Intro
I am a research hydrologist at the USGS New York Water Science Center, where I specialize in near-surface geophysics, modeling, and water-related projects. Particular focus areas include groundwater quality monitoring, hydrogeological characterization, contaminant detection, and groundwater-surface water interactions. I also lead and support software/methods development efforts, specifically focusing on linking electrical geophysical measurements with soil and hydrogeological properties.
Prior to joining the USGS, my PhD work at Rutgers University centered around hydrogeophysical approaches to characterize and study processes occurring in wetlands - particularly carbon gas cycling in peatlands. During this time, I also participated in critical zone characterization and archaeological studies, among other projects. My MS work at the University at Buffalo primarily involved linking geophysical data to soil moisture distributions through coupled geophysical and unsaturated flow models in a Bayesian framework.
Science and Products
What does groundwater have to do with ice in Alaska?
Main channel river water temperature collected along the East Branch, West Branch, and mainstem Delaware River down to Lordville near Handcock, NY, USA in summer 2021
Stream temperature, dissolved radon, and stable water isotope data collected along headwater streams in the upper Neversink River watershed, NY, USA
Waterborne Gradient Self-potential, Temperature, and Conductivity Logging of the Upper part of the Delaware River between Hancock and Port Jervis, New York, June-July 2021
Passive seismic (HVSR) data from Fountain Creek, CO
Frequency domain electromagnetic induction (FDEM) geophysical data collected near the Agashashok River in the Noatak National Preserve, AK
Selected borehole geophysical logs from three contaminant sites in California, Wisconsin, and New Jersey
Depth to bedrock determined from passive seismic measurements, Neversink River watershed, NY (USA)
Data used to estimate groundwater salinity above the Montebello oil field (California, USA)
Near-surface geophysical data collected along French Gulch near Breckenridge, Colorado, USA, September 2020
Geophysical Data Collected for an Assessment of a Proposed Landfill Site in Fredericktown, Missouri, June 2018
Surface Geophysical data collected along Blacktail Creek in June 2017 near Williston, North Dakota, USA
Near-surface geophysical data collected along streams near Silverton, Colorado, USA (ver. 2.0, May 2022)
Geostatistical mapping of salinity conditioned on borehole logs, Montebello Oil Field, California
Beware of spatial autocorrelation when applying machine learning algorithms to borehole geophysical logs
Aufeis fields as novel groundwater-dependent ecosystems in the arctic cryosphere
Exploring the potential of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to measure the extent of chronic disturbance in peatlands: Examples from acid mine drainage and peat fire
Characterizing the diverse hydrogeology underlying rivers and estuaries using new floating transient electromagnetic methodology
Seasonal subsurface thaw dynamics of an aufeis feature inferred from geophysical methods
Controls on spatial and temporal variations of brine discharge to the Dolores River in the Paradox Valley, Colorado, 2016–18
Geophysical mapping of plume discharge to surface water at a crude oil spill site: Inversion versus machine learning
Geophysical assessment of a proposed landfill site in Fredericktown, Missouri
Wetland-scale mapping of preferential fresh groundwater discharge to the Colorado River
MoisturEC: a new R program for moisture content estimation from electrical conductivity data
Scenario Evaluator for Electrical Resistivity survey pre-modeling tool
Pre-USGS Publications
FLASH-R (Flow-Log Analysis of Single Holes)
FLASH-R: Flow-Log Analysis of Single Holes
FLASH-R (Flow-Log Analysis of Single Holes) is an R app for the analysis of borehole vertical flow logs to estimate fracture (or layer) transmissivities and far-field hydraulic heads.
MoisturEC
MoisturEC: R-based GUI to combine electrical conductivity data with point moisture measurements
MoisturEC is an R-based GUI used to combine electrical conductivity (EC) data with point moisture measurements for an updated moisture estimate capitalizing on the accuracy of point moisture measurements and the spatial coverage of EC data.
Scenario Evaluator for Electrical Resistivity (SEER) Survey Pre-Modeling Tool
The USGS Scenario Evaluator for Electrical Resistivity (SEER) is a quick and simple Excel-based decision support tool practitioners can use to assess the likely outcome of using two-dimensional (2D) electrical resistivity imaging for site characterization and remediation monitoring.
Science and Products
- Science
What does groundwater have to do with ice in Alaska?
