Geophysics for USGS Groundwater/Surface Water Exchange Studies Active
Locating and quantifying exchanges of groundwater and surface water, along with characterizing geologic structure, is essential to water-resource managers and hydrologists for the development of effective water-resource policy, protection, and management. The USGS conducts applied research to evaluate the use of new or emerging hydrogeophysical tools and methods to improve our understanding of groundwater/surface-water exchange.
Overview
Understanding exchanges of groundwater and surface water is essential to water managers and hydrologists for the development of effective water-resources policy, protection, and management. Surface water (including streams, lakes, wetlands, and estuaries) “gains” groundwater discharge via seeps and springs, while surface water also infiltrates into adjacent groundwater under “losing” hydraulic conditions. Groundwater discharge is the main component of stream baseflow, or the channel water flowing in between storm events and snowmelt. Many streams, lakes, and wetlands are primarily sourced by groundwater discharge during dry conditions, while coastal water quality can be strongly influenced by submarine groundwater discharge. Groundwater recharge occurs when surface water is exchanged into aquifers below, impacting groundwater chemistry and water supply. The sediment interface between groundwater and surface water, such as a streambed, is often highly reactive due to diverse chemical and microbial conditions, further modifying water quality over short transport distances (e.g., centimeters).
Physical methods of monitoring groundwater/surface-water exchange are often labor intensive and limited in spatial scale. The effects of groundwater/surface-water exchange can occur on a variety of time scales and distances. The dynamics of groundwater/surface water exchange at the stream reach to regional scale are often characterized based on measurements made at a few individual points, though such extrapolation can be highly uncertain do to inherent spatial and temporal variability. The hydrogeophysics toolkit produces data that span scales and helps put point-based measurements into hydrogeological context, often leading to improved understanding of groundwater/surface water exchange processes and associated management concerns.
Using Geophysics to Study Groundwater/Surface-Water Exchange
The USGS Water Resources Mission Area conducts applied research to evaluate the use of new or emerging hydrogeophysical tools and methods to improve our understanding of groundwater/surface-water exchange. Geophysical methods based on measuring the electrical, thermal, and (or) physical properties of surface water, groundwater, and the shallow subsurface can enable scientists to efficiently locate and quantify groundwater and surface-water related processes. Such spatially comprehensive and spatially distributed information can tie point measurements to larger geologic structures controlling flow and transport at local and regional scales. Similar data types collected over time (i.e., time-lapse data) allow researchers to track highly dynamic processes such as the movement of contaminant plumes, soil moisture, and saltwater intrusion. As a result, we are better able to understand and forecast movement of water between groundwater and surface-water bodies and associated changes in water quality and quantity.
USGS has been a leader in advancing the use of hydrogeophysics to study groundwater/surface-water exchange for decades via methods and software development and pioneering research. Current efforts continue to foster innovation and development of hydrogeophysical technologies and methodologies to answer important questions about our water resources. This work is also part of the USGS Next Generation Water Observing Systems state-of-the-art monitoring technology and methods to increase the spatial and temporal coverage of USGS water data and to make data more affordable and more rapidly available. The USGS Water Resources Mission Area recently released a groundwater/surface water exchange related methods selection tool to aid in the discovery of complimentary tools that may be well suited for specific applications, and to increase the general awareness of the diverse existing toolkit.
USGS Water Resources Mission Area science pages related to Geophysics for Groundwater/Surface Water Exchange Studies
Selected USGS data releases related to Geophysics for Groundwater/Surface Water Exchange Studies
Selected USGS publications related to Geophysics for Groundwater/Surface Water Exchange Studies
Monitoring groundwater-surface water interaction using time-series and time-frequency analysis of transient three-dimensional electrical resistivity changes
Spatially variable stage-driven groundwater-surface water interaction inferred from time-frequency analysis of distributed temperature sensing data
Inversion of multi-frequency electromagnetic induction data for 3D characterization of hydraulic conductivity
Use of electrical imaging and distributed temperature sensing methods to characterize surface water–groundwater exchange regulating uranium transport at the Hanford 300 Area, Washington
Marine electrical resistivity imaging of submarine groundwater discharge: Sensitivity analysis and application in Waquoit Bay, Massachusetts, USA
Investigation of aquifer-estuary interaction using wavelet analysis of fiber-optic temperature data
Electrical characterization of non‐Fickian transport in groundwater and hyporheic systems
USGS software related to Geophysics for USGS Groundwater/Surface Water Exchange Studies
- Overview
Locating and quantifying exchanges of groundwater and surface water, along with characterizing geologic structure, is essential to water-resource managers and hydrologists for the development of effective water-resource policy, protection, and management. The USGS conducts applied research to evaluate the use of new or emerging hydrogeophysical tools and methods to improve our understanding of groundwater/surface-water exchange.
