Geophysics for USGS Groundwater/Surface Water Exchange Studies
Locating and quantifying exchanges of groundwater and surface water, along with characterizing geologic structure, is essential to water-resource managers and hydrologists for the development of effective water-resource policy, protection, and management. The USGS conducts applied research to evaluate the use of new or emerging hydrogeophysical tools and methods to improve our understanding of groundwater/surface-water exchange.
Overview
Understanding exchanges of groundwater and surface water is essential to water managers and hydrologists for the development of effective water-resources policy, protection, and management. Surface water (including streams, lakes, wetlands, and estuaries) “gains” groundwater discharge via seeps and springs, while surface water also infiltrates into adjacent groundwater under “losing” hydraulic conditions. Groundwater discharge is the main component of stream baseflow, or the channel water flowing in between storm events and snowmelt. Many streams, lakes, and wetlands are primarily sourced by groundwater discharge during dry conditions, while coastal water quality can be strongly influenced by submarine groundwater discharge. Groundwater recharge occurs when surface water is exchanged into aquifers below, impacting groundwater chemistry and water supply. The sediment interface between groundwater and surface water, such as a streambed, is often highly reactive due to diverse chemical and microbial conditions, further modifying water quality over short transport distances (e.g., centimeters).
Physical methods of monitoring groundwater/surface-water exchange are often labor intensive and limited in spatial scale. The effects of groundwater/surface-water exchange can occur on a variety of time scales and distances. The dynamics of groundwater/surface water exchange at the stream reach to regional scale are often characterized based on measurements made at a few individual points, though such extrapolation can be highly uncertain do to inherent spatial and temporal variability. The hydrogeophysics toolkit produces data that span scales and helps put point-based measurements into hydrogeological context, often leading to improved understanding of groundwater/surface water exchange processes and associated management concerns.
Using Geophysics to Study Groundwater/Surface-Water Exchange
The USGS Water Resources Mission Area conducts applied research to evaluate the use of new or emerging hydrogeophysical tools and methods to improve our understanding of groundwater/surface-water exchange. Geophysical methods based on measuring the electrical, thermal, and (or) physical properties of surface water, groundwater, and the shallow subsurface can enable scientists to efficiently locate and quantify groundwater and surface-water related processes. Such spatially comprehensive and spatially distributed information can tie point measurements to larger geologic structures controlling flow and transport at local and regional scales. Similar data types collected over time (i.e., time-lapse data) allow researchers to track highly dynamic processes such as the movement of contaminant plumes, soil moisture, and saltwater intrusion. As a result, we are better able to understand and forecast movement of water between groundwater and surface-water bodies and associated changes in water quality and quantity.
USGS has been a leader in advancing the use of hydrogeophysics to study groundwater/surface-water exchange for decades via methods and software development and pioneering research. Current efforts continue to foster innovation and development of hydrogeophysical technologies and methodologies to answer important questions about our water resources. This work is also part of the USGS Next Generation Water Observing Systems state-of-the-art monitoring technology and methods to increase the spatial and temporal coverage of USGS water data and to make data more affordable and more rapidly available. The USGS Water Resources Mission Area recently released a groundwater/surface water exchange related methods selection tool to aid in the discovery of complimentary tools that may be well suited for specific applications, and to increase the general awareness of the diverse existing toolkit.
USGS Water Resources Mission Area science pages related to Geophysics for Groundwater/Surface Water Exchange Studies
Groundwater/Surface-Water Interaction
Thermal Imaging Cameras for Studying Groundwater/Surface-Water Exchange
What does groundwater have to do with ice in Alaska?
