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Characterization of an Unregulated Landfill Using Surface‐Based Geophysics and Geostatistics
Author(s) -
Woldt Wayne E.,
Hagemeister Michael E.,
Jones David D.
Publication year - 1998
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.1745-6584.1998.tb02103.x
Subject(s) - leachate , kriging , geostatistics , environmental science , vadose zone , municipal solid waste , geology , soil science , hydrology (agriculture) , mining engineering , environmental engineering , geotechnical engineering , spatial variability , waste management , soil water , engineering , computer science , statistics , mathematics , machine learning
This paper develops a geoelectrical and geostatistical‐based methodology that can be used to screen unregulated landfills for the presence of leachate and obtain an approximation of the vertical/spatial extent of waste. The methodology uses a surface electromagnetic (EM) survey combined with indicator kriging. Indicator kriging allows for the use of EM data that have been collected over highly electrically conductive material such as that occurring within landfills. Indicator kriging maps were generated for several vertical sections cut through a landfill to establish the landfill strata. Similarly, horizontal sections were generated to evaluate the areal extent of waste and leachate in the vadose zone and saturated zones, respectively. The horizontal and vertical maps were combined to estimate the volume of solid waste and liquid within three zones: (1) waste, (2) waste and/or leachate, and (3) potential leachate. The methodology appears hold promise in providing results that can be used as part of a hazard assessment, or to assist in the placement of monitoring wells at sites requiring additional study. A case study is used to demonstrate the methodology at an unregulated landfill in eastern Nebraska.