TY - GEN
T1 - Use of absolute gravity measurements to monitor groundwater in the Española Basin, New Mexico
AU - Cogbill, Allen H.
AU - Ferguson, John F.
AU - Keating, Elizabeth H.
AU - Chen, Mingjie
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - We present results of 32-month project using absolute gravity measurements to monitor groundwater in an arid to semi-arid region in northern New Mexico. Over 100 permanent gravity stations have been established in the groundwater basin. A-10 absolute gravity meters, manufactured by Micro-g LaCoste, Inc., have been used to monitor long-term gravity changes in the groundwater basin. Over fifty A-10 sites have been established; other gravity sites have been established by reference to the primary A-10 sites using Scintrex CG-3M and CG-5 relative gravimeters. Geodetic-quality GPS surveys were used to directly measure any possible elevation changes at the gravity sites. At good sites, away from regions where we expect changes due to groundwater removal, reproducibility of the A-10 measurements is ±4 μGal. Gravity stations were observed approximately every six months over the course of the project. Systematic changes in both gravity and station elevation have been observed at a number of sites. On the basis of our observations, we can delineate three areas which appear to have systematic changes in storage. We conclude that the use of high-precision absolute gravity measurements, in conjunction with precise observations of station elevation, can provide useful information for evaluating groundwater storage changes over time.
AB - We present results of 32-month project using absolute gravity measurements to monitor groundwater in an arid to semi-arid region in northern New Mexico. Over 100 permanent gravity stations have been established in the groundwater basin. A-10 absolute gravity meters, manufactured by Micro-g LaCoste, Inc., have been used to monitor long-term gravity changes in the groundwater basin. Over fifty A-10 sites have been established; other gravity sites have been established by reference to the primary A-10 sites using Scintrex CG-3M and CG-5 relative gravimeters. Geodetic-quality GPS surveys were used to directly measure any possible elevation changes at the gravity sites. At good sites, away from regions where we expect changes due to groundwater removal, reproducibility of the A-10 measurements is ±4 μGal. Gravity stations were observed approximately every six months over the course of the project. Systematic changes in both gravity and station elevation have been observed at a number of sites. On the basis of our observations, we can delineate three areas which appear to have systematic changes in storage. We conclude that the use of high-precision absolute gravity measurements, in conjunction with precise observations of station elevation, can provide useful information for evaluating groundwater storage changes over time.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84866024934&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84866024934&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4133/1.2923716
DO - 10.4133/1.2923716
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84866024934
SN - 9781622760657
T3 - 19th Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems, SAGEEP 2006: Geophysical Applications for Environmental and Engineering Hazzards - Advances and Constraints
SP - 755
EP - 766
BT - 19th Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems, SAGEEP 2006
PB - Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society (EEGS)
T2 - 19th Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems: Geophysical Applications for Environmental and Engineering Hazzards - Advances and Constraints, SAGEEP 2006
Y2 - 2 April 2006 through 6 April 2006
ER -