High Resolution Delineation of Contaminant Concentrations, Biogeochemical Processes, and Microbial Communities in Saturated Subsurface Environments
Abstract
The ability to predict contaminant (e.g. chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs)) fate and transport in aquifers is often limited by the intrinsic heterogeneity associated with the flow field, contaminant distribution, and coupled biotic and abiotic reactions. Processes occurring in low permeability zones are particularly important, as studies have demonstrated that contaminants residing in such materials can sustain groundwater plumes and impede overall contaminant attenuation. While the importance of identifying these processes in heterogeneous media has been well documented, previously there has been no cost effective tool for providing high resolution profiling of coupled contaminant, biogeochemical, and microbiological characteristics at the cm-scale. The primary objective of this SERDP research was to develop and demonstrate a High-Resolution Passive Profiler (HRPP) as a fine-scale delineation tool for the saturated subsurface. Focus was placed on discerning contaminant, microbiological, and biogeochemical differences between low permeability and high permeability zones within heterogeneous or stratified media.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1134909
Entities
People
- Paul B. Hatzinger
- W. Andrew Jackson
Organizations
- Texas Tech University