Combined Use of Frequency‐Domain Electromagnetic and Electrical Resistivity Surveys to Delineate the Freshwater/Saltwater Interface Near Saline Lakes in the Nebraska Sand Hills, Nebraska, USA

Abstract

PreviousNext No AccessSymposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2009Combined Use of Frequency‐Domain Electromagnetic and Electrical Resistivity Surveys to Delineate the Freshwater/Saltwater Interface Near Saline Lakes in the Nebraska Sand Hills, Nebraska, USAAuthors: John T. OngEric A. WhiteJohn W. LaneTodd HalihanVitaly A. ZlotnikJohn T. OngUniversity of Nebraska‐Lincoln, Lincoln, NESearch for more papers by this author, Eric A. WhiteU.S. Geological Survey, Storrs, CTSearch for more papers by this author, John W. LaneU.S. Geological Survey, Storrs, CTSearch for more papers by this author, Todd HalihanOklahoma State University, Stillwater, OKSearch for more papers by this author, and Vitaly A. ZlotnikUniversity of Nebraska‐Lincoln, Lincoln, NESearch for more papers by this authorhttps://doi.org/10.4133/1.3176693 SectionsAboutPDF/ePub ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail Abstract We investigate the use of frequency‐domain electromagnetic (FDEM) and electrical resistivity (ER) surveys for rapid and detailed characterization of the direction of lake‐aquifer fluxes and the configuration of salt plumes generated from saline lakes. This methodology was developed and applied at several lakes in the Nebraska Sand Hills, Nebraska, in an area with both freshwater and saline lakes hydraulically connected to the freshwater surficial aquifer. The FDEM survey was conducted by mounting the instrument on a fiberglass cart towed by an all‐terrain vehicle. The towed FDEM surveys covered about 25 km per day and served as a reconnaissance method for choosing locations for the more quantitative and detailed ER surveys. Around the saline lakes, areas with high electrical conductivity are consistent with the regional direction of ground‐water flow. Lower electrical conductivity was measured around the freshwater lakes with anomalies correlating to a paleovalley axis inferred from previous studies. The efficacy of this geophysical approach is attributed to: (1) significant contrast in electrical conductivity between freshwater and saltwater, (2) near‐surface location of the freshwater/saltwater interface, (3) minimal cultural interference, and (4) relative homogeneity of the aquifer materials.Permalink: https://doi.org/10.4133/1.3176693FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2009ISSN (online):1554-8015Copyright: 2009 Pages: 1113 publication data© 2009 Copyright © 2009 The Environmental and Engineering Geophysical SocietyPublisher:Environmental & Engineering Geophysical Society HistoryPublished: 25 Jun 2009 CITATION INFORMATION John T. Ong, Eric A. White, John W. Lane, Jr., Todd Halihan, and Vitaly A. Zlotnik, (2009), "Combined Use of Frequency‐Domain Electromagnetic and Electrical Resistivity Surveys to Delineate the Freshwater/Saltwater Interface Near Saline Lakes in the Nebraska Sand Hills, Nebraska, USA," Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems Proceedings : 178-187. https://doi.org/10.4133/1.3176693 Plain-Language Summary PDF DownloadLoading ...