About Environmental Geophysics
Environmental Geophysics explores the physics of the earth related to environmental problems.
The physical properties of earth materials such as density, magnetism, or electrical conductance are measurable from the surface of the earth on land and water bodies as well as down wells and open boreholes. These measurements reveal the distribution of these physical properties within the near subsurface of the earth. This mapping of the earth’s physical properties can then be used to guide drilling, excavation, other invasive investigations, or be used to understand the conditions below the ground and monitor how these conditions change.
Geophysical surveys have many applications such as locating groundwater, identifying geologic materials or geologic structure, mapping and monitoring contaminant plumes and remedial activities, and characterizing dynamic earth processes such as the interactions between groundwater and surface water. Just as medical imaging technologies are used to diagnose broken bones or torn ligaments and guide treatment, geophysical technologies can guide subsurface investigations and aid in our protection and cleanup of our environment.
This site includes technical scientific content, decision support tools, predictive models, and data interpretation models to facilitate the proper use, application, and interpretation of geophysics to environmental problems. The site is intended as a resource for environmental and geoscience professional, educators, stakeholders, and other interested parties. This site contains a wealth of information and practical tools on the science of environmental geophysics and the application of geophysics to environmental problems.
The Environmental Geophysics website is made up like a user manual which includes a:
- Tools section with links to decision support, utilities, forward (or predictive) models, and inverse models.
- Resources section which houses the Environmental Geophysics Textbook. The first section broadly covers surface, borehole, and waterborne geophysical methods.
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Publications section which includes a list of free EPA Environmental Geophysics publications and descriptions of Ongoing EPA Research, plus other useful sources of information.
Geophysical Methods Introduction
The geophysical methods content of this website presents a basic description of specific geophysical methods or techniques, the theory underlying them, and examples. This information is located within the Resources section and is sub-divided into geophysical methods used: on the surface of the earth, down boreholes, and applied in, or on the water.
Learn more about geophysical methods
More information can be found on:
Applications of Environmental Geophysics
Environmental Geophysics can be used for many applications. Listed below are some of the most common:
- Contaminant plume mapping
- Mapping and monitoring of active and passive remediation
- Locating and mapping anthropogenic objects such as:
- Underground Storage Tanks (USTs)
- Utilities
- Wells
- Septic tanks
- Drain fields
- Landfills
- Conceptual Site Model (CSM) development including geologic mapping
- Groundwater - surface water investigations
- Characterizing and monitoring hydraulic processes (e.g., recharge, flooding, saltwater intrusion, and mapping aquifers)