USGS scientists are working alongside university researchers in Alaska to understand how groundwater and permafrost conditions change over time due to seasonal variations and climate change. Changes in permafrost can pose a threat to built infrastructure (like roads, homes, and pipelines) and to valued ecological resources that provide important habitats for wildlife. - Data
Filter Total Items: 18
Main channel river water temperature collected along the East Branch, West Branch, and mainstem Delaware River down to Lordville near Handcock, NY, USA in summer 2021
The Upper Delaware River is a unique example of an aquatic system where summer river temperature is actively managed for ecological purposes. River temperature at the mainstem Delaware River at Lordville, NY gage (USGS 01427207) is targeted to remain below 25 degrees C, with warm events potentially mitigated via directed upstream reservoir releases, a process guided by predictive tools. These direStream temperature, dissolved radon, and stable water isotope data collected along headwater streams in the upper Neversink River watershed, NY, USA
The Neversink River watershed (above the Neversink Reservoir) has been a focus of U.S. Geological Survey research for decades regarding stream geochemistry, acidification, and ecology dynamics. In 2019, the Water Mission Area Next Generation Water Observing Systems Program (NGWOS) augmented the existing stream gage network to include multiscale instrumentation aimed at characterizing various aspecWaterborne Gradient Self-potential, Temperature, and Conductivity Logging of the Upper part of the Delaware River between Hancock and Port Jervis, New York, June-July 2021
This data release contains waterborne gradient self-potential (SP), surface-water temperature, surface-water conductivity and specific conductance, and surface-water nitrate concentration data measured continuously in the upper part of the Delaware River along approximately 123 kilometers (km) between Hancock and Port Jervis, New York. All of the data were measured from a kayak between June 27 andPassive seismic (HVSR) data from Fountain Creek, CO
A total of 119 passive seismic soundings were collected with Tromino (MoHo s.r.l.) 3-axis seismometers in the Fountain Creek area to partially refine alluvial aquifer thickness (depth to bedrock) estimates, particularly over known or suspected paleochannels. Data were collected during June 21-24, 2021 with a team of 4-5 people, each equipped with a Tromino Blu or Tromino 3G passive seismometer.Frequency domain electromagnetic induction (FDEM) geophysical data collected near the Agashashok River in the Noatak National Preserve, AK
Frequency domain electromagnetic induction (FDEM) data were collected in September 2016 near the Agashashok River and its tributaries, within the Noatak National Preserve near Kotzebue, AK to aid in local permafrost mapping. Data were collected with a GEM-2 instrument (1.6 m coil separation, Geophex, Ltd.); a broadband sensor that measures the bulk conductivity and magnetic susceptibility of the sSelected borehole geophysical logs from three contaminant sites in California, Wisconsin, and New Jersey
Borehole geophysical logs were collected to characterize bedrock aquifers at three contamination sites located in California, Wisconsin, and New Jersey. The data were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the University of Guelph from 2014 to 2015 as part of the U.S. Department of Defense Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) and Environmental Security TechnDepth to bedrock determined from passive seismic measurements, Neversink River watershed, NY (USA)
This data release documents streambed sediment thickness in the Neversink watershed (NY) as determined by field observations and HVSR passive seismic measurements, and were collected as an extension of a previous data set collected in the same watershed (see Associated Items). These measurements were made between May 17, 2021 and May 21, 2021 using MOHO Tromino three-component seismometers (MOHO,Data used to estimate groundwater salinity above the Montebello oil field (California, USA)
This release contains borehole geophysical electrical log data (elogs), total dissolved solids sample data (TDS), and geostatistical program files used to estimate the salinity distribution in groundwater above and in the vicinity of the Montebello Oil Field, located near Los Angeles, California, USA. Original data are drawn from a variety of publicly available sources and are combined here for usNear-surface geophysical data collected along French Gulch near Breckenridge, Colorado, USA, September 2020
Near-surface geophysical surveys were completed in September 2020 in a mine-affected drainage near Breckenridge, Colorado, known as French Gulch. The study area was along a 0.3 mile (0.5 kilometer [km]) reach of French Gulch, approximately 2 river miles upstream from its confluence with the Blue River. This data release presents data from three geophysical surveys that used fiber-optic distributedGeophysical Data Collected for an Assessment of a Proposed Landfill Site in Fredericktown, Missouri, June 2018
In June 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collected geophysical measurements to help evaluate the suitability of a proposed landfill site for disposing mine-waste materials in Fredericktown, Missouri. Geophysical methods were used to evaluate and characterize the unconsolidated sediment (i.e., regolith) above the crystallineSurface Geophysical data collected along Blacktail Creek in June 2017 near Williston, North Dakota, USA
The extraction of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) resources often produces highly saline waste waters, which can be released to the river corridor environment during spills and pipe leakage. In North Dakota, USA more than 8,000 spills were recorded from 2008-2015, and more than half of those spills were related to pipelines. Data collected for this study were related to UOG wastewater leakage froNear-surface geophysical data collected along streams near Silverton, Colorado, USA (ver. 2.0, May 2022)
Near-surface geophysical data from within the Bonita Peak Mining District in Silverton, Colorado, USA are presented. The data include fiber optic distributed temperature sensing (FO-DTS) and frequency domain electromagnetic induction (FDEM) data collected in and around roughly 1 km reaches of Cement Creek and California Gulch. Additional data, including ground penetrating radar (GPR) and self pote - Publications
Geostatistical mapping of salinity conditioned on borehole logs, Montebello Oil Field, California
We present a geostatistics-based stochastic salinity estimation framework for the Montebello Oil Field that capitalizes on available total dissolved solids (TDS) data from groundwater samples as well as electrical resistivity (ER) data from borehole logging. Data from TDS samples (n = 4924) was coded into an indicator framework based on falling below four selected thresholds (500, 1000, 3000, andBeware of spatial autocorrelation when applying machine learning algorithms to borehole geophysical logs
Although many of the algorithms now considered to be machine learning algorithms (MLAs) have existed for nearly a century (e.g., Rosenblatt 1958), interest in MLAs has recently increased exponentially for solving data-driven problems across a variety of fields due to the expanded availability of large, complex datasets that may be difficult to interrogate using other methods, increases in computinAufeis fields as novel groundwater-dependent ecosystems in the arctic cryosphere
River aufeis (ow′ fīse) are widespread features of the arctic cryosphere. They form when river channels become locally restricted by ice, resulting in cycles of water overflow and freezing and the accumulation of ice, with some aufeis attaining areas of ~ 25 + km2 and thicknesses of 6+ m. During winter, unfrozen sediments beneath the insulating ice layer provide perennial groundwater‐habitat thatExploring the potential of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to measure the extent of chronic disturbance in peatlands: Examples from acid mine drainage and peat fire
Peatlands are accumulations of partially decayed organic soil that cover approximately 3% of Earth’s surface and have been shown to serve essential environmental and ecological functions such as sequestering carbon, purifying water, and providing habitat for organisms. However, peatlands are threatened by pressures from agriculture, urban development, mining, and climate change. Geophysical methodCharacterizing the diverse hydrogeology underlying rivers and estuaries using new floating transient electromagnetic methodology
The hydrogeology below large surface water features such as rivers and estuaries is universally under-informed at the long reach to basin scales (tens of km+). This challenge inhibits the accurate modeling of fresh/saline groundwater interfaces and groundwater/surface water exchange patterns at management-relevant spatial extents. Here we introduce a towed, floating transient electromagnetic (TEM)Seasonal subsurface thaw dynamics of an aufeis feature inferred from geophysical methods
Aufeis are sheets of ice unique to cold regions that originate from repeated flooding and freezing events during the winter. They have hydrological importance associated with summer flows and possibly winter insulation, but little is known about the seasonal dynamics of the unfrozen sediment layer beneath them. This layer may support perennial groundwater flow in regions with otherwise continuousControls on spatial and temporal variations of brine discharge to the Dolores River in the Paradox Valley, Colorado, 2016–18
The Paradox Valley in southwestern Colorado is a collapsed anticline formed by movement of the salt-rich Paradox Formation at the core of the anticline. The salinity of the Dolores River, a tributary of the Colorado River, increases substantially as it crosses the valley because of discharge of brine-rich groundwater derived from the underlying salts. Although the brine is naturally occurring, itGeophysical mapping of plume discharge to surface water at a crude oil spill site: Inversion versus machine learning
