scholarly journals Exploring the regolith with electrical resistivity tomography in large-scale surveys: electrode spacing-related issues and possibility

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 1785-1812
Author(s):  
Laurent Gourdol ◽  
Rémi Clément ◽  
Jérôme Juilleret ◽  
Laurent Pfister ◽  
Christophe Hissler
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Resistivity ◽  
Apparent Resistivity ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Electrical Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Subsurface Layer ◽  
Electrode Spacing ◽  
High Resistivity ◽  
Constant Thickness ◽  
Resistivity Tomography

Abstract. Within the critical zone, regolith plays a key role in the fundamental hydrological functions of water collection, storage, mixing and release. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is recognized as a remarkable tool for characterizing the geometry and properties of the regolith, overcoming limitations inherent to conventional borehole-based investigations. For exploring shallow layers, a small electrode spacing (ES) will provide a denser set of apparent resistivity measurements of the subsurface. As this option is cumbersome and time-consuming, larger ES – albeit offering poorer shallow apparent resistivity data – is often preferred for large horizontal ERT surveys. To investigate the negative trade-off between larger ES and reduced accuracy of the inverted ERT images for shallow layers, we use a set of synthetic “conductive–resistive–conductive” three-layered soil–saprock/saprolite–bedrock models in combination with a reference field dataset. Our results suggest that an increase in ES causes a deterioration of the accuracy of the inverted ERT images in terms of both resistivity distribution and interface delineation and, most importantly, that this degradation increases sharply when the ES exceeds the thickness of the top subsurface layer. This finding, which is obvious for the characterization of shallow layers, is also relevant even when solely aiming for the characterization of deeper layers. We show that an oversized ES leads to overestimations of depth to bedrock and that this overestimation is even more important for subsurface structures with high resistivity contrast. To overcome this limitation, we propose adding interpolated levels of surficial apparent resistivity relying on a limited number of ERT profiles with a smaller ES. We demonstrate that our protocol significantly improves the accuracy of ERT profiles when using large ES, provided that the top layer has a rather constant thickness and resistivity. For the specific case of large-scale ERT surveys the proposed upgrading procedure is cost-effective in comparison to protocols based on small ES.

scholarly journals Exploring the regolith with electrical resistivity tomography in largescale surveys: electrode spacing related issues and possibility

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Gourdol ◽  
Rémi Clément ◽  
Jérôme Juilleret ◽  
Laurent Pfister ◽  
Christophe Hissler
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Resistivity ◽  
Apparent Resistivity ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Electrical Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Subsurface Layer ◽  
Electrode Spacing ◽  
High Resistivity ◽  
Constant Thickness ◽  
Resistivity Tomography

Abstract. Within the Critical Zone, regolith plays a key role in the fundamental hydrological functions of water collection, storage, mixing and release. Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) is recognized as a remarkable tool for characterizing the geometry and properties of the regolith, overcoming limitations inherent to conventional borehole-based investigations. For exploring shallow layers, a small electrode spacing (ES) will provide a denser set of apparent resistivity measurements of the subsurface. As this option is cumbersome and time-consuming, smaller ES – albeit offering poorer shallow apparent resistivity data – are often preferred for large horizontal ERT surveys. To investigate the negative trade-off between larger ES and reduced accuracy of the inverted ERT images for shallow layers, we use a set of synthetic conductive/resistive/conductive three-layered soil–saprock/saprolite–bedrock models in combination with a reference field dataset. Our results suggest that an increase in ES causes a deterioration of the accuracy of the inverted ERT images in terms of both resistivity distribution and interface delineation and, most importantly, that this degradation increases sharply when the ES exceeds the thickness of the top subsurface layer. This finding, which is obvious for the characterization of shallow layers, is also relevant even when solely aiming for the characterization of deeper layers. We show that an oversized ES leads to overestimations of depth to bedrock and that this overestimation is even more important for subsurface structures with high resistivity contrast. To overcome this limitation, we propose adding interpolated levels of surficial apparent resistivity relying on a limited number of ERT profiles with a smaller ES. We demonstrate that our protocol significantly improves the accuracy of ERT profiles when using large ES, provided that the top layer has a rather constant thickness and resistivity. For the specific case of large-scale ERT surveys the proposed upgrading procedure is cost-effective in comparison to protocols based on small ES.

scholarly journals Experimental Studies on the Changes in Resistivity and Its Anisotropy Using Electrical Resistivity Tomography

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Tao Zhu ◽  
Jian-Guo Zhou ◽  
Jin-Qi Hao
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Resistivity ◽  
Apparent Resistivity ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Electrical Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Major Axis ◽  
Residual Resistivity ◽  
Resistivity Tomography ◽  
D Region ◽  
Resistivity Anisotropy

