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Recent Workshop

OGW BG provides formal and informal geophysical training to USGS offices and cooperators. This page provides an overview of a recent workshop conducted by OGW BG. Because training is customized to address specific interests and needs, each training event is unique.

In March 2007, the USGS OGW Branch of Geophysics, Arizona Water Science Center, and Western Region conducted a workshop on surface and borehole geophysical applications in alluvial-basin aquifers near Tucson, Arizona. This workshop was the most highly attended in the series of regional training courses held over the past ten years that have presented principles and techniques for collection and analysis of geophysical data through lectures, classroom exercises, and field demonstrations in selected aquifer settings across the United States.

The Tucson workshop included hands-on field work and computer analysis of surface and borehole geophysical data useful for characterizing the aquifer framework and hydraulic properties in the Southwest alluvial-basin setting. Participants conducted and analyzed microgravity and transient-electromagnetic surveys, and collected flowmeter data (fig. 1) which was interpreted along with a suite of nuclear, electric, and sonic logs (fig. 2). Attendees also observed a demonstration of surface magnetic resonance sounding (MRS) (also known as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)).

Workshop participants were USGS ground-water hydrologists and technicians and several cooperator and University scientists (fig. 3).

Figure 1. Borehole flowmeter logging of an 1100-foot-deep test well while
pumping at 50 gallons per minute.

Figure 2. Borehole logs indicate ambient flow in a well completed in
alluvial-basin sediments.

Figure 3. March 2007 workshop participants.

You can also read about and see photos from other past OGW BG courses and USGS project support.