GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES AT BROWN UNIVERSITY
Environmental Geophysics and Hydrology

Environmental geophysics applies ground penetrating radar, seismic, gravity, magnetic, electromagnetic, and resistivity techniques to characterize the Earth's subsurface for groundwater studies and engineering applications (see also Environmental Science).

Environmental geophysics and hydrology is a relatively new initiative at Brown University, and involves the application of geophysical methods and computer modeling to environmental investigations of groundwater flow, watershed dynamics, subsurface hazardous waste assessment and contaminant migration. We use computer modeling and field research — as well as the broad resources of interdisciplinary activity throughout the University — to follow the precept, "Think globally, but act locally," to investigate environmental problems that, while of local community importance, are paradigms of analogous concerns on the national and international scale.

Applications to Environmental Assessment & Remediation
Surface geophysical studies can be used for assessing the presence and potential impact of subsurface hazardous materials & chemical contamination. While "base-line" information is essential for a preliminary assessment of a hazardous waste site, the use of "blind" test borings and trenching is to be discouraged — puncturing even one drum of certain common, but extremely toxic, products could enormously complicate the site remediation and restoration, and astronomically escalate the cost of cleanup. Geophysical techniques are non-invasive of the subsurface. As a means of identifying and characterizing the source and migration of chemical contaminants in the groundwater system, they can remotely detect buried drums, pipelines, underground storage tanks, and, in some cases, remotely delineate the distribution of contaminant plumes. When used early in such investigations, these studies can optimize (or modify) plans for follow on activity, such as investigatory test coring, test pits and trenching. If site remediation and restoration are called for, surface geophysical studies which precede development of a comprehensive engineering work-plan, and, in some cases, assess the success of a remediation activity.