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Resistivity Study of a Coastal Karst Terrain, Florida
Author(s) -
Fretwell Judy D.,
Stewart Mark T.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6584.1981.tb03454.x
Subject(s) - karst , geology , electrical resistivity and conductivity , carbonate , electrical resistivity tomography , lithostratigraphy , aquifer , groundwater , hydrogeology , hydrology (agriculture) , geomorphology , geochemistry , sedimentary rock , geotechnical engineering , paleontology , materials science , electrical engineering , metallurgy , engineering
Twenty‐eight vertical electrical soundings were completed in the west‐central Gulf Coast area of Florida. The objective of the survey was to evaluate the resistivity method for locating the fresh‐water/salt‐water interface in the karstic Floridan aquifer. Four geoelectric layers dominate the study area. The upper three are related to lithostratigraphy and correspond to: (1) surficial sands; (2) a karstic, highly‐transmissive carbonate zone; and (3) a less porous carbonate zone. The lowest layer represents a zone saturated with salt water and with a resistivity of less than one ohmmeter. Toward the coast, the fresh‐water/salt‐water interface rises, and fewer geoelectric layers are observed because pore‐water conductivity masks lithostratigraphic changes. Interface data interpreted from resistivity measurements agree with other hydrologic data. The study indicates that surface electrical methods can provide information on the interface position and can provide hydrologic information between wells used for control.