Abstract
Monitoring the leakage of leachate from a landfill is critical in preventing possible contamination in the surrounding area. Time-lapse (TL) electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) has been performed along eleven survey lines at four different time points in a landfill in Korea. The TL data sets were interpreted using an in-house 4D inversion algorithm. Changes in 4D inversion results were analyzed in order to interpret a leachate-contaminant region. Since the rainy season started during obtaining TL ERT data sets, the effects of precipitation on TL ERT data are also analyzed. Changes in electrical resistivity (ER) showed that precipitation increases ER of contaminant zones. As hydrogeochemical data offer contamination information in some areas where boreholes are located, these are helpful to interpret and compare with ERT inversion results to evaluate the extent of the contaminated plume. We also classified soil textures from particle size analysis on soil samples and analyzed electrical conductivity (EC) and dissolved oxygen (DO) using groundwater samples obtained from observation wells in the survey site. The information on soil structure as well as the results of 4D inversion provided insight into the location of a preferential flow path.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
The data can be offered when needed for reviewers to perform their evaluation of a manuscript.
References
Aduojo, A. A., Ayolabi, E. A., & Adewale, A. (2018). Time dependent electrical resistivity tomography and seasonal variation assessment of groundwater around the Olushosun dumpsite Lagos, South-west Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 147, 243–253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2018.06.024
Ahmed, A. M., & Sulaiman, W. N. (2001). Evaluation of groundwater and soil pollution in a landfill area using electrical resistivity imaging survey. Environmental Management, 28(5), 655–663. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002670010250
Archie, G. E. (1942). The electrical resistivity log as an aid in determining some reservoir characteristics. The American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, 146(01), 54–62. https://doi.org/10.2118/942054-G
Atekwana, E. A., & Atekwana, E. A. (2010). Geophysical signatures of microbial activity at hydrocarbon contaminated sites: A review. Surveys in Geophysics, 31(2), 247–283. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-009-9089-8
Audebert, M., Clément, R., Grossin-Debattista, J., Günther, T., Touze-Foltz, N., & Moreau, S. (2014). Influence of the geomembrane on time-lapse ERT measurements for leachate injection monitoring. Waste Management, 34(4), 780–790. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2014.01.011
Bichet, V., Grisey, E., & Aleya, L. (2016). Spatial characterization of leachate plume using electrical resistivity tomography in a landfill composed of old and new cells (Belfort, France). Engineering Geology, 211, 61–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2016.06.026
Cheon, S. H., Koh, D. C. & Ko, K. S. (2007). Analysis of aliphatic carboxylic acids using ion-exchange chromatography: Application to groundwater affected by landfill leachates. Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment, 12(2), 55–64. http://www.koreascience.or.kr/article/JAKO200715651243947.page
Chin, H. I., Min, K. W., Chon, H. T. & Park, Y. S. (1995). Petrogeochemistry of granitic rocks distributed in the Geumsan District, Korea. Economic and Environmental Geology, 28(2), 123–137. http://www.koreascience.or.kr/article/JAKO199523034627653.page
Clément, R., Oxarango, L., & Descloitres, M. (2011). Contribution of 3-D time-lapse ERT to the study of leachate recirculation in a landfill. Waste Management, 31(3), 457–467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2010.09.005
De Donno, G. & Cardarelli, E. (2017). Tomographic inversion of time-domain resistivity and chargeability data for the investigation of landfills using a priori information. Waste Management, 59, 302-315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2016.11.020
Dey, A., & Morrison, H. F. (1979). Resistivity modeling for arbitrarily shaped three-dimensional structures. Geophysics, 44(4), 753–780. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1440975
Dumont, G., Pilawski, T., Dzaomuho-Lenieregue, P., Hiligsmann, S., Delvigne, F., Thonart, P., Robert, T., Nguyen, F., & Hermans, T. (2016). Gravimetric water distribution assessment from geoelectrical methods (ERT and EMI) in municipal solid waste landfill. Waste Management, 55, 129–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2016.02.013
