Pointe du Hoc overlooking the English Channel in Normandy, France was host to one of the most important military engagements of World War II. While the site is a valuable historic cultural resource, it is vulnerable to cliff collapses that already have endangered the observation post and Rudder?s command post. The observation post has been closed to visitors for some time due to safety concerns. Geophysical techniques have been used increasingly in recent years for slope stability investigation purposes. The objective of this study is to apply advanced 3?D resistivity tomography toward a detailed site stability assessment with special attention to the two at-risk buildings. 3?D resistivity tomography datasets at Pointe du Hoc in the presence of extreme topography and dense cultural clutter have been successfully acquired, inverted, and interpreted. The cliff stability in the areas around the two at?risk buildings has been analyzed. A hazard assessment scheme has been designed in which regions of high resistivity are interpreted as zones of open, dry fractures with a moderate mass movement potential. Regions of low resistivity are zones of wet, clay?filled fractures with a high mass movement potential. The observation post tomography results indicate that the highest mass movement hazard appears to be associated with the marine caverns at the base of the cliff that are positioned at the point of strongest wave attack. These caverns likely occupy the future site of development of a sea arch which will definitely threaten the observation post building. A high probability of a soil wedge failure is on the east?facing cliff edge close to the observation post that could damage or destroy the building. The mass movement potential at the Rudder?s command post area is low to moderate. The greatest risk is associated with soil wedge failures at the top of the cliffs. The resistivity geophysical data add great value to the natural geohazard assessment at Pointe du Hoc and constitute an integral component of an interdisciplinary approach to the problem of cultural resource preservation at the site. Geophysics is a non?invasive and relatively inexpensive technology that provides unique constraints which are unobtainable using traditional engineering geology methods for site characterization. However, the technology is difficult to master and the inherent limitations must be carefully understood to ensure a reliable geotechnical interpretation.

No description available.

Thesis advisor: John E. Ebel / Thesis advisor: Alan L. Kafka / As the best seismic indicator of shear modulus, shear-wave velocity is an important property in engineering problems in near-surface site characterization. Several surface-wave methods have been developed to obtain the subsurface shear-wave velocity structure. This thesis compared three surface-wave methods, Spectral Analysis of Surface Waves (SASW) (Nazarian et al., 1983), Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) (Park et al., 1999), and Refraction Microtremor (ReMi) (Louie, 2001), to determine which method gives the best estimation of the 1-D shear-wave velocity profile of near-surface soils. We collected seismic data at three sites in the greater Boston area where there are direct measurements of shear-wave velocities for comparison. The three methods were compared in terms of accuracy and precision. Overall, the MASW and the ReMi methods have comparable quality of accuracy, whereas the SASW method is the least accurate method with the highest percentage differences with direct measurements. The MASW method is the most precise method among the three methods with the smallest standard deviations. In general, the MASW method is concluded to be the best surface-wave method in determining the shear-wave velocities of the subsurface structure in the greater Boston area.

