Multi-method geophysical measurements for soil science investigations in the vadose zone

B. Weihnacht (1) , F. Börner (1)

1 Dresden Groundwater Research Centre (e.V.)

We studied the changes of geophysical parameters on a soil wall of the testfield Grenzhof (University of Heidelberg). The unsaturated materials investigated range from coarse-grain gravel to sandy loam. Ground-penetrating radar, ultrasound transmission and complex conductivity measurements were applied as geophysical methods. The measured parameters were used to calculate soil parameters such as porosity, water content, density and grain surface area necessary to obtain geohydraulic parameters such as hydraulic conductivity, field capacity and retention parameters. Soil samples were taken and analysed regarding porosity, apparent density, true density and internal surface. The comparison between petrophysical data from the laboratory and from geophysical measurements showed good correlations for the majority of the data.

Domaines: Interfaces continentales, environnement; Océan, Atmosphère; Sciences de la Terre

B. Weihnacht, F. Börner. Multi-method geophysical measurements for soil science investigations in the vadose zone. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions, 2007, 4 (4), pp.2659-2681. ⟨hal-00298872⟩