Increased groundwater withdrawals associated with agricultural irrigation in the Jackson Purchase have prompted questions related to groundwater availability and sustainability. Key factors in addressing these questions are understanding the extent and variation in thickness of the local hydrostratigraphic system, which is the upper part of the Mississippi Embayment aquifer system. Correlations of 70 gamma-ray well logs, and 49 resistivity logs were made across parts of the Jackson Purchase in Fulton and Hickman Counties in order to delineate the upper Claiborne aquifer and middle Claiborne confining unit. Commercial software (i.e. Petra 3.8.3) was used to generate cross sections, structure and isopach maps of the upper Claiborne aquifer, middle Claiborne confining unit, and middle Claiborne aquifer. The structure and isopach maps show the upper Claiborne aquifer and middle Claiborne confining unit thickening and dipping southwest into the embayment. In an effort to test different methods for mapping these hydrostatic units in the shallow sub-surface, surface electrical resistivity and a seismic walkaway sounding were acquired and compared with downhole geophysical logs at two well-constrained sites to test their limits for resolving these hydrostratigraphic units. Both electric resistivity and seismic geophysical methods were best able to image the Claiborne aquifer system when used together.

This dissertation consists of three projects utilizing electric and electromagnetic (EM) methods to better understand critical-zone hydrogeologic conditions in select Florida wetlands and waters. First, a time-lapse electrical resistivity (ER) survey was conducted in section of mangrove forest on a barrier island in southeast Florida to image changes in pore-water salinity in the root zone. ER data show the most variability in the root zone over a 24-hour period, and, generally, the ground is more resistive during the day than overnight. Second, a suite of three-dimensional forward models, based on varying lateral boundaries and conductivities typical of a coastal wetland, were run to simulate the EM response of a commerical electromagnetic induction instrument crossing over said boundaries. Normalized profiles show the transition is sharper in a hypersaline regime than one where freshwater and clay are present. Furthermore, enough variability exists in hypersaline regimes to justify collecting profile measurements in multiple coil configurations to constrain the nature of a lateral boundary. Also, under certain circumstances, there are kinks in the EMI response even across abrupt boundaries due to concentrated current density at a layer's edge. Lastly, geophysical surveys were conducted at six wetlands in west-central Florida to characterize potential hydrostratigraphic units and compare/contrast them to the current conceptual model for cypress dome wetlands. ER was used to image the geometry of the top of limestone; ground penetrating radar (GPR) was used to image stratigraphy beneath and surrounding wetlands. These wetlands can be grouped into two models. Topographic highs surrounding wetlands are controlled by the undulating top of limestone at sites where the region is characterized by limestone ridges. In contrast, topographic highs are controlled by thick sand packages at sites regionally characterized by sand dunes over scoured limestone.

<p>Impact craters are formed when a large meteorite or comethits the Earth. At the impact a shock wave is released causingabundant fracturing in the surrounding bedrock. This type offracturing is intense and occurs throughout a very large volume(>100 km³) of the bedrock. Fractures of this type have beenobserved in deep drilling, to 5 km depth, in thePuchezh-Katunki Impact Crater. At theses depths the ambienttemperature is high. Thus impact structures are candidates forpotential heat-exchange sources for extraction of geothermalenergy.</p><p>There is a relation between fracture intensity and electricresistivity in bedrock predominated by impact-generatedfractures. In crystalline bedrock changes in electricresistivity is mainly due to fracturing which is the mainsource of porosity in these rocks. Electric resistivity methodsare highly sensitivity to porosity. Furthermore highfracture-intensities have generally been associated with lowelectric resistivity. Electro-magnetic methods like Very LowFrequency Resistivity (VLF-R) and Magnetotellurics (MT) canindirectly measure electric resistivity to relatively largedepths in the bedrock.</p><p>This study will quantify the relationship between fractureintensity and electric resistivity which can be used as aprospecting tool for geothermal energy resources at largedepth.</p><p>To meet that end, a method for fracture mapping on outcropsin Swedish terrain and a method to calculate thethree-dimensional fracture frequency from two-dimensionalfracture data has been developed. The fracture traces measuredin two dimensions on outcrops are assumed to represent avertical surface and must be converted to a three-dimensionalmeasure of the fracture frequency per unit volume. Spacing, dipand trace length of fractures have been accounted for. Thebiases associated with the mapping method have also beenaccounted for (II).</p><p>The correlation between impact-induced fracturing andelectric resistivity in crystalline rocks in the Lockne Areashows that the extent of impact fracturing in crystalline rockscan be measured with electro-magnetic or electric techniques.In addition the electric resistivity of crystalline basementand impact generated Tandsby Breccia from the Lockne Craterwere determined (I).</p><p>The relation between fracture frequency and electricresistivity in fresh water conditions using the VLF-R method isestablished from data collected from both two drill holes andfrom numerous outcrops in the Björkö region. Apreliminary quantification of the fracture frequency has beenmade. The MT resistivity models, related to the two drillholes, show that porosity and mineral-conductivity variationsof the bedrock affect this relation more than the salinityvariations in the bore-hole fluid. Further research is neededto establish a firm relation between fracture frequency,salinity of rock fluid, conductivity and porosity in order tovalidate the MT resistivity models (III).</p><p><b>Keywords:</b>Electric resistivity, Fracture frequency,Impact generated fractures, Electro-magnetic techniques, VLF-Rmethod, MT method, Window-mapping technique, Three-dimensionalfracture calculations, heat-exchange structure, geothermalenergy.</p>

