GROUNDWATER POTENTIALS ESTIMATION USING SELF-POTENTIAL METHOD AS AN EARLY PREDICTION OF LAND SUBSIDENCE IN GAMPONG LENGKONG LANGSA CITY

The Self-Potential (SP) method was used to identify changes in the potential groundwater in the area of Gampong Lengkong, Langsa City. The data acquisition technique was carried out with a fixed base technique with a measurement count of four acquisition line. Research is conducted for two months that July and August are the same in order to monitor the changes in the SP value associated with the change of SP anomaly. Interpretation is done qualitatively and quantitatively. Qualitative interpretation through analysis maps of the isopotential contours compared between the first month and the second month of measurements in the field. The interpretation is quantitatively by assuming the source of the subsurface anomaly fix geometry models of cylinders or sphere is done by the inversion modeling using the Levenberg-Marquardt method. The results showed that there was a reduction in SP value in the second month, indicating the potential shortage of groundwater in the region. The decrease in groundwater potential is also shown in the inversion results where the result of the calculation of SP anomaly source parameters in the first month is estimated to be at 7.77 meters to 11.05 meters below the ground in the monthly measurements second.

Modeling of Self Potential (SP) Anomalies over a Polarized Rod with Finite Depth Extents

Modeling is a powerful tool used by Geoscientists to provide pre-knowledge about the expectations of any geophysical field measurements. This study generates Self Potential (SP) anomalies over a typical dike-like structure to observe the influence of depth of burial and dip on SP anomalies. A computer program was developed from the potential distribution equation of an inclined polarized rod with a limited depth extent using Visual Basic (VB) programming language to produce synthetic data for potential distribution. The potential distribution data were used to generate theoretical SP anomaly curves for a polarized rod for varying depth of burial and dip. Twenty SP anomaly curves were generated with different dip values and depth of burial and from these curves, superimposed curves were also generated. The anomalies were analyzed for the effect of depth of burial and attitude or dip. The SP anomaly curves generated show that an increase in depth of burial causes a reduction in the peak negative amplitude of SP anomaly curves. For inclined polarized rod at relatively shallow depth (<2.0 m), the peak negative amplitude remains virtually the same with a positive shoulder over the down dip side of the target. Also as the dip angle decreases from 90o for a fixed depth of burial, the anomaly curves become asymmetrical. At 0o, the distance between the peak negative and peak positive amplitude of the anomaly curve is equal to the linear extent of the rod. Therefore, this study shows that the depth of burial inversely influences the amplitude of self-potential (SP) anomalies while the dip angle affects the form or symmetry of anomaly curves.

Implications of Self-Potential Distribution for Groundwater Flow System in a Nonvolcanic Mountain Slope

Self-potential (SP) measurements were conducted at Mt. Tsukuba, Japan, which is a nonvolcanic mountain, to infer groundwater flow system in the mountain. Survey routes were set around the northern slope, and the reliability of observed SP anomaly was checked by using SP values along parallel survey routes; the error was almost within 10 mV. The FFT analysis of the spatial SP distribution allows us a separation of raw data into two components with shorter and longer wavelength. In the shorter (altitudinal) wavelength than ∼200 meters, several positive SP peaks of more than 100 mV in magnitude are present, which indicate shallow perched water discharges along the slope. In the regional SP pattern of longer wavelength, there are two major perturbations from the general trend reflecting the topographic effect. By comparing the SP and hydrological data, the perturbation around the foothill is interpreted to be caused by heterogeneous infiltration at the ground surface. The perturbation around the summit is also interpreted to be caused by heterogeneous infiltration process, based on a simplified numerical modeling of SP. As a result, the SP pattern is well explained by groundwater flow and infiltration processes. Thus, SP data is thought to be very useful for understanding of groundwater flow system on a mountain scale.

Temporal geophysical signatures from contaminant-mass remediation

We have previously documented changes in bulk electrical conductivity, self-potential (SP), and ground-penetrating-radar (GPR) reflections in a field setting caused by biogeochemical transformations of hydrocarbon-contaminated media. These transformations are associated with hydrocarbon biodegradation. The results of surface geophysical surveys acquired in 1996, 2003, and 2007 document changes in geophysical signatures associated with removing hydrocarbon mass in the contaminated zone. Initial investigations in 1996 showed that relative to background, the contaminated area was characterized by higher bulk electrical conductivity, positive SP anomaly, and attenuated GPR reflections. Repeated surveys in 2003 and 2007 over the contaminated area showed that in 2007, the bulk electrical conductivityhad reverted to near-background conditions, the positive SP anomaly became more negative, and the zone of attenuated GPR reflections showed increased signal strength. Removal of hydrocarbon mass in the vadose zone over the plume by a soil vapor-extraction system installed in 2001 was primarily responsible for the changing geophysical responses. Although chemical data from groundwater showed a [Formula: see text]-thick con-ductive plume in 2007, the plume was not imaged by elec-trical resistivity. Forward modeling suggests that apparent bulk electrical conductivity of the saturated zone plume has to be three to five times higher than background values to be imaged by electrical resistivity. We suggest that removing hydrocarbon-contaminant-mass reduction by natural or engineered bioremediation can be imaged effectively by temporal geophysical surveys.