Anomalias de potencial espontâneo com amplitudes de dezenas a centenas de milivolts são observadas em plumas de contaminação apesar de não serem explicadas por modelos de geobateria normalmente utilizados na geofísica de exploração. Modelos recentemente propostos, denominados de biogeobateria, assumem que estruturas orgânicas produzidas por micro- organismos assumem a função de condução eletrônica que os minerais condutivos exercem no modelo clássico de geobateria. O modelo de biogeobateria, por outro lado, se assemelha com o que se denomina sistemas bioeletroquímicos ou células de combustível microbianas em áreas da biotecnologia (bioenergia). O presente trabalho explora esta semelhança para desenvolver um experimento de laboratório que utiliza um sistema bioeletroquímico como modelo análogo de biogeobateria para mostrar que este modelo é capaz de explicar o sinal de potencial espontâneo observado em campo. Os resultados experimentais e de modelagem numérica mostram que a amplitude do potencial elétrico depende: da área do catodo, da resistência interna da biogeobateria, da existência de um fluxo adicional de cátions do anodo para o catodo, da resistividade elétrica do meio e da separação do anodo com o catodo. Os resultados experimentais mostraram-se compatíveis com observações de campo obtidas na caracterização hidrogeofísica de uma pluma de contaminação, proveniente de um aterro de resíduos (lixão). A pluma de contaminação se estende por dois níveis em profundidade, comprometendo a qualidade do aquífero livre e certamente do aquífero confinado. A ano- malia de potencial espontâneo alcança amplitude de 70mV sobre o aquífero livre, sendo praticamente desprezível sobre o aquífero confinado, tal como se observa em laboratório em modelos correspondentes. O experimento com biogeobateria mostra também que as reações químicas desencadeadas no anodo oxidam o substrato orgânico, reduzindo a demanda química de oxigênio em 10 % no experimento considerado. Este resultado mostra que sinais de potencial espontâneo em áreas contaminadas podem ser considerados como indicativos de processos oxidativos ocorrendo em um substrato orgânico sendo, pois, de relevância para o reconhecimento de processos de atenuação natural em terrenos com contaminantes orgânicos. / Self-potential anomalies with amplitudes of tens to hundreds of millivolts are observed in contaminated plumes despite not fully explained by geobattery models commonly used in geophysical exploration. Recently proposed models, termed as biogeobattery, assume that organic structures produced by microorganisms act as electronic conductors, as it is done by conductive minerals in standard geobattery models. The biogeobattery model in addition resembles what is termed as bioelectrochemical system or microbial fuel cell in fields of the research in biotechnology (bioenergy). This study explores this similarity to develop a laboratory experiment using a bioelectrochemical system as an analog model for a biogeobattery, to show that this model is able to explain the spontaneous potential signals observed in many geophysical surveys over contaminated sites. Experimental and modeling results show that the amplitude of the electric potential from a biogeobattery depends on: the area of ? the cathode, its internal resistance, the existence of an additional flow of cations (from the anode to the cathode), the electrical resistivity of the medium and the separation of anode to the cathode. In general, the experimental results were compatible with field observations at a contamination plume produced by a landfill. The contamination plume extends over two levels deep, degrading the quality of the unconfined and confined aquifers. The amplitude of the self-potential anomaly reaches 70mV over the unconfined aquifer and is negligible over the confined aquifer, as observed in the corresponding models of the laboratory experiment. The biogeobattery experiment also shows that chemical reactions at the system anode were able do oxidize the organic substrate, reducing in 10% its chemical oxygen demand. This result shows that self-potential signals in contaminated areas can be regarded as indicative of oxidative processes taking of buried organic matter and, as such, a proxy of biodegradation processes leading to natural attenuation of organic ontaminants.

Anomalias de potencial espontâneo com amplitudes de dezenas a centenas de milivolts são observadas em plumas de contaminação apesar de não serem explicadas por modelos de geobateria normalmente utilizados na geofísica de exploração. Modelos recentemente propostos, denominados de biogeobateria, assumem que estruturas orgânicas produzidas por micro- organismos assumem a função de condução eletrônica que os minerais condutivos exercem no modelo clássico de geobateria. O modelo de biogeobateria, por outro lado, se assemelha com o que se denomina sistemas bioeletroquímicos ou células de combustível microbianas em áreas da biotecnologia (bioenergia). O presente trabalho explora esta semelhança para desenvolver um experimento de laboratório que utiliza um sistema bioeletroquímico como modelo análogo de biogeobateria para mostrar que este modelo é capaz de explicar o sinal de potencial espontâneo observado em campo. Os resultados experimentais e de modelagem numérica mostram que a amplitude do potencial elétrico depende: da área do catodo, da resistência interna da biogeobateria, da existência de um fluxo adicional de cátions do anodo para o catodo, da resistividade elétrica do meio e da separação do anodo com o catodo. Os resultados experimentais mostraram-se compatíveis com observações de campo obtidas na caracterização hidrogeofísica de uma pluma de contaminação, proveniente de um aterro de resíduos (lixão). A pluma de contaminação se estende por dois níveis em profundidade, comprometendo a qualidade do aquífero livre e certamente do aquífero confinado. A ano- malia de potencial espontâneo alcança amplitude de 70mV sobre o aquífero livre, sendo praticamente desprezível sobre o aquífero confinado, tal como se observa em laboratório em modelos correspondentes. O experimento com biogeobateria mostra também que as reações químicas desencadeadas no anodo oxidam o substrato orgânico, reduzindo a demanda química de oxigênio em 10 % no experimento considerado. Este resultado mostra que sinais de potencial espontâneo em áreas contaminadas podem ser considerados como indicativos de processos oxidativos ocorrendo em um substrato orgânico sendo, pois, de relevância para o reconhecimento de processos de atenuação natural em terrenos com contaminantes orgânicos. / Self-potential anomalies with amplitudes of tens to hundreds of millivolts are observed in contaminated plumes despite not fully explained by geobattery models commonly used in geophysical exploration. Recently proposed models, termed as biogeobattery, assume that organic structures produced by microorganisms act as electronic conductors, as it is done by conductive minerals in standard geobattery models. The biogeobattery model in addition resembles what is termed as bioelectrochemical system or microbial fuel cell in fields of the research in biotechnology (bioenergy). This study explores this similarity to develop a laboratory experiment using a bioelectrochemical system as an analog model for a biogeobattery, to show that this model is able to explain the spontaneous potential signals observed in many geophysical surveys over contaminated sites. Experimental and modeling results show that the amplitude of the electric potential from a biogeobattery depends on: the area of ? the cathode, its internal resistance, the existence of an additional flow of cations (from the anode to the cathode), the electrical resistivity of the medium and the separation of anode to the cathode. In general, the experimental results were compatible with field observations at a contamination plume produced by a landfill. The contamination plume extends over two levels deep, degrading the quality of the unconfined and confined aquifers. The amplitude of the self-potential anomaly reaches 70mV over the unconfined aquifer and is negligible over the confined aquifer, as observed in the corresponding models of the laboratory experiment. The biogeobattery experiment also shows that chemical reactions at the system anode were able do oxidize the organic substrate, reducing in 10% its chemical oxygen demand. This result shows that self-potential signals in contaminated areas can be regarded as indicative of oxidative processes taking of buried organic matter and, as such, a proxy of biodegradation processes leading to natural attenuation of organic ontaminants.

