Lyndsay B Ball
My research explores hydrogeologic systems and subsurface processes using integrated hydrological and geophysical approaches, with a focus on electrical and airborne geophysical methods
Biography
Education:
2012 - Ph.D. in Geological Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder
2003 - B.S. in Environmental Soil Science (minors: Geology, Chemistry), Virginia Tech
Current Projects:
Characterizing saline groundwater resources:
California, Oil, Gas, and Groundwater Project, San Joaquin Valley, CA
East Poplar Oil Field project, northeastern MT
USGS Produced Waters project
Hydrogeologic controls in mountain and intermountain basins:
Ft. Irwin National Training Center, northern Mojave Desert, CA
Groundwater metal transport in mineralized mountain watersheds, Elk Mountains, CO
USGS Geothermal project, Seward Penninsula, AK
Publications:
Gulbrandsen, M.L., Ball, L.B., Minsley, B.J., and Hansen, T.M. (2017). Automatic mapping of the base of aquifer — A case study from Morrill, Nebraska. Interpretation 5(2), T231-T241. https://doi.org/10.1190/INT-2016-0195.1
Ball, L. B., Smith, B.D., and Thamke, J.N. (2016) Airborne Electromagnetic and Magnetic Survey Data, East Poplar Oil Field and Surrounding Area, October 2014, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana. U.S. Geological Survey Data Release. https://doi.org/10.5066/F7QC01MD.
Gulbrandsen, M. L., Minsley, B.J., Ball, L.B., and Hansen, T.M. (2016) Semiautomatic Mapping of Permafrost in the Yukon Flats, Alaska. Geophysical Research Letters 43, no. 23, 2016GL071334. doi:10.1002/2016GL071334.
Manning, A. H., Mills, C. T., Morrison, J. M., & Ball, L. B. (2015). Insights into controls on hexavalent chromium in groundwater provided by environmental tracers, Sacramento Valley, California, USA. Applied Geochemistry, 62, 186–199. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2015.05.010
Ball, L. B., Bloss, B. R., Bedrosian, P. A., Grauch, V. J. S., & Smith, B. D. (2015). Airborne electromagnetic and magnetic survey data of the Paradox and San Luis Valleys, Colorado. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2015-1024, 19 p.
Smith, B. D., Minsley, B. J., Bedrosian, P. A., Deszcz-Pan, M., Kass, M. A., & Ball, L. B. (2014). Airborne electromagnetic surveys for U.S. Geological Survey programs. Fast Times, 19(1), 11.
Bedrosian, P. A., Ball, L. B., & Bloss, B. R. (2014). Airborne electromagnetic data and processing within Leach Lake Basin-Fort Irwin, California. In D.C. Buesch (ed.) Geology and geophysics applied to groundwater hydrology at Fort Irwin, California. U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 2013-1024, 20 p.
Burton, B. L., Powers, M. H., & Ball, L. B. (2014). Characterization of subsurface stratigraphy along the lower American River floodplain using electrical resistivity and electromagnetics, Sacramento, California, 2011. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2014-1242.
Ball, L. B., Caine, J. S., & Ge, S. (2014). Controls on groundwater flow in a semi-arid folded and faulted intermountain basin. Water Resources Research, 50(8), 6788–6809. http://doi.org/10.1002/2013WR014451
Ball, L. B., Burton, B. L., Powers, M. H., & Asch, T. H. (2014). Digital geospatial presentation of geoelectrical and geotechnical data for the Lower American River and surrounding floodplain, east Sacramento, California. U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 902, 12 p.
Ball, L. B., & Teeple, A. P. (2013). Characterization of major lithologic units underlying the lower American River using water-borne continuous resistivity profiling, Sacramento, CA, June 2008. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2013-1050.
Ball, L. B., Caine, J. S., Grauch, V. J. S., & Ruleman, C. A. (2013). Evolution of fault zone geology in an active continental rift: Scientific drilling opportunities along the Sangre de Cristo fault system, northern Rio Grande Rift, Colorado. In J. W. Shervais, J. P. Evans, A. Clarke, J. C. Eichelberger, J. Kirkpatrick, & V. Toy (Eds.) Drilling active tectonics and magmatism: Volcanics, Geoprisms, and fault zones post-SAFOD. Utah State University Geology Faculty Publications
Minsley, B. J., Abraham, J. D., Smith, B. D., Cannia, J. C., Voss, C. I., Jorgenson, M. T., Walvoord, M.A., Wiley, B.K., Anderson, L., Ball, L.B., Deszcz-Pan, M., & Ager, T. A. (2012). Airborne electromagnetic imaging of discontinuous permafrost. Geophysical Research Letters, 39. http://doi.org/10.1029/2011gl050079
Ball, L. B. (2012). Groundwater flow in an intermountain basin: hydrological, geophysical, and geological exploration of South Park, Colorado (Doctoral Dissertation). University of Colorado, Boulder, CO. 270 p.