Three measuring lines were arranged on one of free planes of magnetite cuboid samples. Apparent resistivity data were acquired by MIR-2007 resistivity meter when samples were under uniaxial compression of servocontrol YAW-5000F loadingmachine in laboratory. Then we constructed the residual resistivity images using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and plotted the diagrams of apparent resistivity anisotropy coefficient (ARAC)λ∗and the included angleαbetween the major axis of apparent resistivity anisotropy ellipse and the axis of load with pressure and effective depth. Our results show that with increasing pressure, resistivity and the decreased (D region) and increased (I region) resistivity regions have complex behaviors, but when pressure is higher than a certain value, the average resistivity decrease and the area of D region expand gradually in all time with the increase of pressure, which may be significant to the monitoring and prediction of earthquake, volcanic activities, and large-scale geologic motions. The effects of pressure onλ∗andαare not very outstanding for dry magnetite samples.

scholarly journals Two-dimensional Electrical Resistivity Tomography of Bitumen Occurrence in Agbabu, Southwest Nigeria

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
O. F. Ogunlana ◽  
O. M. Alile ◽  
O. J. Airen
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Resistivity ◽  
Apparent Resistivity ◽  
Electrical Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Electrode Spacing ◽  
Southwestern Nigeria ◽  
Resistivity Tomography ◽  
2D Inversion ◽  
Earth Resistivity ◽  
Southwest Nigeria ◽  
Resistivity Meter

The Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) data was acquired within the area suspected to have high potential for bitumen occurrence using the Wenner-Schlumberger configuration in Agbabu, southwestern Nigeria. PASI 16GL-N Earth resistivity meter instrument was used to acquire data along five (5) traverses with 5m electrode spacing and traverses length of 150m. The apparent resistivity values obtained was processed using RES2DINV software which helped to automatically obtain the 2D inversion model of the subsurface. This study has shown the occurrence of bitumen between the depth of 13.4m and 9.93m for Traverses 1, 2, 3 and Traverses 4, 5 respectively in a 2-Dimensional electrical resistivity images for boreholes with a depth of about 18m. The results indicate that the bitumen is characterized by good lateral continuity and is sufficiently thick for commercial exploitation.

scholarly journals Characterization of Aquifers in Metamorphic Rocks by Combined Use of Electrical Resistivity Tomography and Monitoring of Spring Hydrodynamics

Geosciences ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Maja Briški ◽  
Andrej Stroj ◽  
Ivan Kosović ◽  
Staša Borović
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Resistivity ◽  
Electrical Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Crystalline Rocks ◽  
High Resistivity ◽  
Alteration Zone ◽  
Spring Discharge ◽  
Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Alteration Zones ◽  
Alteration Processes

Crystalline rocks are generally characterized by negligible porosity and permeability in terms of groundwater exploitability. However, alteration processes can greatly increase their fracture permeability and induce formation of modest, but locally important aquifers. Therefore, subsurface characteristics of alteration zones are of major importance for hydrogeological evaluation of crystalline terrains. Alteration processes greatly affect rock total porosity and water content, causing contrasting electrical resistivity of rocks affected by varying degrees of weathering. This makes electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) a preferable geophysical method for the exploration of alteration zones in crystalline rocks. In our research, we used an integrated approach, combining the ERT method with monitoring of spring discharge and hydrochemistry to characterize metamorphic aquifers on slopes of the Medvednica Mountain (Croatia). Significant fracture flow aquifers are found to be formed in intensely fractured but not highly weathered rock masses (medium to high resistivity values), while highly weathered masses (low resistivity values) form local barriers for fracture flows. Subsurface structure of the alteration zone proved to be highly irregular, with sharp contacts between more and less weathered rocks. Decrease of permeability below the alteration zone keeps the water level near the surface and enables spring occurrence on the mountain slopes. Studied aquifers have relatively limited extent, resulting in typical capacity of major springs of a few l/s. More frequent but less productive springs are attributed to the draining of the shallow part of the alteration zone (mostly saprolite). Combination of the ERT method with spring monitoring proved to be very effective as a first and relatively inexpensive methodology for hydrogeological characterization of crystalline terrains, both in local and catchment scales.

scholarly journals Identifying Changes in Sediment Texture along an Ephemeral Gravel-Bed Stream Using Electrical Resistivity Tomography 2D and 3D

