Geophysical methodology studies for military groundwater exploration. Final report, Aug 82-Aug 83

This report contains the results of geophysical surveys at two sites: White Sands, New Mexico an Fort Carson, Colorado. The geophysical surveys, seismic reflection, seismic refraction, shear wave refraction and reflection, and electrical resistivity, were used in an integrated fashion to detect and assess groundwater potential at a number of locations at each site. The locations presented various geological and groundwater conditions. The results of the surveys varied from fair to good. Factors which contributed to a successful assessment of groundwater potential were: (a) geology consisting of coarse-grained sediments, (b) limited knowledge of geology, and, (c) knowledge of all available geological information. Factors which hindered the assessment of groundwater potential were: (a) geology consisting of fine-grained sediments, (b) complex geology and topography, and (c) no prior knowledge of the geology available. Software developed during this study was designed to allow unskilled military personnel to interpret refraction and reflection data on a small, field-portable microcomputer.