Abraham, J. D., Bedrosian, P. A., Asch, T. H., Ball, L. B., Cannia, J. C., Phillips, J. D., & Lackey, S. (2012). Evaluation of geophysical techniques for the detection of paleochannels in the Oakland area of eastern Nebraska as part of the Eastern Nebraska Water Resource Assessment. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2011-5228. 40 p.
Abraham, J. D., Cannia, J. C., Bedrosian, P. A., Johnson, M. R., Ball, L. B., & Sibray, S. S. (2012). Airborne electromagnetic mapping of the base of aquifer in areas of western Nebraska. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2011-5219. 38 p.
Smith, B. D., Abraham, J. D., Cannia, J. C., Minsley, B. J., Ball, L. B., Steele, G. V., & Deszcz-Pan, M. (2011). Helicopter electromagnetic and magnetic geophysical survey data, Swedeburg and Sprague study areas, eastern Nebraska, May 2009. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2010-1288. 37 p.
Burton, B. L., & Ball, L. B. (2011). Geophysical investigation of Red Devil Mine using direct-current resistivity and electromagnetic induction, Red Devil, Alaska, August 2010, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011-1035. 63 p.
Ball, L. B., Smith, B. D., Minsley, B. J., Abraham, J. D., Voss, C. I., Astley, B. N., … Cannia, J. C. (2011). Airborne electromagnetic and magnetic geophysical survey data of the Yukon Flats and Fort Wainwright areas, central Alaska, June 2010. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011-1304. 28 p.
Smith, B. D., Abraham, J. D., Cannia, J. C., Minsley, B. J., Deszcz-Pan, M., & Ball, L. B. (2010). Helicopter electromagnetic and magnetic geophysical survey data, portions of the North Platte and South Platte Natural Resources Districts, western Nebraska, May 2009. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2010-1259. 33 p.
Ball, L. B., Ge, S., Caine, J. S., Revil, A., & Jardani, A. (2010). Constraining fault-zone hydrogeology through integrated hydrological and geoelectrical analysis. Hydrogeology Journal, 18(5), 1057–1067. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-010-0587-z
Teeple, A. P., Kress, W. H., Cannia, J. C., & Ball, L. B. (2009). Geophysical characterization of the Quaternary-Cretaceous contact using surface resistivity methods in Franklin and Webster counties, south-central Nebraska. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009-5092. 35 p.
Minsley, B. J., Ball, L. B., Burton, B. L., Caine, J. S., Curry-Elrod, E., & Manning, A. H. (2009). Geophysical characterization of subsurface properties relevant to the hydrology of the Standard Mine in Elk Creek Basin, Colorado. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2009-1284. 46 p.
Burton, B. L., Ball, L. B., Stanton, G. P., & Hobza, C. M. (2009). Integrated geophysical investigation of preferential flow paths at the former Tyson Valley Powder Farm near Eureka, Missouri, May 2006. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5212. 44 p.
Ge, S., Wu, Q. B., Lu, N., Jiang, G. L., & Ball, L. B. (2008). Groundwater in the Tibet Plateau, western China. Geophysical Research Letters, 35(18). http://doi.org/10.1029/2008GL034809.
Asch, T. H., Deszcz-Pan, M., Burton, B. L., & Ball, L. B. (2008). Geophysical characterization of the American River levees, Sacramento, California, using electromagnetic, capacitively coupled, and direct-current resistivity. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1109, 23 p, 3 appendices, 11 plates.
Kress, W. H., Ball, L. B., Teeple, A. P., & Turco, M. J. (2006). Two-dimensional direct-current resistivity survey to supplement borehole data in ground-water models of the former Blaine Naval Ammunition Depot, Hastings, Nebraska, September 2003. U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 172. 37 p.
Ball, L. B., Lucius, J. L., Land, L. A., & Teeple, A. P. (2006). Characterization of near-surface geology and possible voids using resistivity and electromagnetic methods at the Gran Quivira Unit of Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, Central New Mexico, June 2005. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5176. 101 p.
