Electrical Resistivity Characterization of Anisotropy in the Biscayne Aquifer

Electrical anisotropy occurs when electric current flow varies with azimuth. In porous media, this may correspond to anisotropy in the hydraulic conductivity resulting from sedimentary fabric, fractures, or dissolution. In this study, a 28‐electrode resistivity imaging system was used to investigate electrical anisotropy at 13 sites in the Biscayne Aquifer of SE Florida using the rotated square array method. The measured coefficient of electrical anisotropy generally ranged from 1.01 to 1.12 with values as high as 1.36 found at one site. The observed electrical anisotropy was used to estimate hydraulic anisotropy (ratio of maximum to minimum hydraulic conductivity) which ranged from 1.18 to 2.83. The largest values generally were located on the Atlantic Coastal Ridge while the lowest values were in low elevation areas on the margin of the Everglades to the west. The higher values of anisotropy found on the ridge may be due to increased dissolution rates of the oolitic facies of the Miami formation limestone compared with the bryozoan facies to the west. The predominate trend of minimum resistivity and maximum hydraulic conductivity was E‐W/SE‐NW beneath the ridge and E‐W/SW‐NE farther west. The anisotropy directions are similar to the predevelopment groundwater flow direction as indicated in published studies. This suggests that the observed anisotropy is related to the paleo‐groundwater flow in the Biscayne Aquifer.     

The Method for Inferring a Buried Fault from Resistivity Tomograms and Its Typical Electrical Features

Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) has been used to experimentally detect shallow buried faults in urban areas in the past a few years, with some progress and experience obtained. According to the results from Olympic Park, Beijing, Shandong Province, Gansu Province and Shanxi Province, we have generalized the method and procedure for inferring the discontinuity of electrical structures (DES) indicating a buried fault in urban areas from resistivity tomograms and its typical electrical features. In general, the layered feature of the electrical structure is first analyzed to preliminarily define whether or not a DES exists in the target area. Resistivity contours in resistivity tomograms are then analyzed from the deep to the shallow. If they extend upward from the deep to the shallow and shape into an integral dislocation, sharp flexure (convergence) or gradient zone, it is inferred that the DES exists, indicating a buried fault. Finally, horizontal tracing is be carried out to define the trend of the DES. The DES can be divided into three types-type AB, ABA and AC. In the present paper, the Zhangdian-Renhe fault system in Zibo city is used as an example to illustrate how to use the method to infer the location and spatial extension of a target fault. Geologic drilling holes are placed based on our research results, and the drilling logs testify that our results are correct. However, the method of this paper is not exclusive and inflexible. It is expected to provide reference and assistance for inferring the shallow buried faults in urban areas from resistivity tomograms in the future.     

Electrical Resistivity Imaging and the Saline Water Interface in High-Quality Coastal Aquifers

Population growth and changing climate continue to impact on the availability of natural resources. Urbanization of vulnerable coastal margins can place serious demands on shallow groundwater. Here, groundwater management requires definition of coastal hydrogeology, particularly the seawater interface. Electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) appears to be ideally suited for this purpose. We investigate challenges and drivers for successful electrical resistivity imaging with field and synthetic experiments. Two decades of seawater intrusion monitoring provide a basis for creating a geo-electrical model suitable for demonstrating the significance of acquisition and inversion parameters on resistivity imaging outcomes. A key observation is that resistivity imaging with combinations of electrode arrays that include dipole–dipole quadrupoles can be configured to illuminate consequential elements of coastal hydrogeology. We extend our analysis of ERI to include a diverse set of hydrogeological settings along more than 100 km of the coastal margin passing the city of Perth, Western Australia. Of particular importance are settings with: (1) a classic seawater wedge in an unconfined aquifer, (2) a shallow unconfined aquifer over an impermeable substrate, and (3) a shallow multi-tiered aquifer system over a conductive impermeable substrate. We also demonstrate a systematic increase in the landward extent of the seawater wedge at sites located progressively closer to the highly urbanized center of Perth. Based on field and synthetic ERI experiments from a broad range of hydrogeological settings, we tabulate current challenges and future directions for this technology. Our research contributes to resolving the globally significant challenge of managing seawater intrusion at vulnerable coastal margins.     

地电观测获取的明确异常变化及其科学意义

自20世纪70年代开展地震地电观测研究以来,我国已积累了不少的震前地电异常震例.这些异常变化既有趋势的,也有短临剧烈的变化.无论是70年代唐山,澜沧一耿马地震,还是近年印尼,汶川强震,都获得了较多的观测资料.     

