Investigation of a shallow alluvial aquifer using geoelectrical methods: a case from Turkey

Abstract

Near-surface geophysical methods are commonly used to solve a wide class of geological, engineering and environmental problems. In this study, a geoelectrical survey was performed to investigate an alluvial aquifer. The study area is located in the southwest of the Cubukludag graben, situated in the south of Izmir, Turkey. The geophysical studies included the electrical resistivity imaging and self-potential (SP) methods. The resistivity data were acquired along eight profiles in the northern part of the study area by a Wenner-Schlumberger electrode configuration and the data processing was achieved by a tomographic inversion technique. The SP data were collected by gradient technique along 16 profiles. Total field values were calculated for each profile by addition of the successive gradient values, then a total field SP map was obtained. The water-saturated zone in the northern part of the study area was clearly revealed by the electrical resistivity imaging and the SP survey yielded useful information on the subsurface fluid movement.