Recent Workshop

Southeast Region Geophysical Workshop: Surface and Borehole Geophysical Applications in Karst Aquifers, February 24-28, 2003

In February 2003, the USGS Office of Ground Water, Branch of Geophysics conducted the geophysical workshop Surface and Borehole Geophysical Applications in Karst Aquifers. The workshop was held in Miami, Florida, and was hosted by the Southeastern Region and Miami Subdistrict. This workshop combined lectures, field examples, and classroom exercises on the principles and techniques for collection and analysis of borehole and surface geophysical data that have proven useful in investigations in carbonate aquifer settings of south Florida.

During the week-long course, participants were involved in field exercises using a variety of standard and advanced borehole geophysical tools, including electromagnetic (EM) induction; gamma; optical and acoustic imaging; and EM, heat-pulse, and spinner flowmeters. Field exercises also explored the application of a surface geophysical method, ground penetrating radar (GPR). In the classroom exercises, course participants used the field data they had collected, along with sample data sets, to practice importing, processing, and displaying data.

(Photos by Sandra Kinnaman, USGS.)

Barclay Shoemaker uses portable global positioning system (GPS) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) equipment to locate profile.

Marc Stewart monitors tool as it is lowered into borehole.

Marc Stewart raises electromagnetic (EM) induction tool overhead for calibration with calibration ring (white disc around tool).

Eric White (OGW, Branch of Geophysics) instructs participants in synchronized data collection with the 100-MegaHertz ground-penetrating radar (GPR) system (left) and a portable global positioning system (GPS) (right).

Kevin Cunnigham lowers tool into the borehole as Carole Johnson (OGW, Branch of Geophysics) describes the process to class participants.

John Williams (OGW, Branch of Geophysics) shows course participants how to get past a restriction when logging a borehole.

Marc Stewart and Kevin Cunningham prepare EM induction tool for use in borehole.

Course participants learn how to use the winch for the EM flowmeter tool (left to right, instructor John Williams (OGW, Branch of Geophysics), Donald Charlton, and Allan Clark).

Group photo of participants and instructors for "Surface and Borehole Geophysical Applications in Karst Aquifers," Miami, Florida, February 2003
Seated (left to right): Sandy Kinnamen, Emily Richardson, Barclay Shoemaker
Standing: Kevin Cunningham, Mike Wacker, Rick Spechler, John Williams, Allan Clark, Bob Renken, Lari Knochenmus, Eve Kuniansky, Donald Charlton, Cindy Gefvert, Carole Johnson, Brian Clark, Perry Jones, Clint Oakley, Scott Prinos
Absent from photo: Hillol Guha, Ron Reese, and Eric White