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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbus, Ohio » Soil Drainage Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #151566

Title: HYDROGEOPHYSICAL CASE STUDIES IN THE VADOSE ZONE

Author
item DANIELS, JEFFREY - OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
item Allred, Barry
item BINLEY, ANDREW - LANCASTER UNIVERSITY
item LABRECQUE, DOUGLAS - MULTI-PHASE TECHNOLOGIES,
item ALUMBAUGH, DAVID - UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN

Submitted to: Hydrogeophysics
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/5/2004
Publication Date: 6/17/2005
Citation: Daniels, J.J., Allred, B.J., Binley, A., Labrecque, D., Alumbaugh, D. 2005. Hydrogeophysical case studies in the vadose zone. In: Rubin, Y., Hubbard, S., editors. Hydrogeophysics. New York, NY: Springer. p. 413-440.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Although characterization of the vadose zone has conventionally been achieved using techniques such as neutron probes, TDR, and tensiometry, these methods have restricted measurement scales, typically in the range of centimetres. Since heterogeneity of the subsurface occurs at much larger scales, more appropriate measurement techniques are required. This has led to a growing interest in the use of geophysical methods for vadose zone characterisation. The challenge of near surface geophysical methods applied to the vadose zone is the following: 1) to define the general hydrogeologic setting (vertical boundaries within the vadose zone), 2) determine the lateral heterogeneity of moisture content within the vadose zone, 3) monitor and track the infiltration of fluids through the vadose zone and into the saturated zone below the water table, and 4) locate source of potential contamination and objects within the subsurface. The following field and experimental examples presented address these vadose zone issues of hydrogeophysics.