Integrated electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and self-potential (SP) techniques for assessing hydrological processes within glacial lake moraine dams
Moraine dams can be inherently unstable, but effective assessment strategies remain poorly identified. We integrate electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) with electrical self-potential (SP) and lake-level measurements to investigate the structure of, and hydrological processes within, a moraine-da...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3189/2012JoG11J235 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/140809 |
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ftunivtasecite:oai:ecite.utas.edu.au:140809 2023-05-15T16:57:38+02:00 Integrated electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and self-potential (SP) techniques for assessing hydrological processes within glacial lake moraine dams Thompson, S Kulessa, B Luckman, A 2012 https://doi.org/10.3189/2012JoG11J235 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/140809 en eng Int Glaciol Soc http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/2012JoG11J235 Thompson, S and Kulessa, B and Luckman, A, Integrated electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and self-potential (SP) techniques for assessing hydrological processes within glacial lake moraine dams, Journal of Glaciology, 58, (211) pp. 849-858. ISSN 0022-1430 (2012) [Refereed Article] http://ecite.utas.edu.au/140809 Earth Sciences Geophysics Electrical and Electromagnetic Methods in Geophysics Refereed Article PeerReviewed 2012 ftunivtasecite https://doi.org/10.3189/2012JoG11J235 2020-10-19T22:16:15Z Moraine dams can be inherently unstable, but effective assessment strategies remain poorly identified. We integrate electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) with electrical self-potential (SP) and lake-level measurements to investigate the structure of, and hydrological processes within, a moraine-dam complex adjacent to Miage glacier, Italy. This complex separates two meltwater lakes characterized by an efficient subterranean hydraulic connection. Our ERT data reveal a continuous free surface within the complex, whose morphology reflects the topography of the moraine complex akin to unconfined groundwater aquifers. SP data were corrected for spatial changes in the thickness of the upper unsaturated layer using principles of electrography. The residual streaming-potential map is consistent with Darcian flow of lake waters through the moraine complex, characterized by a negative-to-positive potential change from <-30 mV to >+70 mV. These electrical signatures are consistent with those generated by water seepage through earth dams in various non-glacial settings. Integrated electrical geophysical methods thus provided an inexpensive and unobtrusive evaluation of the hydrological properties of and processes within the moraine complex. Since spatio-temporal patterns of subsurface water flow critically affect the strengths of moraine sediments, such methods promise to be powerful in assessing the long-term stability of moraine-dammed glacial lakes. Article in Journal/Newspaper Journal of Glaciology eCite UTAS (University of Tasmania) Glacial Lake ENVELOPE(-129.463,-129.463,58.259,58.259) Journal of Glaciology 58 211 849 858 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
eCite UTAS (University of Tasmania) |
op_collection_id |
ftunivtasecite |
language |
English |
topic |
Earth Sciences Geophysics Electrical and Electromagnetic Methods in Geophysics |
spellingShingle |
Earth Sciences Geophysics Electrical and Electromagnetic Methods in Geophysics Thompson, S Kulessa, B Luckman, A Integrated electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and self-potential (SP) techniques for assessing hydrological processes within glacial lake moraine dams |
topic_facet |
Earth Sciences Geophysics Electrical and Electromagnetic Methods in Geophysics |
description |
Moraine dams can be inherently unstable, but effective assessment strategies remain poorly identified. We integrate electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) with electrical self-potential (SP) and lake-level measurements to investigate the structure of, and hydrological processes within, a moraine-dam complex adjacent to Miage glacier, Italy. This complex separates two meltwater lakes characterized by an efficient subterranean hydraulic connection. Our ERT data reveal a continuous free surface within the complex, whose morphology reflects the topography of the moraine complex akin to unconfined groundwater aquifers. SP data were corrected for spatial changes in the thickness of the upper unsaturated layer using principles of electrography. The residual streaming-potential map is consistent with Darcian flow of lake waters through the moraine complex, characterized by a negative-to-positive potential change from <-30 mV to >+70 mV. These electrical signatures are consistent with those generated by water seepage through earth dams in various non-glacial settings. Integrated electrical geophysical methods thus provided an inexpensive and unobtrusive evaluation of the hydrological properties of and processes within the moraine complex. Since spatio-temporal patterns of subsurface water flow critically affect the strengths of moraine sediments, such methods promise to be powerful in assessing the long-term stability of moraine-dammed glacial lakes. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Thompson, S Kulessa, B Luckman, A |
author_facet |
Thompson, S Kulessa, B Luckman, A |
author_sort |
Thompson, S |
title |
Integrated electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and self-potential (SP) techniques for assessing hydrological processes within glacial lake moraine dams |
title_short |
Integrated electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and self-potential (SP) techniques for assessing hydrological processes within glacial lake moraine dams |
title_full |
Integrated electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and self-potential (SP) techniques for assessing hydrological processes within glacial lake moraine dams |
title_fullStr |
Integrated electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and self-potential (SP) techniques for assessing hydrological processes within glacial lake moraine dams |
title_full_unstemmed |
Integrated electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and self-potential (SP) techniques for assessing hydrological processes within glacial lake moraine dams |
title_sort |
integrated electrical resistivity tomography (ert) and self-potential (sp) techniques for assessing hydrological processes within glacial lake moraine dams |
publisher |
Int Glaciol Soc |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3189/2012JoG11J235 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/140809 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-129.463,-129.463,58.259,58.259) |
geographic |
Glacial Lake |
geographic_facet |
Glacial Lake |
genre |
Journal of Glaciology |
genre_facet |
Journal of Glaciology |
op_relation |
http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/2012JoG11J235 Thompson, S and Kulessa, B and Luckman, A, Integrated electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and self-potential (SP) techniques for assessing hydrological processes within glacial lake moraine dams, Journal of Glaciology, 58, (211) pp. 849-858. ISSN 0022-1430 (2012) [Refereed Article] http://ecite.utas.edu.au/140809 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3189/2012JoG11J235 |
container_title |
Journal of Glaciology |
container_volume |
58 |
container_issue |
211 |
container_start_page |
849 |
op_container_end_page |
858 |
_version_ |
1766049195691606016 |