Garcia-Artigas, R., Himi, M., Revil, A., Urruela, A., Lovera, R., Sendrós, A., Casas, A. & Rivero, L. (2020). Time-domain induced polarization as a tool to image clogging in treatment wetlands. Science Total Environment, 724, 138189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138189
Gazoty, A., Fiandaca, G., Pedersen, J., Auken, E., Christiansen, A. V., & Pedersen, J. K. (2012). Application of time domain induced polarization to the mapping of lithotypes in a landfill site. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 16(6), 1793–1804. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-1793-2012
Genelle, F., Sirieix, C., Riss, J., & Naudet, V. (2012). Monitoring landfill cover by electrical resistivity tomography on an experimental site. Engineering Geology, 145, 18–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2012.06.002
Giampaolo, V., Rizzo, E., Titov, K., Konosavsky, P., Laletina, D., Maineult, A., & Lapenna, V. (2014). Self-potential monitoring of a crude oil-contaminated site (Trecate, Italy). Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 21(15), 8932–8947. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2159-y
Grellier, S., Guérin, R., Robain, H., Bobachev, A., Vermeersch, F., & Tabbagh, A. (2008). Monitoring of leachate recirculation in a bioreactor landfill by 2-D electrical resistivity imaging. Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, 13(4), 351–359. https://doi.org/10.2113/JEEG13.4.351
Helene, L. P. I., Moreira, C. A., & Bovi, R. C. (2020). Identification of leachate infiltration and its flow pathway in landfill by means of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 192(4), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-8206-5
Karaoulis, M., Revil, A., Werkema, D. D., Minsley, B. J., Woodruff, W. F., & Kemna, A. (2011). Time-lapse three-dimensional inversion of complex conductivity data using an active time constrained (ATC) approach. Geophysical Journal International, 187(1), 237–251. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.2011.05156.x
Ko K. S. (2006). Study on the prevention for the dispersion of soil contamination: Development of contamination detection technique under the different geological environment. https://data.kigam.re.kr/data/RP-42394. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
Kim, S. W., Choi, E. K., Park, D. K., Yoon, Y. J., & Lee, K. H. (2012). Analysis for rainfall infiltration using electrical resistivity monitoring survey. Journal of the korean geotechnical society, 28(7), 41–53. https://doi.org/10.7843/kgs.2012.28.7.41
Kim, J. (2009). DC2DPro-2D interpretation system of DC resistivity tomography. User's Manual and Theory, Korean Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Daejeon.
Kim, J. H., Yi, M. J., Park, S. G., & Kim, J. G. (2009). 4-D inversion of DC resistivity monitoring data acquired over a dynamically changing earth model. Journal of Applied Geophysics, 68(4), 522–532. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2009.03.002
Kwon, S. T. (2008). The age of the Okcheon metamorphic belt – How much do we know?. The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea, 17 (2), 51–56. http://www.koreascience.or.kr/article/JAKO200827464606706.page
Lebourg, T., Hernandez, M., Zerathe, S., El Bedoui, S., Jomard, H., & Fresia, B. (2010). Landslides triggered factors analysed by time lapse electrical survey and multidimensional statistical approach. Engineering Geology, 114(3–4), 238–250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2010.05.001
Maurya, P. K., Rønde, V. K., Fiandaca, G., Balbarini, N., Auken, E., Bjerg, P. L., & Christiansen, A. V. (2017). Detailed landfill leachate plume mapping using 2D and 3D electrical resistivity tomography-with correlation to ionic strength measured in screens. Journal of Applied Geophysics, 138, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2017.01.019
Meyerhoff, S. B., Karaoulis, M., Fiebig, F., Maxwell, R.M., Revil, A., Martin, J. B. & Graham, W. D. (2012). Visualization of conduit‐matrix conductivity differences in a karst aquifer using time‐lapse electrical resistivity. Geophysical Research Letters, 39(24). https://doi.org/10.1029/2012GL053933
Meyerhoff, S. B., Maxwell, R. M., Revil, A., Martin, J. B., Karaoulis, M., & Graham, W. D. (2014). Characterization of groundwater and surface water mixing in a semiconfined karst aquifer using time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography. Water Resources Research, 50(3), 2566–2585. https://doi.org/10.1002/2013WR013991
