Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Delineating alluvial aquifer heterogeneity using resistivity and GPR data.

Jerry C Bowling1, Antonio B Rodriguez, Dennis L Harry

  • 1BP America Inc., Houston, TX 77079, USA. Jerry.Bowling@bp.com

Ground Water
|December 6, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Geophysical data reveal aquifer structure and flow paths in fluvial systems. Ground penetrating radar and DC resistivity mapping showed a paleochannel did not influence groundwater flow, which was primarily in a braided fluvial system.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Paleo-salt water dominates coastal aquifer salinization: A continental-scale study in China.

Science advances·2026
Same author

Machine Learning-Based Prediction of <i>NOECs</i> for over 10,000 PFAS across Multiple Fish Species Enables Large-Scale Toxicological Analysis.

Environmental science & technology·2026
Same author

Enhanced performances of the coupled thermal conductive heating-groundwater circulation well approach.

Journal of contaminant hydrology·2026
Same author

Habitat context affects sediment nitrogen burial by restored Eastern Oyster reefs.

PloS one·2026
Same author

Rainstorm regulates phosphorus composition and migration along an ecological continuum of mudflat-mangrove-creek.

Marine environmental research·2026
Same author

Global alluvial channel patterns.

Nature communications·2026

Area of Science:

  • Geophysics
  • Hydrogeology
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Aquifer architecture and heterogeneity influence groundwater flow pathways.
  • Fluvial aquifers exhibit complex spatial variations in hydraulic conductivity.
  • Geophysical methods can aid in characterizing subsurface heterogeneity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the utility of geophysical methods for delineating fluvial aquifer heterogeneities.
  • To map preferential flow paths using ground penetrating radar (GPR) and direct current (DC) resistivity.
  • To relate geophysical attributes to hydraulic conductivity and tracer test data.

Main Methods:

  • Collection of 2D GPR and DC resistivity data across a surface grid.
  • Development of a geological model integrating geophysical data.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Comparison of the geological model with existing hydraulic conductivity measurements and tracer test results.

    • Main Results:

    • Four distinct stratigraphic units were identified: meandering fluvial system (MFS), braided fluvial system (BFS), fine-grained sands, and a clay-rich interval.
    • A paleochannel within the MFS was mapped using GPR and DC resistivity, showing it to be 2-4m deep and clay/silt-filled.
    • Groundwater flow was found to occur predominantly within the BFS, with the mapped paleochannel having no discernible impact on tracer plume migration.

    Conclusions:

    • Geophysical methods effectively delineate stratigraphic units and potential paleochannels in fluvial aquifers.
    • The study demonstrates that not all mapped geological features, such as the paleochannel, significantly influence subsurface flow patterns.
    • Integrating geophysical data with hydraulic and tracer test information is crucial for accurate conceptualization of groundwater flow in heterogeneous aquifers.