Impact craters are formed when a large meteorite or comethits the Earth. At the impact a shock wave is released causingabundant fracturing in the surrounding bedrock. This type offracturing is intense and occurs throughout a very large volume(&gt;100 km3) of the bedrock. Fractures of this type have beenobserved in deep drilling, to 5 km depth, in thePuchezh-Katunki Impact Crater. At theses depths the ambienttemperature is high. Thus impact structures are candidates forpotential heat-exchange sources for extraction of geothermalenergy. There is a relation between fracture intensity and electricresistivity in bedrock predominated by impact-generatedfractures. In crystalline bedrock changes in electricresistivity is mainly due to fracturing which is the mainsource of porosity in these rocks. Electric resistivity methodsare highly sensitivity to porosity. Furthermore highfracture-intensities have generally been associated with lowelectric resistivity. Electro-magnetic methods like Very LowFrequency Resistivity (VLF-R) and Magnetotellurics (MT) canindirectly measure electric resistivity to relatively largedepths in the bedrock. This study will quantify the relationship between fractureintensity and electric resistivity which can be used as aprospecting tool for geothermal energy resources at largedepth. To meet that end, a method for fracture mapping on outcropsin Swedish terrain and a method to calculate thethree-dimensional fracture frequency from two-dimensionalfracture data has been developed. The fracture traces measuredin two dimensions on outcrops are assumed to represent avertical surface and must be converted to a three-dimensionalmeasure of the fracture frequency per unit volume. Spacing, dipand trace length of fractures have been accounted for. Thebiases associated with the mapping method have also beenaccounted for (II). The correlation between impact-induced fracturing andelectric resistivity in crystalline rocks in the Lockne Areashows that the extent of impact fracturing in crystalline rockscan be measured with electro-magnetic or electric techniques.In addition the electric resistivity of crystalline basementand impact generated Tandsby Breccia from the Lockne Craterwere determined (I). The relation between fracture frequency and electricresistivity in fresh water conditions using the VLF-R method isestablished from data collected from both two drill holes andfrom numerous outcrops in the Björkö region. Apreliminary quantification of the fracture frequency has beenmade. The MT resistivity models, related to the two drillholes, show that porosity and mineral-conductivity variationsof the bedrock affect this relation more than the salinityvariations in the bore-hole fluid. Further research is neededto establish a firm relation between fracture frequency,salinity of rock fluid, conductivity and porosity in order tovalidate the MT resistivity models (III). Keywords:Electric resistivity, Fracture frequency,Impact generated fractures, Electro-magnetic techniques, VLF-Rmethod, MT method, Window-mapping technique, Three-dimensionalfracture calculations, heat-exchange structure, geothermalenergy.

This document describes the methods to test and measure the protective glasses used in solar panels. The next part of the dissertation covers the evolve summary for the norms of degradation tests. The purpose of this research is to scale the volume and surface electric resistivity of selected materials, as well as, specify the supposed durability of these materials. Evaluation of these features proceeds after enhanced aging by the use of dry heat. Samples of these materials were prepared with the cooperation of the company Solartec s.r.o

Les nano-composés de type Sn1-xTaxO2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0,03) ont été étudiés en vue de leurs propriétés thermoélectriques. Une méthode de co-précipitation a été utilisée pour synthétiser des nano-poudres ayant une taille des grains moyenne d’environ 3 nm. L’étude structurale et microstructurale a suggéré une limite de solubilité pour le Ta de 0,008 ≤ x < 0,010. Ces nano-poudres ont été ensuite densifiées par Spark Plasma Sintering, avec des compacités atteignant ~ 95%. Le dopage en Ta a permis une amélioration des propriétés thermoélectriques du SnO2 et, en accord avec la limite de solubilité, une valeur maximale du facteur de mérite de 4,7x10-5 K-1 a été observée pour l’échantillon x = 0,008. De plus, nous avons démontré qu’une diminution de la taille des grains permettait d’améliorer le coefficient Seebeck, de diminuer la conductivité thermique, mais conduisait à une diminution de la conductivité électrique. La stabilité des oxydes, notamment à l'échelle nanométrique, est remise en question par des caractérisations physico-chimiques. Partant de ces matériaux à base de SnO2, un nano-composite (ZnO-SnO2) a été étudié. Le composé Zn1-xGdxO (0 ≤ x ≤ 0,03) a été préparé par la méthode de Péchini et caractérisé en comparant avec d’autres matériaux à base de ZnO. Un premier test de nano-composite M30 (30% en masse Sn0.996Ta0.004O2 et 70% en masse Zn0.997Gd0.003O) a été mené. Le résultat obtenu a montré qu’une concentration de nano-inclusion Sn0.996Ta0.004O2 de 30 % ne permettait pas d’améliorer les propriétés thermoélectriques du nano-composite M30, par rapport aux matériaux de départ. / The nano-compound Sn1-xTaxO2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.03) was studied with a view to their thermoelectric properties. A method of co-precipitation was used to synthesize nano-powders having an average grain size of about 3 nm. The structural and microstructural study suggested a solid solubility limit of 0.008 ≤ x < 0.010. These nano-powders were then densified by Spark Plasma Sintering, with density reaching ~ 95%. The doping of Ta improved the thermoelectric properties, and in good agreement with the solubility limit, a maximum value of the factor of merit of 4.7x10-5 K-1 was observed for the sample x = 0.008. The stability of oxides, particularly at the nanoscale, is questioned by physicochemical characterizations. From these SnO2-based materials, a nano-composite (ZnO-SnO2) was studied. The compound Zn1-xGdxO (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.03) was prepared by the method of Pechini and characterized by comparing with other ZnO-based materials. A first test of nano-composite M30 (30 wt% Sn0.996Ta0.004O2 and 70 wt% Zn0.997Gd0.003O) was conducted. The result showed that a concentration of 30% nano-inclusion Sn0.996Ta0.004O2 did not allow to improve the thermoelectric properties of nano-composite M30, compared to the starting materials.