Populations residing on and near the world’s coasts have become increasingly dependent on coastal groundwater for their supply of freshwater. Under the conditions of predicted climate changes, the expected rise in global sea level can adversely affect the quality and quantity of freshwater resources in coastal areas as a result of saltwater intrusion. In this study, a suite of two- and three-dimensional variable-density groundwater flow models of major coastal landforms (e.g. deltas, estuaries and small islands) has been constructed to assess the effects of sea level rise (SLR), using different SLR rates of 0.5 m, 1m and 1.5 m over the next 90 years, from 2010-2100. The model results indicate that in natural coastal systems the extent of saltwater intrusion is significantly controlled by the stratigraphy of the depositional environments. Among deltaic aquifers, wave-dominated deltas are more prone to saltwater intrusion than river- and tide-dominated deltas. In case of a partially mixed, microtidal estuary, SLR can cause extensive porewater salinity increases, especially within estuarine sand deposits. Simulations of atoll and barrier islands reveal that carbonate atoll islands with high conductivity units, are severely affected by SLR, resulting in significant reduction of the volume of freshwater lens. In contrast, migrating sandy barrier islands could retain their freshwater resources with rising sea level under conditions of increased recharge, assuming the barriers can migrate in response to SLR. The freshwater lens of barrier island aquifers would reduce in size due to increased evapotranspiration caused by change in vegetation pattern. When examined for anthropogenic impacts of groundwater withdrawal through pumping, all the coastal aquifers show evidence of saltwater intrusion, with varying degrees of impact. Wave-dominated deltas are more affected by groundwater withdrawal than river- and tide-dominated deltaic aquifers. Saltwater intrusion in atoll islands is further enhanced by pumping withdrawal. It is evident from the results of the simulations that, the potential effects on coastal aquifers of groundwater withdrawals for potable water can easily exceed the adverse effects of SLR in terms of salinity increase.

Le stock d’eau, ses variations temporelles et leurs répartitions spatiales, sont des grandes inconnues du cycle hydrologique d’Afrique de l’Ouest. Les trois principaux types de gravimètres actuels (un gravimètre relatif supraconducteur –SG–, un microgravimètre relatif –CG5–, et un gravimètre absolu –FG5–) ont été déployés sur un bassin versant élémentaire de l’observatoire AMMA-CATCH de l’Ouémé supérieur (Bénin), représentatif d’un milieu cultivé de la zone soudanienne. Conjointement, un important dispositif de suivi hydrologique (piézométrie, sonde à neutrons) a été mis en place, ainsi que des mesures de géophysique de proche surface (mesures électriques, électromagnétiques et résonance magnétique des protons –RMP–) pour la caractérisation des aquifères. Ces travaux font état des apports de la gravimétrie pour 1) la détermination de la porosité de drainage en zone de socle hétérogène, 2) le suivi des variations de stock d’eau intégrées à l’échelle d’appréhension des gravimètres (parcelle de 100m de côté) et 3) l’identification de processus hydrologiques liés à la redistribution interne au sein du bassin versant et à la genèse des écoulements. / Water storage, together with its temporal and spatial variations, are major unknowns of the West African hydrological cycle. The three main gravimeter types (a relative superconducting gravimeter –SG–, a relative microgravimeter –CG5–, and an absolute gravimeter –FG5–) have been set up on an elementary catchment of the Upper Ouémé (Benin) AMMA-CATCH observatory, considered as a typical cultivated environment of the Sudanian area. Hydrological monitoring (water table, neutron probe) and near surface geophysics (electrical, electromagnetic, magnetic resonance soundings –MRS–) have been developed jointly, for aquifer characterization. This work states on the inputs provided by gravimetry on 1) specific yield determination in heterogeneous basement area, 2) the monitoring of water storage changes at the gravity measurements scale (100m square plot) and 3) hydrological processes identification, linked to internal catchment redistribution and streamflow generation.

