what is the best geophysical machine or device for detecting groundwater? Are there any machine that can detect the depth and the type of water? do I have to buy one machine or more than one to get the accurate result?
Resistivity meter are the most economic and better tools in the investigation of groundwater. However one should have an expertise in the interpretation of data.
I think you should rather be asking about what geophysical method is best/suitable for groundwater exploration. You could integrate two or three geophysical methods in order to get a flawless result. In a typical basement complex environment, you can integrate EM or Magnetics + 2D resistivity Imaging + Vertical Electrical Sounding at potential favourable zones identified on both the EM and 2D depth sections. Talking about equipment, you will need EM equipment (most preferable EM 34) and Earth Resistivity Meter capable of doing 1D VES and the 2D imaging.
In sedimentary basins, instrumentation may be quite complex especially if the target are to be deep aquifers. In this case you could integrate Seismic Reflection and AMT.
Direct geophysical detection of groundwater is generally tricky and ambiguous task, especially on sites with unknown geological structure. A better (more reliable) way is detection of position of expected aquifer in an investigated rock section. The preference of geophysical methods depends on the lithology of the geological structure, the selection of a convenient device (machine?) should be a following matter. Application of geoelectrical resistivity methods is usually an effective and relatively foolproof solution (eg. sounding, profiling or its combination). Typical aquifers (eg. layers of sand or gravel, fractured or karstic carbonates etc.) are commonly displayed with increased values of apparent resistivity. However, the resistivity properties of aquifer-strata could be modified (mainly decreased) by groundwater mineralization increment. Hence unknown mineralization of groundwater could be an interpretation problem.
I fully agree with the previous statement, that "one should have an expertise in the interpretation of data", but adequate knowledge of the investigated geological structure is in the same way essential. Moreover, any calibration points (borehole profiles or well-logging data at best) are always very useful for the reliable interpretation of the geophysical data.
Good luck!
Not an easy task. Electrical and electro-magnetic methods have been used. Obviously the response will change with the salinity of the water. Geoscience Australia used airborne EM for large-scale study of groundwater in western New South Wales.
If you are not looking for a method but rather a geophysical equipment try the Maxmin EM (Horizontal Loop).
I think that for groundwater exploration the best method is nuclear magnetic resonance. Iris Numis... http://www.iris-instruments.com/numis-lite.html
1- Instrument GDP-32 (24) for TEM measurements and
2- SuperSting Resistivity meter for SP, Ip, and Resistivity measurements
The previous for methods are the interesting methods in groundwater Exploration
Not machines but geophysical methods.
Based on my experience the best methods are VES and TDEM soundings, together. With these methods you can infer the depth ob the best aquifer but no way you can know the type of water by indirect studies.
Otherwise you are doing "geofiction".
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Automotive Engineering
- Machines