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Spatial
Mapping and Surveying
Mapping is an important part of hydrogeology. Students learn mapping
tech niques, such as
pace & compassand surveying with a transit and stadia rod.
Well Installation
Students install and sample wells to collect hydrogeologic data. Shallow wells are created with a hand auger, but we also have a CME 45 Drill Rig that is used to create deeper wells. We collaborate with local companies, like FRx or AE Drilling, to allow the students to work with Geoprobe rigs and to watch air-hammer rigs in action.
Saturated
Zone
Slug tests
Slug tests and pumping tests are performed on wells at the Geology Museum Well
Field. We start with an hour-long pumping test and use the results to plan a longer test where we pump for more that 48 hours. Tests are later performed at the Simpson Agricultural
Station, the GE Plant in Greenville, and the University of Tennessee Well
Field in Knoxville. Vadose zone air pumping tests are also performed
at student research sites at the Simpson Agricultural Station. (Data
Sheet -- PDF format)
Pumping tests
Slug tests and pumping tests are performed on wells at the Geology Museum Well
Field to get the basics. Tests are later performed at the Simpson Agricultural
Station, the GE Plant in Greenville, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
well field. Vadose zone air pumping tests are also performed at student
research sites at the Simpson Agricultural Station. (Data
Sheet -- PDF format)
Water Sampling and Quality
Students collect water samples from wells and streams.
Water quality analyses performed in the field include pH, conductivity, and turbidity. Students learn about sampling contaminated wells at a Superfund site from expert field technicians with RMT.
Vadose Zone
Soil descriptions
Methods from agronomy and soil science are used to describe soil profiles.
Moisture
content (tensiometers, TDR)
Students determine the moisture content of the vadose zone using tensiometers,
TDR (time domain reflectometry), and weighing (wet
vs dry).
Permeability
Saturated Permeability (Guelph permeameter)
The Guelph permeameter is used to determine the saturated permeablity
in the vadose zone. (Data sheet -- PDF format)
Air permeability (vadose
zone pump tests)
Air pumping tests are used to determine the permeability of the
vadose zone for air flow. Low permeability soils can sometimes be improved with pneumatic
fracturing.
Groundwater-Surface water interaction
Students measure groundwater fluxes and head distributions at local streams to evaluate interactions between groundwater and surface water. Students also learn stream gauging methods using current meters.
Geophysics
Surface and borehole geophysics are used to characterize hydrogeologic properties.
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