Sheets, R. A., Hill, M. C., Haitjema, H. M., Provost, A. M. and Masterson, J. P. (2015), Simulation of Water-Table Aquifers Using Specified Saturated Thickness. Groundwater, 53: 151–157. doi:10.1111/gwat.12164
Rodney A Sheets, Jr.
Biography
I am a groundwater specialist for the USGS Water Mission Area (WMA), Office of Quality Assurance. My job is to help Water Science Centers across the USGS through reviewing proposals, giving technical advice, and connecting them with others in the WMA. Prior to this current position, I was in the Water Science Field Team (which no longer exists) helping Water Science Centers in the Northeast part of the US. Before that, I was a hydrologic technician, hydrologist, and groundwater specialist for the USGS Ohio Water Science Center (previously the Ohio District), working on a variety of projects and tasks, including those related to surface/ground-water interaction, aquifer testing, surface and borehole geophysics and ground-water flow modeling. Before joining the USGS Water Mission Area, I worked as a geologist and geologic technician for the USGS Office of Earthquakes for a short time (I started as a NAGT student). I still drill an occasional water well, but most of my free time is taking up with the family tree farm, golfing, hunting, fishing, and woodworking.
Science and Products
Date published: February 24, 2019
Status: Active Groundwater-Level Response to Virginia Earthquake, August 23, 2011
A magnitude 5.8 (Mw) earthquake occurred at 1:51 pm EDT (17:51 UTC) on August 23, 2011, at a depth of about 3.7 miles (6 kilometers) beneath the town of Mineral, Virginia, located approximately 27 miles (45 kilometers) east of Charlottesville. The event is among the largest earthquakes recorded in the eastern United States.
Contacts: Rodney A Sheets, Jr.
Attribution: Water Resources
Year Published: 2020
NGWA Groundwater Modeling Advisory Panel Survey on the Use of Uncertainty Analysis in Groundwater Modeling
This white paper provides the results of a survey by members of the NGWA Groundwater Modeling Advisory Panel to assess the use of uncertainty analysis in groundwater modeling.The objective of the survey was to improve understanding of the use of uncertainty analysis in practical groundwater modeling projects subject to real-world constraints, such...
Luis, Steve; Schulmeyer, Pete; Bean, David; Newman, Connor; Puddephatt, Dan; Sheets, Rodney A.; Hunt, Randall J.
Year Published: 2018
U.S. Geological Survey continuous monitoring workshop—Workshop summary report
Executive SummaryThe collection of high-frequency (in other words, “continuous”) water data has been made easier over the years because of advances in technologies to measure, transmit, store, and query large, temporally dense datasets. Commercially available, in-situ sensors and data-collection platforms—together with new techniques for data...
Sullivan, Daniel J.; Joiner, John K.; Caslow, Kerry A.; Landers, Mark N.; Pellerin, Brian A.; Rasmussen, Patrick P.; Sheets, Rodney A.Attribution: Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Water Resources, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program
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Sullivan, D.J., Joiner, J.K., Caslow, K.A., Landers, M.N., Pellerin, B.A., Rasmussen, P.P., and Sheets, R.A., 2018, U.S. Geological Survey continuous monitoring workshop—Workshop summary report: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2018–1059, 29 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20181059.
Year Published: 2015
Widespread groundwater-level offsets caused by the Mw 5.8 Mineral, Virginia, earthquake of 23 August 2011
Groundwater levels were offset in bedrock observation wells, measured by the U.S. Geological Survey or others, as far as 553 km from the Mw 5.8 Mineral, Virginia (USA), earthquake on 23 August 2011. Water levels dropped as much as 0.47 m in 34 wells and rose as much as 0.15 m in 12 others. In some wells, which are as much as 213 m deep, the water...
Roeloffs, Evelyn A.; Nelms, David L.; Sheets, Rodney A.
Year Published: 2014
Simulation of water-table aquifers using specified saturated thickness
Simulating groundwater flow in a water-table (unconfined) aquifer can be difficult because the saturated thickness available for flow depends on model-calculated hydraulic heads. It is often possible to realize substantial time savings and still obtain accurate head and flow solutions by specifying an approximate saturated thickness a priori, thus...
Sheets, Rodney A.; Hill, Mary C.; Haitjema, Henk M.; Provost, Alden M.; Masterson, John P.Attribution: New England Water Science Center, Water Resources, Region 4: Mississippi Basin, Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian
View Citation
Simulation of water-table aquifers using specified saturated thickness; 2014; Article; Journal; Groundwater; Sheets, Rodney A.; Hill, Mary C.; Haitjema, Henk M.; Provost, Alden M.; Masterson, John P.