Ball, L. B., Kress, W. H., Steele, G. V., Cannia, J. C., & Andersen, M. J. (2006). Determination of Canal Leakage Potential Using Continuous Resistivity Profiling Techniques, Interstate and Tri-State Canals, Western Nebraska and Eastern Wyoming, 2004. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5032. 53 p.
Ball, L. B., Kress, W. H., Anderson, E. D., Teeple, A. P., Ferguson, J. W., & Colbert, C. R. (2004). Surface geophysical investigation of the areal and vertical extent of metallic waste at the former Tyson Valley Powder Farm near Eureka, Missouri, Spring 2004. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5208. 66 p.
Science and Products
Geophysical mapping of produced water in near-surface environments
This task within the Oil and Gas Waters Project focuses on the development of oil and gas resources results in substantial volumes of produced water. Particularly when produced from deep geologic formations, these waters can exhibit elevated salinity in comparison to shallow groundwater at the same location. ...
Metal Transport in Mineralized Mountain Watersheds
The central objective of this project is to develop a greater understanding of deep bedrock groundwater circulation and its contribution to surface water metal loads in mineralized mountain blocks composed of sedimentary rocks. This work is being performed in cooperation with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory as part of a broader research program aimed at understanding processes...
Airborne Electromagnetic (AEM) Survey Inventory
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been engaged in airborne electromagnetics (AEM) since the 1970s, playing a role in the development of early acquisition systems, developing calibration methods, refining standards for data acquisition, improving data processing, modeling, and interpretation methods, and expanding the range of AEM applications. However, USGS AEM survey
Geological, geochemical, and geophysical data from the Lost Hills and Belridge oil fields (ver. 2.0, Sept 2019)
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the California State Water Resources Control Board compiled and analyzed data for mapping groundwater salinity and characterizing aquifer systems in and near selected oil and gas fields in California. Data for the Lost Hills, North Belridge, and South Belridge oil fields include production and injection volumes, oil show data, form
Airborne Geophysical Survey Inventory of the Conterminous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico
This data release is a compilation of the locations of airborne geophysical surveys in the United States. The inventory documents public airborne geophysical surveys primarily flown by or contracted by the USGS from 1943 to present. In addition, surveys from the State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys (DGGS): Airborne GeophysWeb
Electrical Resistivity Tomography Data at Fort Irwin National Training Center, San Bernardino County, California, 2015 and 2017
The U.S. Army Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC), approximately 35 mi north-northeast of Barstow, California, covers approximately 1,177 square miles, and is comprised of ten groundwater basins, three of which have been subdivided into subbasins on the basis of additional hydrologic testing. Since the early 1990s, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been studying water resources...
Airborne electromagnetic and magnetic survey data, East Poplar Oil Field and surrounding area, October 2014, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana
Airborne electromagnetic (AEM) and magnetic survey data were collected during October 2014 in a 553-square-kilometer area that includes the East Poplar oil field on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in northeastern Montana, USA. Data surround the city of Poplar and extend south into the Missouri River floodplain. Data were acquired with the SkyTEM301 transient electromagnetic helicopter-born...
Monitoring brine contamination using time-lapse airborne electromagnetic surveys, East Poplar Oil Field, Montana
Integrated geophysical and water-quality studies have been used to delineate areas of saline groundwater in shallow unconfined aquifers underlying the East Poplar oil field in northeastern Montana. In 2004, a RESOLVE survey was conducted over the oil field to identify high conductivity areas potentially associated with brine contamination and to...
Ball, Lyndsay; Deszcz-Pan, Maria; Thamke, Joanna; Smith, Bruce Mapping protected groundwater adjacent to oil and gas fields, San Joaquin Valley, California
Airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys are a major component of a regional study of groundwater quality adjacent to oil and gas fields in the San Joaquin Valley of California, USA. AEM resistivity models are being used to delineate groundwater salinity in an effort to locate groundwater adjacent to oil and gas fields that could have future...
Ball, Lyndsay B.; Gillespie, Janice M.; Minsley, Burke; Davis, Tracy; Landon, Matthew K. Water-resources and land-surface deformation evaluation studies at Fort Irwin National Training Center, Mojave Desert, California
The U.S. Army Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC), in the Mojave Desert, obtains all of its potable water supply from three groundwater basins (Irwin, Langford, and Bicycle) within the NTC boundaries (fig. 1; California Department of Water Resources, 2003). Because of increasing water demands at the NTC, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in...