National Geography Information Institute (NGII), (2017). The National Atlas of Korea II. http://nationalatlas.ngii.go.kr/us/index.php. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
Naudet, V., Revil A., Bottero J. Y., & Bégassat P. (2003). Relationship between self-potential (SP) signals and redox conditions in contaminated groundwater. Geophysical Research Letters, 30(21). https://doi.org/10.1029/2003GL018096
Naudet, V., Revil, A., Rizzo, E., Bottero, J. Y., & Bégassat, P. (2004). Groundwater redox conditions and conductivity in a contaminant plume from geoelectrical investigations. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 8(1), 8–22. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-8-8-2004
Ogilvy, R., Meldrum, P., Chambers, J., & Williams, G. (2002). The use of 3D electrical resistivity tomography to characterise waste and leachate distribution within a closed landfill, Thriplow, UK. Journal of Environmental & Engineering Geophysics, 7(1), 11–18. https://doi.org/10.4133/JEEG7.1.11
Oh, I. S., Ko, K. S., Kong, I. C. & Ku, M. H. (2008). Assessment of hydrogeochemical characteristics and contaminant dispersion of aquifer around Keumsan Municipal Landfill. Economic and Environmental Geology, 41(6), 657–672. http://www.koreascience.or.kr/article/JAKO200807653005118.page
Park, S. G., Kim, J. H., Yi, M. J., & Kim, C. (2006). Application of electrical resistivity measurements for leachate monitoring. In Proceedings of the 8th SEGJ International Symposium, 1–4. Society of Exploration Geophysicists of Japan. https://doi.org/10.1190/segj082006-001.73
Park, S., Yi, M. J., Kim, J. H., & Shin, S. W. (2016). Electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) monitoring for groundwater contamination in an uncontrolled landfill, South Korea. Journal of Applied Geophysics, 135, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2016.07.004
Radulescu, M., Valerian, C., & Yang, J. (2007). Time-lapse electrical resistivity anomalies due to contaminant transport around landfills. Annales Geophysicae, 50(3). https://doi.org/10.4401/ag-3075
Robinson, J., Johnson, T., & Rockhold, M. (2020). Feasibility assessment of long-term electrical resistivity monitoring of a nitrate plume. Groundwater, 58(2), 224–237. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwat.12899
Rucker, D. F., Fink, J. B., & Loke, M. H. (2011). Environmental monitoring of leaks using time-lapsed long electrode electrical resistivity. Journal of Applied Geophysics, 74(4), 242–254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2011.06.005
Sasaki, Y. (1994). 3-D resistivity inversion using the finite-element method. Geophys., 59(12), 1839–1848. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1443571
Suzuki, K., & Higashi, S. (2001). Groundwater flow after heavy rain in landslide-slope area from 2-D inversion of resistivity monitoring data. Geophys., 66(3), 733–743. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1444963
Travelletti, J., Sailhac, P., Malet, J. P., Grandjean, G., & Ponton, J. (2012). Hydrological response of weathered clay-shale slopes: Water infiltration monitoring with time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography. Hydrological Processes, 26(14), 2106–2121. https://doi.org/10.4133/JEEG8.1.1
Tsourlos, P., Ogilvy, R., Meldrum, P., & Williams, G. (2003). Time-lapse monitoring in single boreholes using electrical resistivity tomography. Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, 8(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.4133/JEEG8.1.1
Yi, M. J., Kim, J. H., & Chung, S. H. (2003). Enhancing the resolving power of least-squares inversion with active constraint balancing. Geophysics, 68(3), 931–941. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1581045
Yu, H., Kim, B., Song, S. Y., Cho, S. O., Caesary, D., & Nam, M. J. (2019). Change in physical properties depending on contaminants and introduction to case studies of geophysical surveys applied to contaminant detection. Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration, 22(3), 132–148. https://doi.org/10.7582/GGE.2019.22.3.132
Zhang, G., Zhang, G. B., Chen, C. C., Chang, P. Y., Wang, T. P., Yen, H. Y., Dong, J. J., Ni, C. F., Chen, S. C., Chen, C. W., & Jia, Z. Y. (2016). Imaging rainfall infiltration processes with the time-lapse electrical resistivity imaging method. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 173(6), 2227–2239.