Object-based image analysis (OBIA) has been increasingly used to identify terrain features of archaeological sites, but only recently to extract subsurface archaeological features from geophysical data. In this study, we use a semi-automated OBIA to identify Archaic (8000-1000 BC) hearths from Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) data collected at David Crockett Birthplace State Park in eastern Tennessee in the southeastern United States. The data were preprocessed using GPR-SLICE, Surfer, and Archaeofusion software, and amplitude depth slices were selected that contained anomalies ranging from 0.80 to 1.20 m below surface (BS). Next, the data were segmented within ESRI ArcMap GIS software using a global threshold and, after vectorization, classified using four attributes: area, perimeter, length-to-width ratio, and Circularity Index. The user-defined parameters were based on an excavated Archaic circular hearth found at a depth greater than one meter, which consisted of fire-cracked rock and had a diameter greater than one meter. These observations were in agreement with previous excavations of hearths at the site. Features that had a high probability of being Archaic hearths were further delineated by human interpretation from radargrams and then ground-truthed by auger testing. The semi-automated OBIA successfully predicted 15 probable Archaic hearths at depths ranging from 0.85 to 1.20 m BS. Observable spatial clustering of hearths may indicate episodes of seasonal occupation by small mobile groups during the Archaic Period.

Yes / Archaeological research at Stonehenge (UK) is increasingly aimed at understanding the dynamic of the wider archaeological landscape. Through the application of state-of-the-art geophysical techniques, unprecedented insight is being gathered into the buried archaeological features of the area. However, applied survey techniques have rarely targeted natural soil variation, and the detailed knowledge of the palaeotopography is consequently less complete. In addition, metallic topsoil debris, scattered over different parts of the Stonehenge landscape, often impacts the interpretation of geophysical datasets. The research presented here demonstrates how a single multi-receiver electromagnetic induction (EMI) survey, conducted over a 22 ha area within the Stonehenge landscape, offers detailed insight into natural and anthropogenic soil variation at Stonehenge. The soil variations that were detected through recording the electrical and magnetic soil variability, shed light on the genesis of the landscape, and allow for a better definition of potential palaeoenvironmental and archaeological sampling locations. Based on the multi-layered dataset, a procedure was developed to remove the influence of topsoil metal from the survey data, which enabled a more straightforward identification of the detected archaeology. The results provide a robust basis for further geoarchaeological research, while potential to differentiate between modern soil disturbances and the underlying sub-surface variations can help in solving conservation and management issues. Through expanding this approach over the wider area, we aim at a fuller understanding of the human–landscape interactions that have shaped the Stonehenge landscape.

An integrated use of radio magnetotelluric (RMT) and controlled source tensor magnetotelluric (CSTMT) measurements, the so-called CSRMT method, has been employed in environmental and resource exploration studies. A number of case histories, including a groundwater investigation in glacial deposits, a study of fracture zones for geotechnical purposes and a mining exploration study of a copper deposit, are presented in this thesis in order to illustrate the usefulness and capability of the CSRMT method. The resolutions of the estimated models using various types of data are studied. Magnetotelluric transfer functions are used to analyze the dimensionality, the near surface resistivity distortions and the near field effects in the case of CSTMT data analysis. The near field effects in CSTMT data have also been identified by performing 2½D forward modelling. Data analysis, dimensionality tests and forward modelling show that at the lowest frequencies used the CSTMT transfer functions are generally distorted by source effects, except when the source-receiver distances are sufficient large compared with the penetration depth. Regarding CSTMT transfer functions, apparent resistivities are generally less distorted than phases. TM mode transfer functions are more affected by the sources than TE mode, while tipper vectors generally contain source signatures at all frequencies. Based on the analysis of dimensionality and source effects 2D inverse modelling of CSTMT and RMT data, as well as their combination, have been performed under the plane wave assumption. The RMT method proved to be a powerful tool for imaging the upper 50 m near-surface, but their penetration depth reduces as a conductive layer structures cover the targets at depth. The penetration depth can be increased by including the CSTMT data in the modelling if the measurements are in the far field range. The resolution of the deeper parts of the models may be improved by performing a joint inversion of TE and TM modes, if the strike direction is well-defined. Alternatively, inversion of determinant data can be performed, since the determinant data are less affected by 3D structures and source effects. However the resolution of the determinant models is somewhat degraded compared to the models inverted from combined TE and TM modes.