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和地质科学系的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。从水文地质学上讲，贝宁可分为三个地区：南部、中部/北部和东北部。中部/北部地区主要由破碎的结晶岩组成，水位经常高于40米。西里曼教授和布卡里教授将从中部/北部地区的不同地点收集地下水、降水和围岩样本。将使用一套复杂的分析技术(电感耦合等离子体质谱仪和电感耦合等离子体发射光谱仪)进行地球化学分析，以确定：(1)地下水中的化学特征是否可以用来区分影响补给质量的大气来源和地质相互作用；(2)在这个地下水系统中是否观察到人为特征；以及(3)高精度元素分析在地下水特征描述中的作用。该项目结合了Silliman教授在地下水系统特征和统计分析领域的专业知识，以及Boukari教授对贝宁水文地质的深入了解和历史研究。这两位调查人员都有进行实地考察的丰富经验。通过这一项目，调查人员希望更好地了解地下水地球化学测量在确定强迫函数方面的作用。这些信息对包括地质学家、水文和环境研究人员在内的广大科学家都很有价值。它还将使人们更深入地了解西非非沿海地区的发展潜力，以及目前发展中世界这一地区的水供应所面临的化学威胁。预计这一结果还将应用于改进的钻井和水力压裂技术。该项目将包括一名美国研究生参加，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部将共同为该项目提供支持。

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.