Densmore, Jill; Dishart, Justine E.; Miller, David M.; Buesch, David C.; Ball, Lyndsay B.; Bedrosian, Paul A.; Woolfenden, Linda R.; Cromwell, Geoffrey; Burgess, Matthew K.; Nawikas, Joseph; O'Leary, David; Kjos, Adam; Sneed, Michelle; Brandt, Justin T. Automatic mapping of the base of aquifer — A case study from Morrill, Nebraska
When a geologist sets up a geologic model, various types of disparate information may be available, such as exposures, boreholes, and (or) geophysical data. In recent years, the amount of geophysical data available has been increasing, a trend that is only expected to continue. It is nontrivial (and often, in practice, impossible) for the...
Gulbrandsen, Mats Lundh; Ball, Lyndsay B.; Minsley, Burke J.; Hansen, Thomas Mejer Semiautomatic mapping of permafrost in the Yukon Flats, Alaska
Thawing of permafrost due to global warming can have major impacts on hydrogeological processes, climate feedback, arctic ecology, and local environments. To understand these effects and processes, it is crucial to know the distribution of permafrost. In this study we exploit the fact that airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data are sensitive to the...
Gulbrandsen, Mats Lundh; Minsley, Burke J.; Ball, Lyndsay B.; Hansen, Thomas Mejer Insights into controls on hexavalent chromium in groundwater provided by environmental tracers, Sacramento Valley, California, USA
Environmental tracers are useful for determining groundwater age and recharge source, yet their application in studies of geogenic Cr(VI) in groundwater has been limited. Environmental tracer data from 166 wells located in the Sacramento Valley, northern California, were interpreted and compared to Cr concentrations to determine the origin and...
Manning, Andrew H.; Mills, Christopher T.; Morrison, Jean M.; Ball, Lyndsay B.
Airborne electromagnetic and magnetic survey data of the Paradox and San Luis Valleys, Colorado
In October 2011, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) contracted airborne magnetic and electromagnetic surveys of the Paradox and San Luis Valleys in southern Colorado, United States. These airborne geophysical surveys provide high-resolution and spatially comprehensive datasets characterizing the resistivity structure of the shallow subsurface of...
Ball, Lyndsay B.; Bloss, Benjamin R.; Bedrosian, Paul A.; Grauch, V.J.S.; Smith, Bruce D.
Digital geospatial presentation of geoelectrical and geotechnical data for the lower American River and flood plain, east Sacramento, California
To characterize the extent and thickness of lithologic units that may have differing scour potential, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has performed several geoelectrical surveys of the lower American River channel and flood plain between Cal Expo and the Rio Americano High School in east Sacramento...
Ball, Lyndsay B.; Burton, Bethany L.; Powers, Michael H.; Asch, Theodore H.
Airborne electromagnetic data and processing within Leach Lake Basin, Fort Irwin, California
From December 2010 to January 2011, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted airborne electromagnetic and magnetic surveys of Leach Lake Basin within the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California. These data were collected to characterize the subsurface and provide information needed to understand and manage groundwater resources within Fort...
Buesch, David C.; Bedrosian, Paul A.; Ball, Lyndsay B.; Bloss, Benjamin R.
Characterization of subsurface stratigraphy along the lower American River floodplain using electrical resistivity, Sacramento, California, 2011
In July 2011, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, completed a geophysical survey using electrical resistivity along an approximately 6-mile reach of the lower American River in Sacramento, California, to map near-surface lithological variations. This survey is a part of a manifold and comprehensive...
Burton, Bethany L.; Powers, Michael H.; Ball, Lyndsay B. Control on groundwater flow in a semiarid folded and faulted intermountain basin
The major processes controlling groundwater flow in intermountain basins are poorly understood, particularly in basins underlain by folded and faulted bedrock and under regionally realistic hydrogeologic heterogeneity. To explore the role of hydrogeologic heterogeneity and poorly constrained mountain hydrologic conditions on regional groundwater...
Ball, Lyndsay B.; Caine, Jonathan S.; Ge, Shemin
Characterization of major lithologic units underlying the lower American River using water-borne continuous resistivity profiling, Sacramento, California, June 2008
The levee system of the lower American River in Sacramento, California, is situated above a mixed lithology of alluvial deposits that range from clay to gravel. In addition, sand deposits related to hydraulic mining activities underlie the floodplain and are preferentially prone to scour during high-flow events. In contrast, sections of the...
Ball, Lyndsay B.; Teeple, Andrew
Low-flying Helicopter Surveying Groundwater and Geology in the Poplar River Valley Area, Montana
Citizens should not be alarmed if they see a low-flying helicopter towing a large wire-loop contraption hanging from a cable in the Poplar, Montana area during the next couple of weeks.