New methods for shape and depth determinations from SP data

We have extended our earlier derivative analysis method to higher derivatives to estimate the depth and shape (shape factor) of a buried structure from self‐potential (SP) data. We show that numerical second, third, and fourth horizontal‐derivative anomalies obtained from SP data using filters of successive window lengths can be used to simultaneously determine the depth and the shape of a buried structure. The depths and shapes obtained from the higher derivatives anomaly values can be used to determine simultaneously the actual depth and shape of the buried structure and the optimum order of the regional SP anomaly along the profile. The method is semi‐automatic and it can be applied to residuals as well as to observed SP data. We have also developed a method (based on a least‐squares minimization approach) to determine, successively, the depth and the shape of a buried structure from the residual SP anomaly profile. By defining the zero anomaly distance and the anomaly value at the origin, the problem of depth determination has been transformed into the problem of finding a solution of a nonlinear equation of form f(z) = 0. Knowing the depth and applying the least‐squares method, the shape factor is determined using a simple linear equation. Finally, we apply these methods to theoretical data with and without random noise and on a known field example from Germany. In all cases, the depth and shape solutions obtained are in good agreement with the actual ones.

Self-potential chenges associated with volcanic activity: Short-term signals associated with March 9, 1998 eruption on La Fournaise volcano (Reunion Island)

After six years of quietness La Fournaise volcano entered into activity on March 9, 1998. Fissures opened gradually downwards on the northern flank of the cone. Two cones, Kapor and Krafft built, from which lava poured until September 1998. Several other vents opened during this eruption. Mappings, surveys, and continuous recordings of the Self-Potential have been performed on the volcano for twenty years. SP mappings disclose the variability of large scale SP anomalies due to the modification of the hydrothermal system over some ten years. Most of the eruptions take place along a Main Fracture Zone (MFZ) in which ground water flows prevail. SP measurements have also regularly been made on the northern flank of the cone, on a west-east profile crossing the MFZ. Between 1981 and 1992 an enlargement and a shift of the MFZ to the east are evidenced. In particular, the eastern fissural axis trending N35°E could be related to the possible collapse of the east flank of the volcano. After a decrease between 1992 and 1997, the SP anomaly was enhanced again by the 1998 eruption. Short scale, about 250 m wide, 750 mV amplitude anomalies were superimposed on a large scale one, 2500 m wide, and about 250 mV in amplitude. For several years, continuous stations have been measuring the electric field along two directions, with a 20 s sampling, in order to record the genesis of SP signals associated with the volcanic activity. Oscillations belonging to the ULF band were evidenced several days before the 1988 eruption, some of them at 9 km from the summit. Their amplitude reached several tens mV/km. These oscillations sometimes present a phase lag from one station to another; they progressively shift towards the location of the future effusive vents. The polarisation of the oscillations is similar to the polarisation of longer SP variations (1 h period or more) and are correlated with the structural anisotropy. Finally, during the last hours preceding the effusive activity, huge SP signals, up to a few Volts/km, appeared at the stations located on the MFZ, and especially on the branch where the magma migrated. We interpret these SP signals as due to electrokinetic effects generated by fluid flow in cracks opened by the stress field changes.

A study of the self-potential field produced by a polarised inclined sheet in an electrically homogeneous and transversely anisotropic ground

In the present paper, the self-potential (sp) field is studied, which is produced by an inclined sheet (thin dyke) in an electrically homogeneous and transversely anisotropic ground. At first, the mathematical expression for the sp anomaly is deduced, by integration of the formula for the self-potential field produced by a point pole in a transversely anisotropic medium (Skianis & Herntmdez 1999). Then, the behavior of the sp curve is studied, for various angles of schistosity. The whole anomaly may be displaced along the horizontal axis and deformed in terms of amplitude and shape. Particular emphasis is given on the enhancement and suppression of the positive center of the self-potential, which depends on the values and orientations of the schistosity angle of the ground and the dip angle of the inclined sheet. These deformations of the sp anomaly, may introduce significant errors in the calculation of the parameters of the polarized body, if ground anisotropy is not taken into account. Therefore, new methodologies have to be developed, for a reliable quantitative interpretation of self-potential field data. In this paper, a direct interpretation method is proposed, which consists of two steps: In step one, the parameters of the inclined sheet are determined, assuming a homogeneous and isotropic ground. In this stage, any quantitative interpretation method, referred in the international bibliography, may be used. Secondly, the true parameters of the dyke are estimated, by a set of transformations in which the anisotropy coefficient and the schistosity angle are introduced. In order to apply this method, a priori information about ground anisotropy should be available, by dc geoelectrical and geological investigations. The efficiency of the method was tested on a synthetic model. In the first stage, the quantitative interpretation method of Murty & Haricharan 1985 was employed. In the second stage, the calculated parameters of the first step, served as input values of the transformations, and the real parameters of the inclined sheet were estimated. There was a good agreement between the parameter values of the synthetic model and the ones found by the proposed method. The results and conclusions of this paper, may be useful in detecting sulfide mineralization deposits or graphite.