Overview
Understanding exchanges of groundwater and surface water is essential to water managers and hydrologists for the development of effective water-resources policy, protection, and management. Surface water (including streams, lakes, wetlands, and estuaries) “gains” groundwater discharge via seeps and springs, while surface water also infiltrates into adjacent groundwater under “losing” hydraulic conditions. Groundwater discharge is the main component of stream baseflow, or the channel water flowing in between storm events and snowmelt. Many streams, lakes, and wetlands are primarily sourced by groundwater discharge during dry conditions, while coastal water quality can be strongly influenced by submarine groundwater discharge. Groundwater recharge occurs when surface water is exchanged into aquifers below, impacting groundwater chemistry and water supply. The sediment interface between groundwater and surface water, such as a streambed, is often highly reactive due to diverse chemical and microbial conditions, further modifying water quality over short transport distances (e.g., centimeters).
Physical methods of monitoring groundwater/surface-water exchange are often labor intensive and limited in spatial scale. The effects of groundwater/surface-water exchange can occur on a variety of time scales and distances. The dynamics of groundwater/surface water exchange at the stream reach to regional scale are often characterized based on measurements made at a few individual points, though such extrapolation can be highly uncertain do to inherent spatial and temporal variability. The hydrogeophysics toolkit produces data that span scales and helps put point-based measurements into hydrogeological context, often leading to improved understanding of groundwater/surface water exchange processes and associated management concerns.
Using Geophysics to Study Groundwater/Surface-Water Exchange
The USGS Water Resources Mission Area conducts applied research to evaluate the use of new or emerging hydrogeophysical tools and methods to improve our understanding of groundwater/surface-water exchange. Geophysical methods based on measuring the electrical, thermal, and (or) physical properties of surface water, groundwater, and the shallow subsurface can enable scientists to efficiently locate and quantify groundwater and surface-water related processes. Such spatially comprehensive and spatially distributed information can tie point measurements to larger geologic structures controlling flow and transport at local and regional scales. Similar data types collected over time (i.e., time-lapse data) allow researchers to track highly dynamic processes such as the movement of contaminant plumes, soil moisture, and saltwater intrusion. As a result, we are better able to understand and forecast movement of water between groundwater and surface-water bodies and associated changes in water quality and quantity.
USGS has been a leader in advancing the use of hydrogeophysics to study groundwater/surface-water exchange for decades via methods and software development and pioneering research. Current efforts continue to foster innovation and development of hydrogeophysical technologies and methodologies to answer important questions about our water resources. This work is also part of the USGS Next Generation Water Observing Systems state-of-the-art monitoring technology and methods to increase the spatial and temporal coverage of USGS water data and to make data more affordable and more rapidly available. The USGS Water Resources Mission Area recently released a groundwater/surface water exchange related methods selection tool to aid in the discovery of complimentary tools that may be well suited for specific applications, and to increase the general awareness of the diverse existing toolkit.