Fiber-Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing Technology for Surface-Water and Groundwater Studies
Thermal Imaging Camera Use: Identifying Groundwater Inputs to a Reef in American Samoa
Fiber-Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing in Waquoit Bay, Massachusetts
Selected USGS data releases related to Geophysics for Groundwater/Surface Water Exchange Studies
Thermal infrared images of groundwater discharge zones in the Farmington and Housatonic River watersheds (Connecticut and Massachusetts, 2019)(ver. 3.0, January 2023)
Stream Temperature, Dissolved Radon, and Stable Water Isotope Data Collected along Headwater Streams in the Upper Neversink River Watershed, NY, USA (ver. 2.0, April 2023)
Waterborne Gradient Self-potential, Temperature, and Conductivity Logging of the Upper part of the Delaware River between Hancock and Port Jervis, New York, June-July 2021
Passive seismic data collected along headwater stream corridors in Shenandoah National Park in 2016 - 2020
Depth to bedrock determined from passive seismic measurements, Neversink River watershed, NY (USA)
Delaware River near Wilmington Floating Electromagnetic Surveys from August 2020
Temperature and geophysical data collected along the Quashnet River, Mashpee/Falmouth MA (ver. 2.0, March 2020)
Hydrogeochemical data for the characterization of stream, groundwater, and beaver-induced floodplain exchange in the East River Science Focus Area, Crested Butte, CO
Thermal infrared, multispectral, and photogrammetric data collected by drone for hydrogeologic analysis of the East River and Coal Creek beaver-impacted corridors near Crested Butte, Colorado
Selected USGS publications related to Geophysics for Groundwater/Surface Water Exchange Studies
Exploring local riverbank sediment controls on the occurrence of preferential groundwater discharge points
Investigation of scale-dependent groundwater/surface-water exchange in rivers by gradient self-potential logging: Numerical modeling and field experiments
Evaluation of riverbed magnetic susceptibility for mapping biogeochemical hot spots in groundwater-impacted rivers
Continental-scale analysis of shallow and deep groundwater contributions to streams
Groundwater discharge generates streamflow and influences stream thermal regimes. However, the water quality and thermal buffering capacity of groundwater depends on the aquifer source-depth. Here, we pair multi-year air and stream temperature signals to categorize 1729 sites across the continental United States as having major dam influence, shallow or deep groundwater signatures, or lack of pron
Using heat to trace vertical water fluxes in sediment experiencing concurrent tidal pumping and groundwater discharge
Geochemical and geophysical indicators of oil and gas wastewater can trace potential exposure pathways following releases to surface waters
Groundwater discharges as a source of phytoestrogens and other agriculturally derived contaminants to streams
Improved prediction of management-relevant groundwater discharge characteristics throughout river networks
Characterizing the diverse hydrogeology underlying rivers and estuaries using new floating transient electromagnetic methodology
Hillslope groundwater discharges provide localized ecosystem buffers from regional PFAS contamination in a gaining coastal stream
Emerging groundwater contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may impact surface-water quality and groundwater-dependent ecosystems of gaining streams. Although complex near-surface hydrogeology of stream corridors challenges sampling efforts, recent advances in heat tracing of discharge zones enable efficient and informed data collection. For this study we used a combinatio
Seasonal subsurface thaw dynamics of an aufeis feature inferred from geophysical methods
Evaluation of stream and wetlands restoration using UAS-based thermal infrared mapping
USGS software related to Geophysics for USGS Groundwater/Surface Water Exchange Studies
GW/SW-MST: A Groundwater/Surface-Water Method Selection Tool
DTSGUI
Locating and quantifying exchanges of groundwater and surface water, along with characterizing geologic structure, is essential to water-resource managers and hydrologists for the development of effective water-resource policy, protection, and management. The USGS conducts applied research to evaluate the use of new or emerging hydrogeophysical tools and methods to improve our understanding of groundwater/surface-water exchange.
Overview
Understanding exchanges of groundwater and surface water is essential to water managers and hydrologists for the development of effective water-resources policy, protection, and management. Surface water (including streams, lakes, wetlands, and estuaries) “gains” groundwater discharge via seeps and springs, while surface water also infiltrates into adjacent groundwater under “losing” hydraulic conditions. Groundwater discharge is the main component of stream baseflow, or the channel water flowing in between storm events and snowmelt. Many streams, lakes, and wetlands are primarily sourced by groundwater discharge during dry conditions, while coastal water quality can be strongly influenced by submarine groundwater discharge. Groundwater recharge occurs when surface water is exchanged into aquifers below, impacting groundwater chemistry and water supply. The sediment interface between groundwater and surface water, such as a streambed, is often highly reactive due to diverse chemical and microbial conditions, further modifying water quality over short transport distances (e.g., centimeters).
Physical methods of monitoring groundwater/surface-water exchange are often labor intensive and limited in spatial scale. The effects of groundwater/surface-water exchange can occur on a variety of time scales and distances. The dynamics of groundwater/surface water exchange at the stream reach to regional scale are often characterized based on measurements made at a few individual points, though such extrapolation can be highly uncertain do to inherent spatial and temporal variability. The hydrogeophysics toolkit produces data that span scales and helps put point-based measurements into hydrogeological context, often leading to improved understanding of groundwater/surface water exchange processes and associated management concerns.
Using Geophysics to Study Groundwater/Surface-Water Exchange
The USGS Water Resources Mission Area conducts applied research to evaluate the use of new or emerging hydrogeophysical tools and methods to improve our understanding of groundwater/surface-water exchange. Geophysical methods based on measuring the electrical, thermal, and (or) physical properties of surface water, groundwater, and the shallow subsurface can enable scientists to efficiently locate and quantify groundwater and surface-water related processes. Such spatially comprehensive and spatially distributed information can tie point measurements to larger geologic structures controlling flow and transport at local and regional scales. Similar data types collected over time (i.e., time-lapse data) allow researchers to track highly dynamic processes such as the movement of contaminant plumes, soil moisture, and saltwater intrusion. As a result, we are better able to understand and forecast movement of water between groundwater and surface-water bodies and associated changes in water quality and quantity.
