Integrated Geophysical Studies of Buried Valley Aquifers

Abstract

Integrated geophysical studies of three buried valley aquifers in southwestern Ohio were made to compare the effectiveness of various geophysical techniques in outlining the extent and depth of these valleys. All of the areas have been overridden by two or more Pleistocene glaciers and each valley contains sequences of till and outwash. These buried valley deposits are the primary water source for the region. This paper summarizes the results of the geophysical studies and proposes a strategy for geophysical investigations of shallow buried valleys in glaciated areas. The techniques used in the integrated studies were gravity, magnetics, resistivity, ground‐penetrating radar, seismic refraction, and seismic reflection.Gravity, seismic refraction profiling, and seismic refraction fan shooting surveys were far superior to other geophysical methods in delineating buried valleys. Buried valleys show up as gravity lows of -2.7 to -0.7mGal due to the increased porosity of the fill materials relative to bedrock....