Groundwater Geophysics: A Tool for Hydrogeology

This book is a collection of independent chapters written by 27 contributing authors, most of whom have academic or research backgrounds. The stated aim of the volume is “to demonstrate the application of geophysical techniques to provide a database for hydrogeological decisions like drillhole positioning or action plans for groundwater protection,” and it is targeted toward both students and professionals. The 539 pages of text are divided into two parts: The first two thirds are devoted to describing individual geophysical techniques, including some data to illustrate key points, and the latter third emphasizes field examples of the use of various geophysical techniques for detecting and characterizing specific types of hydrogeologic targets. By drawing on multiple authors, the editor capitalizes on the strengths and focused expertise of each contributor, but this leads to inconsistencies in the emphasis and presentation. There is little differentiation between techniques that are currently primarily academic pursuits (e.g., complex resistivity and magnetic nuclear resonance [MNR]) from those technologies that are more commonly used in commercial surveys (e.g., seismic and geoelectric techniques). The de-emphasis of commercial concerns is apparent in the lack of information about production rates or implementation costs. Although not always the case, overall there is also little discussion of uncertainties and limitations. Some figures are provided in color, but there are many that are produced in gray scales, and clarity suffers as a result. The book begins with a short but very useful discussion (by R. Kirsch) relating petrophysical properties to the parameters measured by geophysical techniques such as P and S wave velocities, various forms of Archie's law, and …