GEOPHYSICAL METHODS CAPABILITIES
The New York Water Science Center (NY WSC) makes extensive use of geophysical methods in its hydrologic investigations and research in cooperation with local, State, and Federal partners. The NY WSC staff has many years of experience in collecting and interpreting surface and borehole geophysical data, and applying the results to provide a better understanding of the subsurface environment for resource management and protection, infrastructure design, hazard mitigation, and remedial actions. The NYSWSC partners with the Hydrologic Remote Sensing Branch (HRSB) to apply the latest geophysical technologies in support of groundwater studies in New York and other WSCs.
The NY WSC has expertise in the application of multiple geophysical methods for a wide range of investigations:
- Unconsolidated aquifer characterization
- Gamma, electric, and EM induction logging for lithostratigraphic identification
- Seismic refraction and reflection surveys for mapping aquifer framework
- Passive-seismic soundings for mapping depth to bedrock
Geophysical logging of monitoring-well installations in the Lloyd aquifer on Long Island, New York
- Freshwater-saltwater interface and plume mapping
- EM induction logging for interface and plume delineation and monitoring
- Time-domain EM soundings for interface and plume delineation and monitoring
- Frequency-domain EM surveys of shallow electrically conductive plumes
Frequency-domain EM survey of road-salt plume near Lake Placid, New York
Electrically conductive plume associated with salt-mine collapse mapped by time-domain EM soundings, western New York
- Fractured-bedrock aquifer characterization
- Borehole-wall imaging using acoustic and optical methods for lithology and fracture/fabric distribution and orientation
- Flowmetering using EM and heat-pulse tools to estimate flow-zone transmissivity and hydraulic head
Optical- and acoustic-televiewer logs and core of fractured and solutioned carbonate bedrock, southeastern New York
Flowmetering of a bedrock test hole for a Marcellus-related groundwater study in western Maryland
- Soil moisture/groundwater/surface water interaction
- Infrared camera surveys to delineate points of surface discharge of groundwater to streams
- Fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing to delineate subsurface discharge of groundwater to stream reaches
- Ground-penetrating radar, electrical resistivity tomography, and frequency-domain EM to characterize soil moisture
Visible and thermal imaging of focused groundwater discharge to the Salmon River, central New York
- Surface-water conditions
- Multi-beam echo sounder surveys to map reservoir and lake bathymetry
- Ground penetrating radar surveys to map river ice thickness
Echosounder and GPS equipped boat used for bathymetric survey of Newton Reservoir, northern New Jersey
Bathymetry of the New Croton Reservoir mapped by multi-beam echosounder survey, southeastern New York
NMR Logging Capability
The NY WSC has procured a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logging system that is downhole digital and specifically designed for logging 4-inch diameter PVC-cased wells up to 1,000 meters in depth. NMR logging provides measurements of free and bound porosity and estimates of hydraulic conductivity in unconsolidated aquifers. The NMR system currently is being used in support of the Long Island Aquifer Sustainability project.
Innovative Log Analysis
The NY WSC worked with the Virginia-West Virginia Water Science Center (VA-WV WSC) to apply machine learning in well-log analysis. The analyzed Statewide dataset was collected by the VA-WV WSC in cooperation with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and included caliper, gamma, electric, sonic, image, fluid, and flow logs from over 120 wells.
Training in Hawaii
The NY WSC supported HRSB’s borehole geophysics workshop held this past May in Honolulu, Hawaii. Students from 10 WSCs across the continental U.S. and Pacific Islands participated in the workshop that included lectures, classroom exercises and field demonstrations. As a parting gift from their hosts, the instructors received traditional Polynesian leis. The Hawaii workshop is the latest in a series of regional geophysics classes held across the US since the late 1990s.
Key Staff Profiles
John Williams
Fred Stumm, PhD
Liz Nystrom
Neil Terry, PhD
Robin Glas, PhD
Selected Publications
Field evaluation of semi-automated moisture estimation from geophysics using machine learning
Nuclear magnetic resonance logging of a deep test well for estimation of aquifer and confining-Unit Hydraulic Properties, Long Island, New York
Geostatistical mapping of salinity conditioned on borehole logs, Montebello Oil Field, California
Bathymetry of New York City’s East of Hudson reservoirs and controlled lakes, 2017 to 2019
Bathymetry of Newton Reservoir, New Jersey, 2018
Use of time domain electromagnetic soundings and borehole electromagnetic induction logs to delineate the freshwater/saltwater interface on southwestern Long Island, New York, 2015–17
Time-domain electromagnetic soundings and passive-seismic measurements for delineation of saline groundwater in the Genesee valley-fill aquifer system, western New York, 2016–17
Hydrogeology of the Owego-Apalachin Elementary School geothermal fields, Tioga County, New York
- Source: USGS Sciencebase (id: 609a7135d34ea221ce36ccd4)
GEOPHYSICAL METHODS CAPABILITIES
The New York Water Science Center (NY WSC) makes extensive use of geophysical methods in its hydrologic investigations and research in cooperation with local, State, and Federal partners. The NY WSC staff has many years of experience in collecting and interpreting surface and borehole geophysical data, and applying the results to provide a better understanding of the subsurface environment for resource management and protection, infrastructure design, hazard mitigation, and remedial actions. The NYSWSC partners with the Hydrologic Remote Sensing Branch (HRSB) to apply the latest geophysical technologies in support of groundwater studies in New York and other WSCs.