- Science
USGS Water Resources Mission Area science pages related to Geophysics for Groundwater/Surface Water Exchange Studies
- Data
Selected USGS data releases related to Geophysics for Groundwater/Surface Water Exchange Studies
- Publications
Selected USGS publications related to Geophysics for Groundwater/Surface Water Exchange Studies
Filter Total Items: 43Monitoring groundwater-surface water interaction using time-series and time-frequency analysis of transient three-dimensional electrical resistivity changes
Time-lapse resistivity imaging is increasingly used to monitor hydrologic processes. Compared to conventional hydrologic measurements, surface time-lapse resistivity provides superior spatial coverage in two or three dimensions, potentially high-resolution information in time, and information in the absence of wells. However, interpretation of time-lapse electrical tomograms is complicated by theAuthorsTimothy C. Johnson, Lee D. Slater, Dimitris Ntarlagiannis, Frederick D. Day-Lewis, Mehrez ElwaseifSpatially variable stage-driven groundwater-surface water interaction inferred from time-frequency analysis of distributed temperature sensing data
Characterization of groundwater-surface water exchange is essential for improving understanding of contaminant transport between aquifers and rivers. Fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing (FODTS) provides rich spatiotemporal datasets for quantitative and qualitative analysis of groundwater-surface water exchange. We demonstrate how time-frequency analysis of FODTS and synchronous river stageAuthorsKisa Mwakanyamale, Lee Slater, Frederick D. Day-Lewis, Mehrez Elwaseif, Carole D. JohnsonInversion of multi-frequency electromagnetic induction data for 3D characterization of hydraulic conductivity
Electromagnetic induction (EMI) instruments provide rapid, noninvasive, and spatially dense data for characterization of soil and groundwater properties. Data from multi-frequency EMI tools can be inverted to provide quantitative electrical conductivity estimates as a function of depth. In this study, multi-frequency EMI data collected across an abandoned uranium mill site near Naturita, Colorado,AuthorsTroy R. Brosten, Frederick D. Day-Lewis, G.M. Schultz, Gary P. Curtis, J. W. LaneUse of electrical imaging and distributed temperature sensing methods to characterize surface water–groundwater exchange regulating uranium transport at the Hanford 300 Area, Washington
We explored the use of continuous waterborne electrical imaging (CWEI), in conjunction with fiber‐optic distributed temperature sensor (FO‐DTS) monitoring, to improve the conceptual model for uranium transport within the Columbia River corridor at the Hanford 300 Area, Washington. We first inverted resistivity and induced polarization CWEI data sets for distributions of electrical resistivity andAuthorsLee D. Slater, Dimitrios Ntarlagiannis, Frederick D. Day-Lewis, Kisa Mwakanyamale, Roelof J. Versteeg, Andy Ward, Christopher Strickland, Carole D. Johnson, John W. LaneMarine electrical resistivity imaging of submarine groundwater discharge: Sensitivity analysis and application in Waquoit Bay, Massachusetts, USA
Electrical resistivity imaging has been used in coastal settings to characterize fresh submarine groundwater discharge and the position of the freshwater/salt-water interface because of the relation of bulk electrical conductivity to pore-fluid conductivity, which in turn is a function of salinity. Interpretation of tomograms for hydrologic processes is complicated by inversion artifacts, uncertaiAuthorsRory Henderson, Frederick D. Day-Lewis, Elena Abarca, Charles F. Harvey, Hanan N. Karam, Lanbo Liu, John W. LaneInvestigation of aquifer-estuary interaction using wavelet analysis of fiber-optic temperature data
Fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing (FODTS) provides sub-minute temporal and meter-scale spatial resolution over kilometer-long cables. Compared to conventional thermistor or thermocouple-based technologies, which measure temperature at discrete (and commonly sparse) locations, FODTS offers nearly continuous spatial coverage, thus providing hydrologic information at spatiotemporal scales pAuthorsR.D. Henderson, Frederick D. Day-Lewis, Charles F. HarveyElectrical characterization of non‐Fickian transport in groundwater and hyporheic systems
Recent work indicates that processes controlling solute mass transfer between mobile and less mobile domains in porous media may be quantified by combining electrical geophysical methods and electrically conductive tracers. Whereas direct geochemical measurements of solute preferentially sample the mobile domain, electrical geophysical methods are sensitive to changes in bulk electrical conductiviAuthorsKamini Singha, Adam Pidlisecky, Frederick D. Day-Lewis, Michael N. Gooseff - Software
USGS software related to Geophysics for USGS Groundwater/Surface Water Exchange Studies