Relationships between molecular bacterial diversity and chemistry of groundwater in the Wairarapa Valley,New Zealand

Groundwater plays an important role in New Zealand water supplies and hence monitoring activities are conducted regularly. Most monitoring programmes aim to evaluate groundwater chemistry and almost completely overlook the microbial component in this ecosystem. In our present study, the bacterial community structure of groundwater in the Wairarapa Valley was examined using the terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP), and relationships between bacterial community structure and groundwater chemistry, aquifer confinement and groundwater usage were explored. In addition, the results from this study were compared with a previous T-RFLP survey of the same area in an attempt to detect changes in bacterial community structure over time. The data obtained suggested that bacterial community structure was related to groundwater chemistry, especially to redox conditions. Species composition showed minimal variation over time if groundwater chemistry remained unchanged. These findings reflect the potential of using bacterial communities as biological indicators to evaluate the health of groundwater ecosystems. We suggest that it is important to include this type of broad bacterial diversity assessment criteria into regular groundwater monitoring activities.     

The role of sea ice in coastal and bottom dynamics in the Pechora Sea

This article deals with the morpho- and lithodynamic role of ice in shaping the Arctic coasts. Taking the Pechora Sea as an example, the direct and indirect impact of ice on the sea floor and shores is described. Active gouging by ice floes, ice-rafting of sedimentary material, formation of strudel scour depressions and frozen rocks on shallows are all direct impacts. The indirect impact of ice that arrests the coastal zone for most of the year is a considerable reduction of the overall energy of waves and currents. Based on the performed analysis, we plot a schematic zonation of the Pechora Sea according to the probable impact of ice on the shores and seafloor.     

Significance of Dar-Zarrouk parameters in the exploration of quality affected coastal aquifer systems

The interpreted Earth subsurface resistivity layer parameters of 55 vertical geoelectrical soundings are analyzed over a fan shaped area of 1,700 km² from Pipli-Astrang-Bhramgiri, Orissa, India. In this study, Dar-Zarrouk (D-Z) parameters, namely the longitudinal conductance (S), transverse resistance (T) and longitudinal resistivity (R _s ) are analyzed and we encountered the resistivity regime of the clay layers, saline and fresh water bearing formations. The significance of these parameters in establishing an easily decipherable vision about the occurrence and distribution of fresh and saline water aquifers, while dealing with complicated situations of intermixing of the resistivity ranges of saline and fresh water aquifers has been illustrated. The results show that the Dar-Zarrouk (D-Z) parameters provide a useful and confident solution in delineating the saline and fresh water aquifers. The behavior of the D-Z parameters S, T and R _s , and its patterns in space over large areas with respect to the occurrence of saline water and fresh water aquifer systems in the deltaic coastal aquifer system has been demonstrated.     

Resolution of freshwater and saline water aquifers by composite geophysical data analysis methods

Abstract

The resolution of the freshwater and saline water aquifers in a coastal terrain (Mahanadi Basin, India) is updated. We analysed electrical borehole log data at four sites and compared the water resistivity regime of the freshwater and saline water zones obtained from electrical borehole logging, with the resistivity regime obtained by interpreting vertical electrical sounding (VES) data. The multilayer VES data interpretation is modified to a simple model, containing only the freshwater zone and the saline water zone. The composite geophysical parameters of the freshwater and saline water zones, in particular the resistivity and longitudinal unit conductance regime, are identified. The resolution obtained from the composite geophysical data analyses is very clear and convincing. The composite longitudinal unit conductance regime of the saline water zones is very high compared to that of the freshwater zones. This makes the identification of the two aquifers easy and increases its reliability. A technique which enables analysis of composite geophysical data of freshwater and saline water zones at VES sites in the vicinity of the borehole log sites is proposed. The significance of longitudinal unit conductance in resolving the freshwater and saline water aquifers is illustrated graphically. The proposed technique is validated by correlating the longitudinal unit conductance and resistivity with the total dissolved solids. The efficiency of the technique is validated by carrying out discriminant function analysis.

Citation Hodlur, G. K., Dhakate, R., Sirisha, T. & Panaskar, D. B. (2010) Resolution of freshwater and saline water aquifers by composite geophysical data analysis methods. Hydrol. Sci. J. 55(3), 414–434.     

Geophysical expression of natural recharge in different geological terrains

Behavior of the Dar-Zarrouk parameters--longitudinal unit conductance, transverse unit resistance, longitudinal resistivity, and transverse resistivity--has been compared with the behavior of the natural recharge in two geological terrains. Contour patterns of the geophysical parameters and those of natural recharge have been analyzed and a qualitative relation in their behavior was recognized. Graphical comparison of the geophysical and hydrogeological parameters clearly illustrates a qualitative relationship between the two parameters. Use of such qualitative relation in the field of ground water exploration and management studies is explained. A modest beginning is attempted to arrive at a quantitative relation between natural recharge and Dar-Zarrouk parameters.     

Application of conductance phenomenon in groundwater studies

In this article, we present an interesting behaviour of conductance in a basaltic terrain. We use vertical electrical sounding data carried out in Wenner configuration at dug well sites for data analysis. Geophysical phenomena observed in the sharply rising trends followed by negligibly rising trends of the conductance curves are discussed. The unique behaviour of conductance curve is used to estimate depth to the static water level in dug wells. The geophysically estimated depths to the static water levels are compared with the observed static water levels in the existing dug wells located at all sites of investigation. Water-level fluctuations observed in dug wells between two different periods coinciding with pre- and post-monsoon regimes are geophysically estimated by using the trends on the conductance curves. Depth to the static water levels is geophysically estimated at seven experimental sites located adjacent to dug wells and four virgin sites where there are no dug wells. Validation of the geophysically estimated static water levels and static water-level fluctuations shows encouraging results.     

Correlation of vertical electrical sounding and electrical borehole log data for groundwater exploration

We have correlated the longitudinal unit conductance CL obtained from interpreted vertical electrical sounding data with the formation resistivity R_t and the formation resistivity factor F, obtained by carrying out electrical borehole logging. Interpreted geophysical data of eleven soundings and two electrical borehole log records are used for the analysis. The geophysical data used were acquired in a sedimentary basin. The study area is called Lower Maner Basin located in the province of Andhra Pradesh, India. Vertical electrical soundings were carried out using a Schlumberger configuration with half current electrode separation varying from 600–1000 m. For logging the two boreholes, a Widco logger‐model 3200 PLS was used. True formation resistivity R_t was calculated from a resistivity log. Formation resistivity factor F was also calculated at various depths using R_t values. An appreciable inverse relation exists between the correlated parameters. The borehole resistivity R_t and the formation resistivity factor F decrease with the increase in the longitudinal unit conductance CL. We have shown the use of such a relation in computing borehole resistivity R_t and formation resistivity factor F at sites that posses only vertical electrical sounding data, with a fair degree of accuracy. Validation of the correlation is satisfactory. Scope for updating the correlation is discussed. Significance and applications of the relation for exploration of groundwater, namely to update the vertical electrical sounding data interpretation by translating the vertical electrical sounding data into electrical borehole log parameters, to facilitate correlations studies and to estimate the porosity (φ), permeability (K) and water saturation S_w of water bearing zones are discussed.     

Role of some salient geophysical, geochemical, and hydrogeological parameters in the exploration of fresh groundwater in a brackish terrain

. Geophysical, geochemical, and hydrogeological parameters, for example longitudinal unit conductance (S), transverse unit resistance (T), total dissolved solids (TDS) and thickness of the weathered zone (Wz), have been compared for 25 sites of Navalgund taluk in Dharwar District of Karnataka State, India. Interrelation among these parameters has been analyzed quantitatively by the standard statistical technique leading to a suitable mathematical model. The contrasting geophysical, geochemical, and hydrogeological characteristics of the fresh water pockets in the regionally brackish aquifers are compared and illustrated. The study explains the significant bearing of these parameters on exploration, development, and exploitation of fresh groundwater sources in the areas affected by the occurrence of a brackish water aquifer. The importance of such a comparison in raising the confidence to identify a fresh groundwater aquifer in the brackish terrain by quantitative interpretation of resistivity data has been demonstrated.     

Redemarcation of recharge area of stressed confined aquifers of Neyveli groundwater basin, India, through tritium tracer studies

Natural recharge due to rainfall (annual average 1,200 mm) over an area of 1,500 km² of the Neyveli groundwater basin was carried out for two consecutive hydrological years, using the tritium injection technique. The lignite seams, occurring within the Upper Miocene formation in the basin have been mined for the last 40 years. The confined aquifer underlying the lignite seams has been pumped continuously since 1961, for depressurization and safety around the mine. The recharge zone is identified as an elongated zone, oriented in a NE–SW direction within the basin. Natural recharge measurements were made at several sites (single and duplicate injections), covering the entire basin. They indicate a recharge rate of 333–556 mm/year (24–40% of rainfall) in the north and northeastern parts, covering the previously defined recharge areas as well as some adjoining areas. Soil moisture movement at several duplicate sites in these areas showed significant downward migration of tracer during the non-monsoon period, probably caused by pumping in the mine area. Isotopic data of ground water samples in the northern and northeastern part of the basin indicates modern ages. Concurrent field observations like deep water table with high annual fluctuations and exposure of pebble beds, enabled the redemarcation of the aggregate recharge area as 650 km². The redefined recharge area includes the areas identified by earlier workers as well as the new area on the northeastern side of the lignite mine.