Abstract.
We use in this paper advanced geophysical techniques for the characterization and monitoring of subsurface properties such as porosity, water content and electrical conductivity of water. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and electrical conductivity measurements were recorded monthly during one year at the border of a corn field. Velocity analyses of multioffset GPR data were conducted to determine total porosity and to monitor vertical transport of water from the soil surface to the water table. The use of novel and original techniques for GPR processing (GPR velocity estimation by the Common Reflection Surface (CRS) method, kriging applied to GPR velocity) improved the estimate and the resolution of GPR velocity maps compared with the classical Normal MoveOut (NMO) and the bi-linear interpolation. Electrical resistivities were used to determine the effective porosity. The combination of GPR and electrical data permitted to estimate the electrical conductivity of water and to highlight high conductivity zones, possibly due to contamination by agricultural fertilizers. Independent determinations (grain size fractions, electrical conductivity, major ion content of water samples and porosity) were obtained, that validate our geophysical investigation. This study demonstrates the efficiency of non destructive geophysical approaches for providing accurate models of water content, porosity and electrical conductivity of water down to a depth of several meters in a poorly conductive soil.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Greaves, R.J., Lesmes, D.P, Lee, J.M., and Tokoz, M.N., 1996. Velocity variations and water content estimated from multi-offset ground penetrating radar. Geophysics. v. 61. p. 683--695.
Loeffler, O., and Bano, M., 2004. Ground penetrating radar measurements in a controlled vadose zone: influence of water content. Vadose Zone v. 3. p. 1082--1092
Dannovski, G., and Yaramanci, U., 1999. Estimation of water content and porosity using combined radar and geoelectrical measurements. Eur. J. Environ. Eng. Geophys. v. 4. p. 71--85.
Hagrey, S.A., and Müller, C., 2000. GPR study of pore water content and salinity in sand. Geophys. Prospect. v. 48, p. 63--85.
Gloaguen, E., Chouteau, M., Marcotte, D., and Chapuis, R., 2001, Estimation of hydraulic conductivity of an unconfined aquifer using cokriging of GPR and hydrostratigraphic data. J. Appl. Geophy. v. 47. p. 135--152.
Garambois, S., Sénéchal, P., and Perroud, H., 2002. On the use of combined geophysical methods to assess water content and electrical conductivity of water of near-surface formations. J. Hydrol. v. 259. p. 32--48.
Jäger, R., Mann, J., Höcht, G., and Hubral, P., 2001, Common-reflection surface stack: image and attributes. Geophysics v. 66 no. 1, p.~97--109.
Perroud, H. and Tygel, M., 2005, Velocity estimation by CRS method: using GPR data. Geophysics, in press.
Journel, A.G., and Huijbregts, C. J., 1978, Mining Geostatistics. Academic Press. London.
Myers, D.E., 1982, Matrix formulation of co-kriging. J. Math. Geol. v. 14. p. 249--257.
Chambre d’Agriculture des Hautes Pyrénées, (1994), Lutte contre les pollutions d’origine agricole des nappes alluviales de Midi-Pyrénées. Z.E.M.E de Maubourguet- Larreule.Bilan 1991–1994. Report. 31 pp.
Yilmaz, O., 1987, Seismic Data Processing. Society of Exploration Geophysics Series: Investigations in geophysisics, Vol. 2, SEG, Tulsa, USA. 526 p.
Dix, C.H., 1955. Seismic velocities from the surface measurements. Geophysics. v. 20. p. 68--86.
Loke, M.H., and Barker, R.D., 1996. Rapid least-squares inversion of apparent resitivity pseudosections using a quasi-Newton method. Geophys. Prospect. v. 44. p. 131--152.
de Groot-hedlin, C., and Constable, S., 1990, Occam's inversion to generate smooth, two dimensional models from magnetotelluric data. Geophysics. v. 55. p. 1613--1624.
Davis, J.L., and Annan, A.P., 1989. Ground penetrating radar for high-resolution mapping of soil and rock stratigraphy. Geophys. Prospect. v. 37. p. 531--552.
Topp, G.C., Davis, J.L., and Annan, A.P., 1980, Electromagnetic determination of soil water content: measurements in coaxial transmission lines: Water Resour. Res. v. 16, p. 574--582.
Tinga, W.R., Voss W.A.G., and Blossey, D.F., 1973, Generalized approach to multiphase dielectric mixture theory. J. Appl. Phys., v. 44, no. 9, p. 3897--3902.
Roth, K., Schulin, R., Flühler, H., and Attinger, W., 1990, Calibration of time domain reflectometry for water content measurement using a composite dielectric approach. Water Resour. Res. v. 26, no. 10, p. 2267--2273.
Birchak, J.R., Gardner, C.G., Hipp, J.E., and Victor, J.M., 1974, High dielectric constant microwave probes for sensing soil moisture. Proc. IEEE, v. 62, no. 1, p. 93--98.
Alharti, A., and Lange, J., 1987, Soil water saturation: dielectric determination. Water Resour. Res., v. 23, no. 4, p. 591--595.
Handbook of Physics and Chemistry, 67 edn., CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. 1986.
Reynolds, J.M., 1997, An Introduction to Applied and Environmental Geophysics. Wiley, Chichester, England. 796 p.
Gueguen, Y., and Palciauskas, V., 1992, Introduction àla Physique des Roches. Hermann, France. 299 p.
Edwards, R.N., 1997. On the resource evaluation of marine gas hydrate deposits using sea-floor transcient electric dipole--dipole methods. Geophysics. v. 62, p. 63--74.
Dannovski, G., and Yaramanci, U., 1999, Estimation of water content and porosity using combined radar and geoelectrical measurements. Eur. J. Environ. Eng. Geophys. v. 4. p. 71--85.
McWhorter, D.B., and Sunata, D.K., 1977, Ground Water Hydrology and Hydraulics. Water Ressources Publications. Fort Collins, Colorado. 290 p.
Mari J.-L., Arens G., Chapellier D., and Gaudiani P., (1998). Géophysique de gisement et de gé.nie civil. Éditions Technip.Publications de l’institut franç.ais du pétrole. p. 373.
Waxman, M., and Smits, L., 1968, Electrical conductivity in oil bearing shaky sands. Petrol. Eng. J., v. 243, p. 107--122.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sénéchal, P., Perroud, H., Kedziorek, M.A.M. et al. Non Destructive Geophysical Monitoring of Water Content and Fluid Conductivity Anomalies in the Near Surface at the Border of an Agricultural. Subsurf Sens Technol Appl 6, 167–192 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11220-005-0005-0
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11220-005-0005-0