The NY WSC has expertise in the application of multiple geophysical methods for a wide range of investigations:
- Unconsolidated aquifer characterization
- Gamma, electric, and EM induction logging for lithostratigraphic identification
- Seismic refraction and reflection surveys for mapping aquifer framework
- Passive-seismic soundings for mapping depth to bedrock
Geophysical logging of monitoring-well installations in the Lloyd aquifer on Long Island, New York
- Freshwater-saltwater interface and plume mapping
- EM induction logging for interface and plume delineation and monitoring
- Time-domain EM soundings for interface and plume delineation and monitoring
- Frequency-domain EM surveys of shallow electrically conductive plumes
Frequency-domain EM survey of road-salt plume near Lake Placid, New York
Electrically conductive plume associated with salt-mine collapse mapped by time-domain EM soundings, western New York
- Fractured-bedrock aquifer characterization
- Borehole-wall imaging using acoustic and optical methods for lithology and fracture/fabric distribution and orientation
- Flowmetering using EM and heat-pulse tools to estimate flow-zone transmissivity and hydraulic head
Optical- and acoustic-televiewer logs and core of fractured and solutioned carbonate bedrock, southeastern New York
Flowmetering of a bedrock test hole for a Marcellus-related groundwater study in western Maryland
- Soil moisture/groundwater/surface water interaction
- Infrared camera surveys to delineate points of surface discharge of groundwater to streams
- Fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing to delineate subsurface discharge of groundwater to stream reaches
- Ground-penetrating radar, electrical resistivity tomography, and frequency-domain EM to characterize soil moisture
Visible and thermal imaging of focused groundwater discharge to the Salmon River, central New York
- Surface-water conditions
- Multi-beam echo sounder surveys to map reservoir and lake bathymetry
- Ground penetrating radar surveys to map river ice thickness
Echosounder and GPS equipped boat used for bathymetric survey of Newton Reservoir, northern New Jersey
Bathymetry of the New Croton Reservoir mapped by multi-beam echosounder survey, southeastern New York
NMR Logging Capability
The NY WSC has procured a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logging system that is downhole digital and specifically designed for logging 4-inch diameter PVC-cased wells up to 1,000 meters in depth. NMR logging provides measurements of free and bound porosity and estimates of hydraulic conductivity in unconsolidated aquifers. The NMR system currently is being used in support of the Long Island Aquifer Sustainability project.
Innovative Log Analysis
The NY WSC worked with the Virginia-West Virginia Water Science Center (VA-WV WSC) to apply machine learning in well-log analysis. The analyzed Statewide dataset was collected by the VA-WV WSC in cooperation with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and included caliper, gamma, electric, sonic, image, fluid, and flow logs from over 120 wells.
Training in Hawaii
The NY WSC supported HRSB’s borehole geophysics workshop held this past May in Honolulu, Hawaii. Students from 10 WSCs across the continental U.S. and Pacific Islands participated in the workshop that included lectures, classroom exercises and field demonstrations. As a parting gift from their hosts, the instructors received traditional Polynesian leis. The Hawaii workshop is the latest in a series of regional geophysics classes held across the US since the late 1990s.
Key Staff Profiles
John Williams
Fred Stumm, PhD
Liz Nystrom
Neil Terry, PhD
Robin Glas, PhD
Selected Publications
Field evaluation of semi-automated moisture estimation from geophysics using machine learning
Nuclear magnetic resonance logging of a deep test well for estimation of aquifer and confining-Unit Hydraulic Properties, Long Island, New York
Geostatistical mapping of salinity conditioned on borehole logs, Montebello Oil Field, California
Bathymetry of New York City’s East of Hudson reservoirs and controlled lakes, 2017 to 2019
Bathymetry of Newton Reservoir, New Jersey, 2018
Use of time domain electromagnetic soundings and borehole electromagnetic induction logs to delineate the freshwater/saltwater interface on southwestern Long Island, New York, 2015–17
Time-domain electromagnetic soundings and passive-seismic measurements for delineation of saline groundwater in the Genesee valley-fill aquifer system, western New York, 2016–17
Hydrogeology of the Owego-Apalachin Elementary School geothermal fields, Tioga County, New York
- Source: USGS Sciencebase (id: 609a7135d34ea221ce36ccd4)