"Maximizing The Utility Of Geoelectric Methods For Next Generation Groundwater Evaluation And Management Through Improved Data Acquisition, Inversion and Rock Physics Modeling."

地下水是一种宝贵的资源，影响着所有加拿大人的生活。地下水评价与管理面临的一个重要挑战是需要在大范围的空间和时间尺度上进行地下水表征。地球物理数据在空间和时间上都比传统的水文地质测量详尽得多，侵入性也比传统的水文地质测量小得多，因此在今后了解和管理这些系统方面可发挥重要作用。特别感兴趣的是地电方法，因为电阻率可以与岩性、饱和度、水量和/或水质相关。这项研究计划的长期目标是最大限度地提高地电测量的有用性，通过开发特定问题的解决方案来帮助GEM。此外，其目的是通过培训高素质人员，建立加拿大在地球物理方法方面的重要专门知识，以实施全球监测系统。当在水文地质问题中使用地电数据时遵循的常见工作流程是：i）执行地球物理勘测，ii）反演所测量的数据以获得电阻率模型，以及iii）将反演的模型转换为感兴趣的参数。与该工作流程相关联的三个主要挑战是：1）地球物理逆问题通常导致地球物理参数的约束较差的估计，2）地球物理数据通常需要岩石物理变换以获得感兴趣的参数的估计，3）传统的地球物理勘测很少被优化以回答特定的科学问题。鉴于上述挑战的重要性，本提案侧重于解决所有三个方面的关键组成部分，特别是与地电方法有关的部分。这些具体的挑战将在使用地球物理学的背景下得到解决，以改善：1）监测和优化管理的含水层补给和2）使用机载EM区域地下水建模。拟议计划的研究目标将对我们评估，预算和保护加拿大地下水资源的能力产生重大的积极影响。

Groundwater is a precious resource that plays into the lives of all Canadians. One of significant challenges to effective groundwater evaluation and management (GEM) arises from the need for subsurface characterization over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Geophysical data, that are far more spatially and temporally exhaustive and are far less intrusive than traditional hydrogeologic measurements have an important future role to play in the understanding and management of these systems. Of particular interest are geoelectric methods because electrical resistivity can be correlated to lithology, saturation, water quantity and/or quality. The long-term goal of this research program is to maximize the usefulness of geoelectric measurements to aid in GEM through the development of problem specific solutions. Furthermore, the aim is, through the training of high quality personnel (HQP), to build significant Canadian expertise in geophysical approaches to GEM. A common workflow that is followed when using geoelectric data in hydrogeologic problems is to: i) perform a geophysical survey, ii) invert the measured data to obtain an electrical resistivity model and iii) transform the inverted model to a paremeter of interest. Three major challenges associated with this workflow are: 1) geophysical inverse problems typically result poorly constrained estimates of geophysical parameters, 2) geophysical data usually require a rock physics transform to obtain an estimate of the parameter of interest, 3) traditional geophysical surveys are rarely optimized for answering a specific scientific question. Given the importance of the above challenges, this proposal is focused on addressing key components of all three, specifically as they pertain to geoelectric methods. These specific challenges will be addressed in the context of using geophysics for improved: 1) monitoring and optimization of managed aquifer recharge and 2) using airborne EM for regional groundwater modeling. The research goals of the proposed program will have significant positive impacts on our ability to assess, budget, and secure, groundwater resources in Canada.