Year Published: 2012
Using existing data to estimate aquifer properties, Great Lakes Region, USA
To determine specific storage and porosity, areally limited and time-consuming aquifer tests are frequently done. Hydrogeologic studies often do not have the resources to collect such data and rely on existing data sources for aquifer properties. An alternative tool for determining these aquifer properties is the analysis of earth tides. The...
Darner, Robert A.; Sheets, Rodney A.Attribution: Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Water Resources, Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian
View Citation
Using existing data to estimate aquifer properties, Great Lakes Region, USA; 2012; Article; Journal; Ground Water; Darner, Robert A.; Sheets, Rodney A.
Year Published: 2011
Evaluation of the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) seismic method to determine sediment thickness in the vicinity of the South Well Field, Franklin County, OH
The horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) seismic method involves analyzing measurements of ambient seismic noise in three dimensions to determine the fundamental site resonance frequency. Resonance is excited by the interaction of surface waves (Rayleigh and Love) and body waves (vertically incident shear) with the high-contrast aconstic...
Haefner, Ralph J.; Sheets, Rodney A.; Andrews, Robert E.Attribution: Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Water Resources, Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian
View Citation
Evaluation of the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) seismic method to determine sediment thickness in the vicinity of the South Well Field, Franklin County, OH; 2011; Article; Journal; Ohio Journal of Science; Haefner, Ralph J.; Sheets, Rodney A.; Andrews, Robert E.
Year Published: 2009
Geophysical Investigation Along the Great Miami River From New Miami to Charles M. Bolton Well Field, Cincinnati, Ohio
Three geophysical profiling methods were tested to help characterize subsurface materials at selected transects along the Great Miami River, in southwestern Ohio. The profiling methods used were continuous seismic profiling (CSP), continuous resistivity profiling (CRP), and continuous electromagnetic profiling (CEP). Data were collected with...
Sheets, R.A.; Dumouchelle, D.H.Attribution: Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Water Resources, Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian
View Citation
Geophysical Investigation Along the Great Miami River From New Miami to Charles M. Bolton Well Field, Cincinnati, Ohio; 2009; OFR; 2009-1025; Sheets, R. A.; Dumouchelle, D. H.
Year Published: 2007
Hydrogeologic Settings and Ground-Water Flow Simulations for Regional Studies of the Transport of Anthropogenic and Natural Contaminants to Public-Supply Wells - Studies Begun in 2001
This study of the Transport of Anthropogenic and Natural Contaminants to public-supply wells (TANC study) is being conducted as part of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program and was designed to increase understanding of the most important factors to consider in ground-water vulnerability assessments. The...
Paschke, Suzanne S.View Citation
Hydrogeologic Settings and Ground-Water Flow Simulations for Regional Studies of the Transport of Anthropogenic and Natural Contaminants to Public-Supply Wells - Studies Begun in 2001; 2007; PP; 1737-A; Edited by Paschke, Suzanne S.
Year Published: 2006
Use of Spatial Sampling and Microbial Source-Tracking Tools for Understanding Fecal Contamination at Two Lake Erie Beaches
Source-tracking tools were used to identify potential sources of fecal contamination at two Lake Erie bathing beaches: an urban beach (Edgewater in Cleveland, Ohio) and a beach in a small city (Lakeshore in Ashtabula, Ohio). These tools included identifying spatial patterns of Escherichia coli (E. coli) concentrations in each area, determining...
Francy, Donna S.; Bertke, Erin E.; Finnegan, Dennis P.; Kephart, Christopher M.; Sheets, Rodney A.; Rhoades, John; Stumpe, LesterAttribution: Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Water Science Center, Water Resources, Region 1: North Atlantic-Appalachian
View Citation
Use of Spatial Sampling and Microbial Source-Tracking Tools for Understanding Fecal Contamination at Two Lake Erie Beaches; 2006; SIR; 2006-5298; Francy, Donna S.; Bertke, Erin E.; Finnegan, Dennis P.; Kephart, Christopher M.; Sheets, Rodney A.; Rhoades, John; Stumpe, Lester
Year Published: 2006
Estimate of ground water in storage in the Great Lakes basin, United States, 2006
Hydrogeologic data from Regional Aquifer System Analyses (RASA) studies by the U.S. Geological Survey in the Great Lakes Basin, United States, during 1978-95, were compiled and used to estimate the total volume of water that is stored in the many aquifers of the basin. These studies focused on six regional aquifer systems: the Cambrian-Ordovician...