USGS has been a leader in advancing the use of hydrogeophysics to study groundwater/surface-water exchange for decades via methods and software development and pioneering research. Current efforts continue to foster innovation and development of hydrogeophysical technologies and methodologies to answer important questions about our water resources. This work is also part of the USGS Next Generation Water Observing Systems state-of-the-art monitoring technology and methods to increase the spatial and temporal coverage of USGS water data and to make data more affordable and more rapidly available. The USGS Water Resources Mission Area recently released a groundwater/surface water exchange related methods selection tool to aid in the discovery of complimentary tools that may be well suited for specific applications, and to increase the general awareness of the diverse existing toolkit.
USGS Water Resources Mission Area science pages related to Geophysics for Groundwater/Surface Water Exchange Studies
Groundwater/Surface-Water Interaction
Thermal Imaging Cameras for Studying Groundwater/Surface-Water Exchange
What does groundwater have to do with ice in Alaska?
Fiber-Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing Technology for Surface-Water and Groundwater Studies
Thermal Imaging Camera Use: Identifying Groundwater Inputs to a Reef in American Samoa
Fiber-Optic Distributed Temperature Sensing in Waquoit Bay, Massachusetts
Selected USGS data releases related to Geophysics for Groundwater/Surface Water Exchange Studies
Thermal infrared images of groundwater discharge zones in the Farmington and Housatonic River watersheds (Connecticut and Massachusetts, 2019)(ver. 3.0, January 2023)
Stream Temperature, Dissolved Radon, and Stable Water Isotope Data Collected along Headwater Streams in the Upper Neversink River Watershed, NY, USA (ver. 2.0, April 2023)
Waterborne Gradient Self-potential, Temperature, and Conductivity Logging of the Upper part of the Delaware River between Hancock and Port Jervis, New York, June-July 2021
Passive seismic data collected along headwater stream corridors in Shenandoah National Park in 2016 - 2020
Depth to bedrock determined from passive seismic measurements, Neversink River watershed, NY (USA)
Delaware River near Wilmington Floating Electromagnetic Surveys from August 2020
Temperature and geophysical data collected along the Quashnet River, Mashpee/Falmouth MA (ver. 2.0, March 2020)
Hydrogeochemical data for the characterization of stream, groundwater, and beaver-induced floodplain exchange in the East River Science Focus Area, Crested Butte, CO
Thermal infrared, multispectral, and photogrammetric data collected by drone for hydrogeologic analysis of the East River and Coal Creek beaver-impacted corridors near Crested Butte, Colorado
Selected USGS publications related to Geophysics for Groundwater/Surface Water Exchange Studies
Exploring local riverbank sediment controls on the occurrence of preferential groundwater discharge points
Investigation of scale-dependent groundwater/surface-water exchange in rivers by gradient self-potential logging: Numerical modeling and field experiments
Evaluation of riverbed magnetic susceptibility for mapping biogeochemical hot spots in groundwater-impacted rivers
Continental-scale analysis of shallow and deep groundwater contributions to streams
Groundwater discharge generates streamflow and influences stream thermal regimes. However, the water quality and thermal buffering capacity of groundwater depends on the aquifer source-depth. Here, we pair multi-year air and stream temperature signals to categorize 1729 sites across the continental United States as having major dam influence, shallow or deep groundwater signatures, or lack of pron
Using heat to trace vertical water fluxes in sediment experiencing concurrent tidal pumping and groundwater discharge
Geochemical and geophysical indicators of oil and gas wastewater can trace potential exposure pathways following releases to surface waters
Groundwater discharges as a source of phytoestrogens and other agriculturally derived contaminants to streams
Improved prediction of management-relevant groundwater discharge characteristics throughout river networks
Characterizing the diverse hydrogeology underlying rivers and estuaries using new floating transient electromagnetic methodology
Hillslope groundwater discharges provide localized ecosystem buffers from regional PFAS contamination in a gaining coastal stream
Emerging groundwater contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may impact surface-water quality and groundwater-dependent ecosystems of gaining streams. Although complex near-surface hydrogeology of stream corridors challenges sampling efforts, recent advances in heat tracing of discharge zones enable efficient and informed data collection. For this study we used a combinatio
Seasonal subsurface thaw dynamics of an aufeis feature inferred from geophysical methods
Evaluation of stream and wetlands restoration using UAS-based thermal infrared mapping
USGS software related to Geophysics for USGS Groundwater/Surface Water Exchange Studies