Geophysical surveying to determine the structure and origin of the Woore Moraine, Shropshire, UK

Parkes, Aidan A.; Stimpson, Ian G.; Waller, Richard I.

doi:10.3189/2013aog64a112

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 32 publications

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“…Near-surface geophysics offers considerable potential for noninvasive imaging of the subsurface within Earth Science, but the use of geophysical methods in terrestrial (onshore) proglacial environments remains relatively limited. Where these methods have been applied in glacial geological studies, they have mostly used ground penetrating radar (GPR) (e.g., Spagnolo et al, 2014;Tonkin et al, 2017;Lovell et al, 2019;Fitzsimons and Howarth, 2020;Woodard et al, 2020) and few have applied and compared or combined multiple geophysical surveying approaches (e.g., Parkes et al, 2013;Dobiński et al, 2017;Kunz and Kneisel, 2020). However, an integrated, multi-method geophysical surveying approach can provide a range of complementary but distinct data (e.g., on sedimentary architecture, sediment thickness, depth to bedrock) for characterising proglacial environments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Assessment of Geophysical Survey Techniques for Characterising the Subsurface Around Glacier Margins, and Recommendations for Future Applications

et al. 2022

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Geophysical surveys provide an efficient and non-invasive means of studying subsurface conditions in numerous sedimentary settings. In this study, we explore the application of three geophysical methods to a proglacial environment, namely ground penetrating radar (GPR), seismic refraction and multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW). We apply these geophysical methods to three glacial landforms with contrasting morphologies and sedimentary characteristics, and we use the various responses to assess the applicability and limitations of each method for these proglacial targets. Our analysis shows that GPR and seismic (refraction and MASW) techniques can provide spatially extensive information on the internal architecture and composition of moraines, but careful survey designs are required to optimise data quality in these geologically complex environments. Based on our findings, we define a number of recommendations and a potential workflow to guide future geophysical investigations in analogous settings. We recommend the initial use of GPR in future studies of proglacial environments to inform (a) seismic survey design and (b) the selection of seismic interpretation techniques. We show the benefits of using multiple GPR antenna frequencies (e.g., 25 and 100 MHz) to provide decimetre scale imaging in the near surface (e.g., < 15 m) while also enabling signal penetration to targets at up to ∼40 m depth (e.g., bedrock). This strategy helps to circumvent changes in radar signal penetration resulting from variations in substrate conductivity or abundant scatterers. Our study also demonstrates the importance of combining multiple geophysical methods together with ground-truthing through sedimentological observations to reduce ambiguity in interpretations. Implementing our recommendations will improve geophysical survey practice in the field of glacial geology and allow geophysical methods to play an increasing role in the interpretation of glacial landforms and sediments.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Assessment of Geophysical Survey Techniques for Characterising the Subsurface Around Glacier Margins, and Recommendations for Future Applications

et al. 2022

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Characterizing large-scale glaciotectonic sediment deformation using electrical resistivity methods

et al. 2016

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Chapter 7 Engineering investigation and assessment

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et al. 2017

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Ground affected by periglacial and glacial processes can be among the most variable formed by nature. Previous chapters have graphically illustrated this variability and explained the topographic and sedimentary associations to be expected within former and present-day cold regions. This chapter shows how that background is needed to design and execute an investigation for predicting either the ground response to engineering change or the volumes of material the ground contains. Such an investigation of the ground is also needed to explain its current and former state of stability on slopes and its natural groundwater flow.The starting point of any such investigation is a conceptual model of the ground which subsequent investigation tests and refines; investigations conducted without such a model can easily become sterile and expensive exercises in collecting data. Such a model starts with knowledge of landscape, cold climate processes and their products, initially refined with the aid of a desk study. This then develops with each phase of the investigation, starting with what is known via desk studies, and progressing through what can be readily seen by walkover surveys and shallow investigations, including surface geophysics and remote sensing, all leading towards a model that can be tested directly by various intrusive investigations. Techniques appropriate for such investigations, including sampling, in glaciated and frost-disturbed ground both onshore and offshore are reviewed.Great care must be taken with the description of coarse materials, glaciotectonic structures and the materials within them; a unique feature of this chapter is the correlation it presents between the engineering descriptions of glacial sediments, as used in ground engineering, and the descriptions used by glacial sedimentologists for the same materials. Water levels are also obtained during these investigations, and in these types of ground they are often misinterpreted by applying thinking more appropriate to aquifer hydrogeology. A surprising feature of glaciated ground is its low permeability overall, and the correct interpretation of heads measured in such environments is often that for aquitards rather than aquifers.The initial conceptual model starts with little more than an idea and a broad outline, and evolves as the investigation progresses. It should continue to evolve throughout construction as more and more of the ground is exposed and its behaviour is better known; in this way, the ground model can be thought of as a living document, especially appropriate in such variable ground. The chapter concludes with a review of how this information can be brought together as three-dimensional models that effectively communicate the knowns and unknowns of a volume of ground and their associated risks, in both deterministic and probabilistic ways.

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Geophysical surveying to determine the structure and origin of the Woore Moraine, Shropshire, UK

Cited by 4 publications

References 32 publications

An Assessment of Geophysical Survey Techniques for Characterising the Subsurface Around Glacier Margins, and Recommendations for Future Applications

An Assessment of Geophysical Survey Techniques for Characterising the Subsurface Around Glacier Margins, and Recommendations for Future Applications

Characterizing large-scale glaciotectonic sediment deformation using electrical resistivity methods

Chapter 7 Engineering investigation and assessment

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