Coon, William F.; Sheets, Rodney A.Attribution: Water Resources
View Citation
Estimate of ground water in storage in the Great Lakes basin, United States, 2006; 2006; SIR; 2006-5180; Coon, William F.; Sheets, Rodney A.
Year Published: 2006
Compilation of Regional Ground-Water Divides for Principal Aquifers Corresponding to the Great Lakes Basin, United States
A compilation of regional ground-water divides for the five principal aquifers corresponding to the Great Lakes Basin within the United States is presented. The principal aquifers (or aquifer systems) are the Cambrian-Ordovician aquifer system, Silurian-Devonian aquifers, Mississippian aquifers, Pennsylvanian aquifers, and the surficial aquifer...
Sheets, R.A.; Simonson, L.A.Attribution: Water Resources
View Citation
Compilation of Regional Ground-Water Divides for Principal Aquifers Corresponding to the Great Lakes Basin, United States; 2006; SIR; 2006-5102; Sheets, R. A.; Simonson, L. A.
Year Published: 2006
Estimation of shallow ground-water recharge in the Great Lakes basin
This report presents the results of the first known integrated study of long-term average ground-water recharge to shallow aquifers (generally less than 100 feet deep) in the United States and Canada for the Great Lakes, upper St. Lawrence, and Ottawa River Basins. The approach used was consistent throughout the study area and allows direct...
Neff, B.P.; Piggott, A.R.; Sheets, R.A.Attribution: Michigan Water Science Center, Michigan-Ohio Water Science Center, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Water Resources
View Citation
Estimation of shallow ground-water recharge in the Great Lakes basin; 2006; SIR; 2005-5284; Neff, B. P.; Piggott, A. R.; Sheets, R. A.
Pre-USGS Publications
Roeloffs, E.A., Nelms, D.L., and Sheets, R.A., 2015, Widespread groundwater-level offsets caused by the Mw 5.8 Mineral, Virginia, earthquake of 23 August 2011, in Horton, J.W., Jr., Chapman, M.C., and Green, R.A., eds., The 2011 Mineral, Virginia, Earthquake, and Its Signifi cance for Seismic Hazards in Eastern North America: Geological Society of America Special Paper 509, p. 117–136, doi:10.1130/2014.2509(07).
Sheets, R.A., and Burns, E.R., 2014, Geothermal Heating and Cooling -- The Role of Groundwater: The Ohio Water Table, No. 129 (Spring), Water Management Association of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio.
Darner, R. A. and Sheets, R. A., 2012, Using Existing Data to Estimate Aquifer Properties, Great Lakes Region, USA. Ground Water. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-6584.2011.00848.x
Harvey, R., Metge, D., Sheets, R.A., and Jasperse, J., 2011, Chapter 6--Fluorescent microspheres as surrogates in evaluating the efficacy of riverbank filtration for removing Cyptosporidium parvum oocysts and other pathogens. In Ray, C. and Shamruck, M., eds. Riverbank Filtration for Water Security in Desert Countries: Amsterdam, Springer Science, pp. 81-93.
Haefner, R.J., Sheets, R.A., and Andrews, R.E. [2011], 2010, Evaluation of the Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) Seismic Method to Determine Sediment Thickness in the Vicinity of the South Well Field, Franklin County, OH, Ohio J Sci 110(4), pp. 77-85.
Sheets, R.A., 2005, Induced infiltration—an unauthorized biography and the continuing story: The Ohio Water Table, no. 96, pp. 4-5.
Sheets, R. A., Darner, R. A. and Whitteberry. B. L. 2002, Lag times of bank filtration at a well field, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA: J. Hydrol. Vol. 266, pp. 162–174.
Sheets, R. A., Bair, E. S., and Rowe, G. L., 1998, Use of 3H/3He ages to evaluate and improve groundwater flow models in a complex buried valley aquifer, Water Resour. Res., 34, 1077– 1089.
Sheets, R.A., Yost, W.P. 1994, Ground-Water Contribution from the Silurian/Devonian Carbonate Aquifer to the Mad River Valley, Southwestern Ohio: Ohio Journal of Science, v. 94, n. 5, pp. 138-146.
Bair, E.S., Sheets, R.A., and Eberts, S.M., 1990, Particle-tracking analysis of flow paths and traveltimes from hypothetical spill sites within the capture area of a wellfield: Ground Water, v. 28, no. 6, pp. 884-892.