US-Benin Cooperative Research: Groundwater Characterization In Central Benin Using Element Analysis

该奖项支持圣母大学土木工程与地质科学系的Stephen Silliman教授和贝宁国立大学科学与技术学院的Moussa Boukari教授之间为期三年的合作研究项目。调查人员将对贝宁中部/北部的地下水水文进行研究。从水文地质角度看，贝宁可细分为三个地区：南部、中部/北部和东北部。中北部地区主要由破碎的结晶岩组成，水位通常大于40米。西利曼教授和布卡里教授将从中部和北部地区的不同地点收集地下水、降水和宿主岩石的样本。将使用一套复杂的分析技术（ICP-MS和ICP-OES）进行地球化学分析，以确定：(1)地下水中的化学特征是否可用于区分影响补给质量的大气来源和地质相互作用，(2)是否在该地下水系统中观察到人为特征，以及(3)高精度元素分析对地下水表征的实用性。该项目结合了西利曼教授在地下水系统特征和统计分析领域的专业知识，以及布卡里教授对贝宁水文地质的深入了解和历史研究。两位调查人员都有进行实地研究的丰富经验。通过这个项目，研究人员期望在确定强迫功能方面对地下水地球化学测量的效用有更大的了解。这类信息对包括地质学家、水文和环境研究人员在内的众多科学家都很有价值。它还将使人们更深入地了解非沿海、西非的发展潜力，以及发展中世界这一地区的供水目前面临的化学威胁。研究结果也有望应用于改进钻井和水力压裂技术。该项目将包括一名美国研究生的参与，他将获得在发展中国家进行实地研究的经验。国际科学与工程办公室和地球科学司共同为这个项目提供支助。

0138238SillimanThis award supports a three-year collaborative research project between Professor Stephen Silliman, with the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, and Professor Moussa Boukari, with the Faculty des Sciences et Techniques at the Universite Nationale du Benin. The investigators will conduct a study of the groundwater hydrology of central/northern Benin.Hydrogeologically Benin can be subdivided into three regions: southern, central/northern, and northeastern. The central/northern region consists primarily of fractured crystalline rock with water levels regularly being greater than 40 meters. Professors Silliman and Boukari will collect samples of groundwater, precipitation, and host rock from various sites in the central/northern area. A set of sophisticated analytical techniques (ICP-MS and ICP-OES) will be used to conduct geochemical analyses to determine: (1) if chemical signatures in the groundwater can be used to differentiate atmospheric sources and geologic interactions influencing the quality of recharge, (2) whether anthropogenic signatures are observed in this groundwater system, and (3) the utility of high-precision element analysis for groundwater characterization. This project combines Professor Silliman's expertise in the areas of characterization of groundwater systems and statistical analysis with Professor Boukari's intimate knowledge of, and historical research regarding, the hydrogeology of Benin. Both investigators have extensive experience performing field studies.Through this project the investigators expect to achieve a greater understanding about the utility of groundwater geochemical measurements in terms of identification of forcing functions. Such information will be valuable to a broad spectrum of scientists, including geologists and hydrological and environmental researchers. It will also provide increased insight into the potential for development of non-coastal, western Africa, and the current chemical threats to water supplies in this area of the developing world. The results are also expected to have applications to improved drilling and hydrofracing techniques. The project will include the participation of a US graduate student, who will gain experience in conducting field research in a developing country.The Office of International Science and Engineering and the Division of Earth Sciences are jointly providing support for this project.