Investigations of a Cretaceous limestone with spectral induced polarization and scanning electron microscopy

Characterization of varying bedrock properties is a common need in various contexts, ranging from large infrastructure pre-investigations to environmental protection. A direct current resistivity and time domain induced polarization (IP) survey aiming to characterize properties of a Cretaceous limestone was carried out in the Kristianstad basin, Sweden. The time domain IP data was processed with a recently developed method in order to suppress noise from the challenging urban setting in the survey area. The processing also enabled extraction of early decay times resulting in broader spectra of the time decays and inversion for Cole-Cole parameters. The aims of this study is to investigate if large-scale geoelectrical variations as well as small-scale structural and compositional variations exist within the Kristianstad limestone, and to evaluate the usefulness of Cole-Cole inverted IP data in early time ranges for bedrock characterization. The inverted sections showed variations within the limestone that could be caused by variations in texture and composition. Samples from a deep drilling in the Kristianstad basin were investigated with scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and the results showed that varying amounts of pyrite, glauconite and clay matrix were present at different levels in the limestone. The local high IP anomalies in the limestone could be caused by these minerals otherwise the IP responses were generally weak. There were also differences in the texture of the limestone at different levels, governed by fossil shapes and composition, proportions of calcareous cement and matrix as well as amount of silicate grains. Textural variations may have implications on the variation in Cole-Cole relaxation time and frequency factor. However, more research is needed in order to directly connect microgeometrical properties in limestone to spectral IP responses. The results from this study show that it is possible to recover useable spectral information from early decay times. We also show that under certain conditions (e.g. relatively short relaxation times in the subsurface), it is possible to extract spectral information from time domain IP data measured with on-off times as short as 1 s

Predicting the fate of chlorinated aliphatics by hydrogeological modelling and DCIP data - Färgaren case study

We present a local flow model approach for the transport and the decay of a roughly 50 year old perchloroethylene contamination at a former dry cleaning facility at Kv. Färgaren in Kristianstad that sits above the largest aquifer in Sweden. The study demonstrates an efficient workflow integrating ERT for conceptualising and calibrating a three dimensional transient, multi aquifer groundwater transport problem with a sequential first-order decay contamination where only limited sample data is available for calibration - i.e. non-ideal, real world conditions. The 3D hydraulic model geometry is based on information from ERT data. It was possible to map resistivity signatures correlated with boreholes to geological features with a high degree of accuracy. On the Färgaren site itself, a 3D IP inversion model displayed some IP effects that correlated with historical perchloroethylene source terms. The simulations provide new information regarding the vulnerability of a critical groundwater resource, filling in knowledge gaps left by traditional sampling methods. It is concluded that there is potential for long term contamination of the regional sandstone aquifer, and that the plume front may already have reached its upper layers

Arsenic mobilisation in a new well-field for drinking water production along the Red River, Nam Du, Hanoi.

Arsenic enrichment of groundwater in the Red River (Song Hong) delta in Vietnam was discovered in 1998. Several studies performed in this area found concentrations of As exceeding the WHO-guideline of 10 lg/L. This study focuses on an area south of Hanoi city, Nam Du, where a new well field came into operation in 2004. The new well field is situated on the bank along the Red River in order to facilitate induced infiltration. The Nam Du area receives surface water with a high load of nutrients and organic matter from the Hanoi sewage system, and is subject to recently increased groundwater extraction from the Pleistocene aquifer system. The objective of the study was (1) to assess the situation in the Nam Du area by mapping the distribution of As, (2) to identify possible sources of As in the groundwater and (3) to investigate the mobilisation processes releasing As into the groundwater. Two main field campaigns were carried out, in 2006 and 2007, both during the dry season. Groundwater and surface water levels were measured and water- and sediment samples were collected. The water in the Pleistocene aquifer shows the same water-level variations as the Red River at a distance of 2.5 km from the riverbank, while the Holocene aquifer heads are recharged by surface water ponds and show less seasonal variation. The concentration of As in the groundwater in Nam Du exceeded the WHO provisional guideline value at all sampled locations. The main conclusions are summarised as (i) the distribution of As is highly variable but the zones with the highest concentrations of As are near the Red River in the Holocene aquifer and just down gradient from this in the Pleistocene aquifer, (ii) the sediments within the aquifers are considered to be the source of the As, where the Holocene aquifer is believed to act as the main source of As into the Pleistocene aquifer as reduced groundwater containing As from the Holocene aquifer is flowing downwards due to the downward gradient, and (iii) two different processes appear to take part in the mobilisation process. In the Holocene aquifer, reductive dissolution of FeOOH and the release of adsorbed As appear to be the main mobilisation processes. In the Pleistocene, however, mobilisation of adsorbed As due to competition from HCO3 ions for surface sites on FeOOH may be a major mechanism of As mobilisation. It is suggested that the drinking water supplier undertakes the following actions to ensure acceptable levels of As in the treated drinking water: (a) to implement a long-term monitoring program, (b) implement alternative treatment technologies; and (c) to possibly consider an alternative drinking water source

Identifying the causes of sea-level change

Global mean sea-level change has increased from a few centimetres per century over recent millennia to a few tens of centimetres per century in recent decades. This tenfold increase in the rate of rise can be attributed to climate change through the melting of land ice and the thermal expansion of ocean water. As the present warming trend is expected to continue, global mean sea level will continue to rise. Here we review recent insights into past sea-level changes on decadal to millennial timescales and how they may help constrain future changes. We find that most studies constrain global mean sea-level rise to less than one metre over the twenty-first century, but departures from this global mean could reach several decimetres in many areas. We conclude that improving estimates of the spatial variability in future sea-level change is an important research target in coming year