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Near-surface geophysical characterization of gully erosion hazard-prone area in Calabar, southern Nigeria

  • Research Article - Applied Geophysics
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Abstract

The electrical resistivity, i.e. electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and direct current-resistivity sounding (DC-ERS), and ground penetrating radar (GPR) methods were deployed to assess a gully erosion site in Bacoco area of Calabar, Nigeria. The study aims to assess the mechanism and dynamics of the gully erosion conditions in the area based on shallow lithostratigraphic evaluations. The results revealed good contrast in the operative properties (i.e. electrical resistivity and dielectric permittivity) between competent and weak zones along the profiles close to the gully head. The joint interpretations provided reliable shallow subsurface models and lithologies that consist predominantly of lateritic top cover and sands. However, the ERT model delineates the contrast between lithologies and demarcates the weak zones from the relatively competent zones, in contrast to the responses generated by the GPR technique. This joint interpretation approach minimizes the uncertainty due to the non-uniqueness problems common to the geophysical technique. Also, the geophysical interpretations were constrained using lithologic information from the gully walls and one-dimensional (1-D) DC-ERS inverted model to provide additional validity. Our findings suggest the influence of structural control on gully formation and demonstrate its contribution to the complex interactions with other drivers, such as seepages through porous media and high-energy runoff due to intense rainfall. The rapid, non-invasive and environmentally friendly characteristics of ERT and GPR techniques favour their applicability in assessing shallow subsurface environmental problems.

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Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate the Co-Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Gabriela Fernández Viejo and the two anonymous reviewers for painstakingly reviewing our manuscript. Their constructive comments and contributions have greatly improved the quality of our manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Applied Geophysics Programme, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria

    Ebong Dickson Ebong, Job Gideon Urang, Anthony Ukpongnukpon Ugi & Andebutop Sule

  2. Earth and Space Sciences Department, University Kasdi Merbah Ouargla, 30000, Ouargla, Algeria

    Oualid Melouah

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  1. Ebong Dickson Ebong
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Correspondence to Ebong Dickson Ebong.

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Ebong, E.D., Urang, J.G., Melouah, O. et al. Near-surface geophysical characterization of gully erosion hazard-prone area in Calabar, southern Nigeria. Acta Geophys. 72, 85–96 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-023-01103-7

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