The interpretation of geophysical survey results to answer hydrologic, engineering, and geologic questions is critical to diverse problems for management of water, energy, and mineral resources. Although geophysical images provide valuable qualitative insight into subsurface architecture and conditions, translating geophysical images into quantitative information (e.g., saturation, concentration,Geophysical assessment of a proposed landfill site in Fredericktown, Missouri
In June 2018, U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collected geophysical measurements to help evaluate the suitability of a proposed landfill site for disposing mine-waste materials in Fredericktown, MO. The geophysical investigation included electromagnetic induction, electrical resistivity tomography, horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio passWetland-scale mapping of preferential fresh groundwater discharge to the Colorado River
Quantitative evaluation of groundwater/surface water exchange dynamics is universally challenging in large river systems, because existing methodology often does not yield spatially‐distributed data and is difficult to apply in deeper water. Here we apply a combined near‐surface geophysical and direct groundwater chemical toolkit to refine fresh groundwater discharge estimates to the Colorado RiveMoisturEC: a new R program for moisture content estimation from electrical conductivity data
Noninvasive geophysical estimation of soil moisture has potential to improve understanding of flow in the unsaturated zone for problems involving agricultural management, aquifer recharge, and optimization of landfill design and operations. In principle, several geophysical techniques (e.g., electrical resistivity, electromagnetic induction, and nuclear magnetic resonance) offer insight into soilScenario Evaluator for Electrical Resistivity survey pre-modeling tool
Geophysical tools have much to offer users in environmental, water resource, and geotechnical fields; however, techniques such as electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) are often oversold and/or overinterpreted due to a lack of understanding of the limitations of the techniques, such as the appropriate depth intervals or resolution of the methods. The relationship between ERI data and resistivity isPre-USGS Publications
Terry, N. and Slater, L. ( 2017), Gas bubble size estimation in peat soils from EM wave scattering observed with ground penetrating radar, Water Resour. Res., 53, 2755– 2769, doi:10.1002/2016WR019783.Day-Lewis, F. D., Slater, L. D., Robinson, J., Johnson, C. D., Terry, N., and Werkema, D. (2017), An overview of geophysical technologies appropriate for characterization and monitoring at fractured-rock sites, Journal of Environmental Management, 204, 709-720, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.04.033.
Comas, X., Terry, N., Hribljan, J. A., Lilleskov, E. A., Suarez, E., Chimner, R. A., and Kolka, R. K. ( 2017), Estimating belowground carbon stocks in peatlands of the Ecuadorian páramo using ground‐penetrating radar (GPR), J. Geophys. Res. Biogeosci., 122, 370– 386, doi:10.1002/2016JG003550.Terry, N., Slater, L., Comas, X., Reeve, A. S., Schäfer, K. V. R., and Yu, Z. ( 2016), Free phase gas processes in a northern peatland inferred from autonomous field‐scale resistivity imaging, Water Resour. Res., 52, 2996– 3018, doi:10.1002/2015WR018111.Comas, X., Terry, N., Slater, L., Warren, M., Kolka, R., Kristiyono, A., Sudiana, N., Nurjaman, D., and Darusman, T.: Imaging tropical peatlands in Indonesia using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity imaging (ERI): implications for carbon stock estimates and peat soil characterization, Biogeosciences, 12, 2995–3007, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-2995-2015, 2015. - Software
FLASH-R (Flow-Log Analysis of Single Holes)
FLASH-R (Flow-Log Analysis of Single Holes) is an R app for the analysis of borehole vertical flow logs to estimate fracture (or layer) transmissivities and far-field hydraulic heads. This app is a new version of the FLASH spreadsheet tool by Day-Lewis et al. (2011) . The program is written in R, an open-source environment. All previous features have been retained and new features incorporated iFLASH-R: Flow-Log Analysis of Single Holes
FLASH-R (Flow-Log Analysis of Single Holes) is an R app for the analysis of borehole vertical flow logs to estimate fracture (or layer) transmissivities and far-field hydraulic heads.
MoisturEC
MoisturEC is an R-based GUI used to combine electrical conductivity (EC) data with point moisture measurements for an updated moisture estimate capitalizing on the accuracy of point moisture measurements and the spatial coverage of EC data.MoisturEC: R-based GUI to combine electrical conductivity data with point moisture measurements
MoisturEC is an R-based GUI used to combine electrical conductivity (EC) data with point moisture measurements for an updated moisture estimate capitalizing on the accuracy of point moisture measurements and the spatial coverage of EC data.
Scenario Evaluator for Electrical Resistivity (SEER) Survey Pre-Modeling Tool
The USGS Scenario Evaluator for Electrical Resistivity (SEER) is a quick and simple Excel-based decision support tool practitioners can use to assess the likely outcome of using two-dimensional (2D) electrical resistivity imaging for site characterization and remediation monitoring.
- News