熊家冢古墓电阻率层析成像探测

为了合理地设计熊家冢古墓的后续考古发掘工作,需要对其主冢和陪冢的位置和墓室埋深等进行地球物理探测。电阻率层析成像具有无损性的优点,利用该技术对熊家冢古墓的主冢和陪冢进行了试验性探测。在探测中,分别布设了展布南北和东西的2条测线来控制主冢和陪冢。根据反演后的电阻率图像,估算了主冢和陪冢的位置和尺寸,为古墓的后续考古挖掘工作设计提供了基本参数。     

Electrical Resistivity Imaging of Seawater Intrusion into the Monterey Bay Aquifer System

We use electrical resistivity tomography to obtain a 6.8‐km electrical resistivity image to a depth of approximately 150 m.b.s.l. along the coast of Monterey Bay. The resulting image is used to determine the subsurface distribution of saltwater‐ and freshwater‐saturated sediments and the geologic controls on fluid distributions in the region. Data acquisition took place over two field seasons in 2011 and 2012. To maximize our ability to image both vertical and horizontal variations in the subsurface, a combination of dipole–dipole, Wenner, Wenner‐gamma, and gradient measurements were made, resulting in a large final dataset of approximately 139,000 data points. The resulting resistivity section extends to a depth of 150 m.b.s.l., and is used, in conjunction with the gamma logs from four coastal monitoring wells to identify four dominant lithologic units. From these data, we are able to infer the existence of a contiguous clay layer in the southern portion of our transect, which prevents downward migration of the saltwater observed in the upper 25 m of the subsurface to the underlying freshwater aquifer. The saltwater and brackish water in the northern portion of the transect introduce the potential for seawater intrusion into the hydraulically connected freshwater aquifer to the south, not just from the ocean, but also laterally from north to south.     

高密度电法在水库坝址区勘察中的应用

近年来高密度电法被广泛应用于重大水利工程场地的工程地质调查、坝基及桥墩选址、采空区及地裂缝探测等诸多工程勘察领域。本文利用高密度电法对某水库大坝坝址区的覆盖层厚度、隐伏断层等地质结构进行探测,并在结合钻探资料和区域地质资料综合分析的基础上,取得了理想的勘察结果。查明水库区存在隐伏的断层和覆盖层厚度,为水库坝址选择提供重要的地球物理依据。     

多方位拟3D电法技术在古墓葬探测中的应用

2D高密度电法在古墓葬勘探中应用较多,但二维剖面解释局限性愈发突出。以2D平行或等角度放射状测线为基础的拟3D高密度电法能够一定程度上给出三维信息,但对地表条件要求较高,灵活性稍差。3D高密度电法能够给出详细的3D探测信息,但施工效率偏低,且难以适应复杂地表环境。为解决复杂地表环境古墓葬探测问题,提出了一种多方位拟3D高密度电法技术,并在一个位于密集竹林中的大型古墓葬调查中进行了应用研究。结合地表条件布设多个方位的2D高密度电法测线,将多个方位的2D反演数据合并为拟3D数据体,进行可视化解释获得了内部结构的3D信息。结果表明,该技术能够适应复杂环境,拟三维数据不仅能补充二维解释缺失的信息,且与钻探结果基本吻合。     

Feasibility Assessment of Long-Term Electrical Resistivity Monitoring of a Nitrate Plume

Long-term monitoring solutions at contaminated sites are necessary to track plume migration and evaluate the performance of remediation efforts. Electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) can potentially provide information about plume dynamics; however, the feasibility and likelihood of success are seldom evaluated before conducting a field study. Coupling flow and transport models with geoelectrical models provide a powerful way to assess the potential effectiveness of an actual ERI field campaign. We present a coupled approach for evaluating the feasibility of monitoring nitrate migration and remediation using 4D time-lapse ERI at a legacy nuclear waste facility. This kilometer-scale study focuses on depths below the water table (∼70 m). A flow and transport model is developed to perform simulations of nitrate migration and removal via a hypothetical pump-and-treat system. A tracer injection is also simulated at the leading edge of the nitrate plume to enhance the conductivity contrast between the native subsurface and the groundwater fluids. Images of absolute bulk conductivity provide limited information concerning plume migration while time-lapse difference images, which remove the static effects of geology, provide more useful information concerning plume dynamics over time. A spatial moment analysis performed on flow and transport and ERI models matches well during the tracer injection; however, inversion regularization smoothing otherwise limits the value in terms of locating the center of mass. We find that the addition of a tracer enables ERI to characterize plume dynamics during pump-and-treat operations, and late-time ERI monitoring provides a conservative estimate of nitrate plume boundaries in this synthetic study.