Suitability of GPR for characterizing variably saturated sediments during transient flow

Michael B. Kowalsky; Yoram Rubin

doi:10.1117/12.462301

12 April 2002 Suitability of GPR for characterizing variably saturated sediments during transient flow

Michael B. Kowalsky, Yoram Rubin

Proceedings Volume 4758, Ninth International Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.462301
Event: Ninth International Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR2002), 2002, Santa Barbara, CA, United States

Abstract

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is potentially rich in information about both subsurface structure and water saturation, though non-unique interpretations of GPR data are possible since the dielectric constant, often inferred from GPR travel times, is a function of both porosity and water content. Further, water is often non-uniformly distributed in the vadose zone, its distribution being influenced by the spatial structure of hydraulic parameters and transient conditions at the ground surface. Synthetic time-lapsed GPR surveys are shown useftil in this work for improving overall characterization of the Vadose zone and for giving valuable information about flow processes. Variably saturated flow and GPR are simulated simultaneously for a highly heterogeneous vadose zone (outcrop) model in order to obtain synthetic GPR images before and during infiltration experiments. Aside from delineating the advancing water front, GPR crosshole surveys obtained during redistribution of water (after the infiltration front passes) provide additional information. Transients in water content, and therefore in electrical parameters, are seen to be related to soil type, and even more so to the spatial structure of fluid permeability. Instead of requiring a direct relationship between the dielectric constant of soil and its permeability, the goal of this work is to take advantage of the sensitivity of GPR to changes in water content and ultimately relate estimated changes in water content to fluid permeability through inverse modeling.

Citation Download Citation

Michael B. Kowalsky and Yoram Rubin "Suitability of GPR for characterizing variably saturated sediments during transient flow", Proc. SPIE 4758, Ninth International Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar, (12 April 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.462301

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available