Roles of Environmental Geophysics in Contaminant Hydrogeology Kitchakarn Promma Department of Natural Resources and the Environment Faculty of Agriculture Naresuan University

Introduction Environmental geophysics is a useful tool. Environmental geophysics has two roles. - During exploration - During monitoring

Objectives To describe roles during exploration and monitoring. To show examples of success and failure.

Roles during Exploration Determine lithology and stratigraphy. Determine natural structure. Determine man-made objects and structure. Identify ground water. Identify contaminants.

Roles during Exploration Application is practical but is of limited use. A successful example: identifying fractures in an underground mine using P-wave velocity logging. A failed example: hydrogeological study at a sanitary landfill.

Roles during Monitoring Determine ground-water quality as function of time. Full application is still under research because current practice relies on chemical analyses.

Discussion Ground-water quality becomes poorer. Thailand has no comprehensive environmental resources and conservation acts. If the economics is recovered, more jobs for environmental geophysicists will be offered.

Conclusion Roles have been established but still need to be improved. Environmental geophysics provides effective and fast tools but we sometimes consider that it adds extra exploration costs.

Conclusion Environmental geophysics is being tested whether or not it can detect contaminants directly and effectively. Environmental geophysics will play an important role in contaminant hydrogeology.

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