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 3030
Author(s):  
Marcos A. Martínez-Segura ◽  
Carmelo Conesa-García ◽  
Pedro Pérez-Cutillas ◽  
Pedro Martínez-Pagán ◽  
Marco D. Vásconez-Maza
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Resistivity ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Electrical Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Subsurface Layer ◽  
Sediment Texture ◽  
Borehole Data ◽  
Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Gravel Bed ◽  
Basin Scale

Differences in deposit geometry and texture with depth along ephemeral gravel-bed streams strongly reflect fluctuations in bedload which are due to environmental changes at the basin scale and to morphological channel adjustments. This study combines electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) with datasets from borehole logs to analyse the internal geometry of channel cross-sections in a gravel-bed ephemeral stream (southeast Spain). The survey was performed through longitudinal and transverse profiles in the upper channel stretch, of 14 to 30 m in length and 3 to 6 m in depth, approximately. ERT values were correlated with data on sediment texture as grain size distribution, effective grain sizes, sorting, and particle shape (Zingg’s classification). The alluvial channel-fills showed the superposition of four layers with uneven thickness and arrangement: (1) the softer rocky substrate (<1000 Ω.m); (2) a thicker intermediate layer (1000 to 2000 Ω.m); and (3) an upper set composed of coarse gravel and supported matrix, ranging above 2000 Ω.m, and a narrow subsurface layer, which is the most resistive (>5000 Ω.m), corresponding to the most recent armoured deposits (gravel and pebbles). The ERT results coupled with borehole data allowed for determining the horizontal and vertical behaviour of the materials in a 3D model, facilitating the layer identification.

Dense 3D electrical resistivity tomography to understand complex deep landslide structures

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Gance ◽  
Orlando Leite ◽  
Myriam Lajaunie ◽  
Kusnahadi Susanto ◽  
Catherine Truffert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Resistivity ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Electrical Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Surface Deformation ◽  
Reference Model ◽  
Slope Instability ◽  
Complex Objects ◽  
Alluvial Deposits ◽  
Resistivity Tomography ◽  
The Village

&lt;p&gt;Large scale slope instabilities are complex objects controlled by multiple parameters. The underground and superficial structure of the slope plays a major role as it often controls water circulations, potentially causing weathering and damaging processes, and permits the local storage of water masses, causing temporary overload. In addition, the structure of the subsurface often delineates rock-volumes with variable mechanical properties, whose spatial distribution greatly influences the behavior of the slope. This work illustrates how Dense 3D Electrical Resistivity Tomography can provide relevant constraints on these parameters.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The village of Viella, in France (Hautes-Pyr&amp;#233;n&amp;#233;es), is affected by strong slope movement since 2018, when a massive rockslide above the village modified the stress conditions of the entire slope and, potentially, the hydrogeological context. As a consequence, some houses and infrastructures are progressively damaged, leading to heavy measures (houses evacuation). This complex, deep-seated (&gt; 80 m), slope instability covers an area of ca. 650 000 m&amp;#178;, is primarily composed of altered shists, colluviums, and non-consolidated alluvial deposits, forming several kinematic units with surface velocities in the range [0.5 &amp;#8211; 5] mm.month&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A 3D dense electrical resistivity tomography was realized using the FullWaver system, to characterize the structure and the forcing factors of this unstable slope. 55 V-FullWavers receivers (3 -electrodes, 2 channels sensors) were quasi-evenly distributed over a surface area of 400 x 500 m&amp;#178; with an interval of 90 m, apart from the village area, where no electrode could be grounded. Each V-FullWaver recorded signals through two orthogonal dipoles of 25 m length. Current injections were realized with a high-power transmitter (6 kW, 16 A, 3000 V). 235 injection dipoles were used. The system injected current between a fixed remote electrode (more than 1 km away from the site to increase the investigation depth) and a local mobile electrode, moved all over the investigated area in between the V-Fullwaver receivers, with an interval of approximately 40 m, except in the village area.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The resulting 3D resistivity model presents a high spatial variability until 100 to 150 m depth approximately, that highly relates to the complex strain dynamics of the slope and the hydrogeological observations. It highlights the relation between the most active kinematic compartments and the large-scale structure of the slope.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;It provides a first understanding of the role of local compacted rocks in the buildup of surface deformation but also on the localization of heterogeneities (fissures, scarps) which may relate to water circulation paths.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;. This 3D image of the slope is the first structural reference model for future hydrogeological and geomechanical studies aiming at deducing the possible evolution of the slope.&lt;/p&gt;

Characterization Of Complex Archaeological Sites Using 3D Electrical Resistivity Tomography

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annalisa Morelli ◽  
Gianfranco Morelli ◽  
Paolo Chiara ◽  
Alessio Pacchini ◽  
Federico Fischanger
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Resistivity ◽  
Electrical Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Resistivity Tomography
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