1. Radar Methods – General Overview
Environmental and Exploration Geophysics II
Radar Methods – General Overview
tom.h.wilson
Department of Geology and Geography
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV

2. The radar band is loosely taken to extend from approximately 0
The radar band is loosely taken to extend from approximately 0.1cm to 100cm. The microwave region is often used for surface imaging from airborne or satellite platform.

3. Radar image of the earth’s surface at 5.4cm or 20 GHz.

4. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) systems often operate in the tens of MHz to GHz region of the spectrum.
25MHz = 12m wavelength (40ns)
50MHz = 6m (20ns)
100MHz = 3m (10ns)
1GHz = 0.3m (1ns)
Times in nanoseconds represent the time it takes light to travel through 1 wavelength in a vacuum.

5. Visual wavelength image
Shuttle Imaging Radar - SIR A
 ~ 25cm
Sabins, 1996

6. Sabins, 1996

7. Ground Surveys
GPR mono-static and bi-static transmitter-receiver configurations. Note similarity to coincident source-receiver and offset source receiver configurations discussed in the context of seismic methods
Daniels, J., 1989 & Sensors and Software

8. Spectral and temporal characteristics of the GPR wavelet.
Sensors & Software Inc. - Ekko Updates

9. As with seismic data, reflection arrival times are 2-way times and depth equals ½ the two-way time x average velocity.
Velocity in air is approximately equal to the velocity of light in a vacuum: c.
c = 3 x 108 m/sec
= 9.84 x 108 f/s
or approximately 1 foot per nanosecond. 1 nanosecond is 10-9th seconds.
Thinking in terms of two-way times, it takes 2ns to travel 1 ft.

10. In general the velocity of the radar wave is defined as
where c is the velocity of light in a vacuum (or air), and r is the electric permitivity of the material through which the radar wave travels.
Examples of r (see Daniels) are
81 for water
6 for unsaturated sand
20 for saturated sand
The presence of water has a significant effect on velocity.

11. Typical velocities
c ~ 1ft/ns in air
v ~ 1/2 to 1/3rd ft/ns in unsaturated sand
v ~ 1/3rd to 1/5th ft/ns in saturated sand
 is proportional to conductivity  - materials of relatively high conductivity have slower velocity than less conductive materials.

12. In our discussions of seismic we recognized absorption as an important process affecting the ability of the seismic wave to penetrate beneath the earth’s surface. High attenuation coefficient  produces rapid decay of seismic wave amplitude with distance traveled (r).
The same process controls the ability of electromagnetic waves to penetrate beneath the earth’s surface. The expression controlling attenuation is a function of several quantities, the most important of which are conductivity and permitivity.

13. Attenuation of electromagnetic waves is controlled by the propagation factor which has real and imaginary parts.
The real part  (the attenuation coefficient) illustrates the influence of permitivity and conductivity on absorption.
Note in this equation that increases of  translate into increased attenuation. Also note that increases of angular frequency (=2f) will increase attenuation.

14. The display of radar waves shows considerable similarity to that of seismic data

15. Diffraction events are commonly produced by heterogeneity in the electrical properties of subsurface materials

16. The diffraction response can be used - as you would have guessed – to determine velocity.
How would you do that?

17. Remember the ray path geometry for the diffraction event?* Z X d
For coincident source and receiver acquisition

18. * Z X d

20. Average Velocity = 1/2 the reciprocal of the slope

21. Sensors & Software Inc. - Ekko Updates
Note that the 0.2 m/ns velocities in the sand dune complex is pretty high compared to the above.
Sensors & Software Inc. - Ekko Updates

22. Direct “air-wave” arrival
Direct arrival through surface medium
Reflection hyperbola
Smith and Jol, 1995
The characteristics of a common midpoint gather from a GPR data set look very similar to those from a seismic CMP gather.

23. Thinning layer response and resolution considerations.
Daniels, J., 1989

24. Horizontal Resolution: The Fresnel Zone

25. The Fresnel Zone Radius Rf
An approximation

26. Topographic variations must also be compensated for.
Daniels, J., 1989

27. West Pearl Queen Field Area

28. Dune surface topography
Surface along the GPR line shown below was very irregular so that apparent structure in the section below is often the result of relief across features in the surface sand dune complex.
Dune surface topography

29. GPR data is often collected by pulling the GPR unit across the surface
GPR data is often collected by pulling the GPR unit across the surface. Subsurface scans are made at regular intervals, but since the unit is often pulled at varying speeds across the surface, the records are adjusted to portray constant spacing between records. This process s referred to as rubbersheeting.
Daniels, J., 1989

30. Smith and Jol, 1995, AG

31. Smith and Jol, 1995, AG

32. Increased frequency and bandwidth reduce the dominant period and duration of the wavelet

33. Comparison of the 25MHz and 100 MHz records
Smith and Jol, 1995, AG

34. We also expect to see decreased depth of penetration (i. e
We also expect to see decreased depth of penetration (i.e. increased attenuation) for higher frequency wavelets and components of the GPR signal.
Smith and Jol, 1995, AG

35. Sensors & Software Inc. - Ekko Updates

36. In the acquisition of GPR data one must worry about overhead reflections.
Daniels, J., 1989

37. …. and tree branches!
Daniels, J., 1989

38. Sensors & Software Inc. – Smart Cart
GPR unit
Sensors & Software Inc. – Smart Cart
Visit

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44. Time slice map from 3D data volume of radar data
Time slice map from 3D data volume of radar data. This is a surface of equal travel time. Disruptions in the reflection pattern are associated with the waste pit.
Green et al., 1999, LE

45. Bright red areas define the location of the landfill; the orange objects represent gravel bodies.
The brownish-pink lobes are high reflectivity objects of unknown origin.
The view at bottom profiles the underside of the landfill and gravel bodies.
Green et al., 1999, LE

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49. Sensors & Software Inc. - Ekko Updates