Zhou, Q. Y., Shimada, J., & Sato, A. (2001). Three-dimensional spatial and temporal monitoring of soil water content using electrical resistivity tomography. Water Resources Research, 37(2), 273–285. https://doi.org/10.1029/2000WR900284
Funding
This research was supported by the Institute for Korea Spent Nuclear Fuel (iKSNF) and Korea Foundation of Nuclear Safety (KOFONS) grant funded by the Korean government (Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, NSSC) (No. 2109092–0121-WT112) and the Basic Research Project [GP2020-007] of the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
The first author is Seo Young Song, and the corresponding one is Myung Jin Nam. The second is Bitnarae Kim; the third is Juyeon Jeong, and the fourth Samgyu Park. Seo Young Song and Myung Jin Nam wrote the main manuscript text. Seo Young Song and Bitnarae Kim conducted the ER inversions. Bitnarae Kim and Juyeon Jeong prepared Figs. 4, 9, and 10. Samgyu Park conducted the TL survey and collected data sets. All authors reviewed the manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval
All authors have read, understood, and complied as applicable with the statement on “Ethical responsibilities of Authors” as found in the Instructions for Authors.
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Highlights
• 4D inversion was applied to time-lapse ERT data obtained in a leachate-leaked site.
• The utility of the time-lapse ERT data was realized when considering the effects of precipitation.
• Time-lapse 2D inversion cannot unravel the effects of precipitation on the ERT data.
• 4D inversion showed precipitation increases the electrical resistivities of contaminated zones.
• 4D inversion properly detects leachate-contaminated zones despite precipitation.
Appendix
Appendix
Characteristics of changes in ER due to the rainfall and the leachate
The ER is affected by the degree of saturation of groundwater in the soil and the magnitude of electrical conductivity of groundwater according to Archie’s law (1942). In the ER monitoring survey in the contaminant region, ER changes are caused not only by changes in groundwater ion concentration caused by leachate leakage but also by increased water saturation and groundwater level fluctuation due to rainfall. Understanding the characteristics of changes in ER is significant to interpret the contaminant area with the leachate.
Changes in ER due to the rainfall
Rainfall increases the water saturation of the underground, which causes decreases in the ER (Suzuki & Higashi, 2001; Zhang et al., 2016). ER is affected by the degree of water saturation, which is explained by the following equation (Archie, 1942):
where \({\rho }_{b}\) is the bulk resistivity of the media, \(a\) is the proportionality constant, \(\varnothing\) is the porosity, m is the cementation factor, Sw is the water saturation, n is the saturation exponent (usually assumed to equal 2), and \({\rho }_{f}\) is the ER of the pore fluid. In addition to saturation, ER of the pore fluid has a significant influence on bulk ER changes.
The decrease in ER due to rainfall appears in the upper region of bedrock. The ER reduction area appears near the surface immediately after rainfall and appears in a deeper region over time (Travelletti et al., 2012). The degree of ER decreases varies depending on the geological characteristics of the site. The average reduction in ER caused by rainfall in the Vence landslide was about 7% (Lebourg et al., 2010), and ER reduction area of up to 8% was shown in the ER inversion result after 4 days from the maximum rainfall (over 400 mm/day) in the mountainous area in the central Kyushu region of Japan (Suzuki & Higashi, 2001). On the weathered clay-shale slope in France, ER decreased by about 15% as a result of ERT (Travelletti et al., 2012).
In addition to the degree of ER reduction, different types of underground medium affect not only the rate of rainfall penetration but also the residual degree of the low ER anomaly (Kim et al., 2012). Kim et al. (2012) analyzed the changes in the ER due to the rainfall according to the various geological conditions (granite weathered soil, sandstone weathered soil, unconsolidated mudstone, sandstone) in Korea. Infiltration and diffusion of rainfall appeared relatively quickly in areas where unconsolidated sedimentary rocks are distributed. In addition, rainfall infiltrates through the fractures or permeable zone in small-scale rainfall, whereas it penetrates the overall survey area in the case of heavy rain, which affects ERT results. The low ER region caused by rainfall decreases over time and the degree of decrease in ER varies depending on the amount of rainfall (Suzuki & Higashi, 2001).
Changes in ER due to leakage of leachate
In a contaminant plume, the concentrations of ions increase the EC of groundwater (Naudet et al., 2004). The ER in the vicinity of landfills where leachate leaks or leachate injection generally decreases with time (Audebert et al., 2014; Grellier et al., 2008; