 6, Assessment of two currently "fieldable" geophysical methods for military ground-water detection
Authors:	Butler, Dwain K. Llopis, José L.
Keywords:	Military hydrology Groundwater flow Geophysical research Water resources development
Publisher:	Environmental Laboratory (U.S.) Geotechnical Laboratory (U.S.)
Series/Report no.:	Miscellaneous Paper;EL-79-6 Report 6
Abstract:	Abstract: A Defense Science Board Water Support Task Force concluded that technology shortfalls exist in surface techniques for detection of ground water. These shortfalls in technology were also recognized in a Draft Letter of Agreement (DLOA) for a Subsurface Water Detector. In recognition of the groundwater detection technology shortfalls and in response to the questions raised by the DLOA, a Ground-Water Detection Workshop was held at Vicksburg, Mississippi, in January 1982. Conclusions of the Geophysics Working Group at the Ground-Water Detection Workshop were: (a) there are two currently "fieldable" geophysical methods, electrical resistivity and seismic refraction, that are applicable to the ground-water detection problem and may offer a near-term solution to the identified detection technology shortfall, and (b) there are several state-of-the-art and emerging geophysical techniques that may have potential in the far term for application to the ground-water detection problem. This report is the result of a study to (a) assess the feasibility of using two currently fieldable geophysical methods for military ground-water detection applications, (b) determine the limitations of the complementary use of the methods for the detection application, and (c) determine the level of expertise required for acquiring, processing, and interpreting the geophysical data if the methodology is feasible and the limitations are acceptable. The report presents the results of geophysical surveys at two sites, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, and Fort Carson, Colorado. Locations surveyed at the two sites presented varied geological complexity and ground-water conditions. Results of the surveys demonstrated success, marginal success, and failure in the ground-water detection application. Study conclusions can be summarized as follows: complementary seismic refraction and electrical resistivity surveys (a) can generally be used successfully for ground-water detection when the water table occurs in unconsolidated sediments and (b) generally cannot be used successfully for detection of ground water in confined rock aquifers. For the case of rock aquifers, a ground-water exploration program is required. The differences between the exploration and detection applications of geophysics are explained in the report. The study determined that: 1. Rugged, reliable seismic refraction and electrical resistivity instrumentation equipment that is commercially available would require very little adaptation for military ground-water detection application. 2. Rugged field microcomputer systems that are commercially available are suitable for processing and aiding in the interpretation of survey data, and interactive, "user-friendly" computer programs are available for survey data interpretation. 3. Military personnel can be trained to conduct seismic refraction and electrical resistivity surveys; minimum recommended training time is 3 months. 4. Professional expertise is required for final data interpretation. Feasible deployment options are also considered in the report.
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/11681/22868
Appears in Collections:	Miscellaneous Paper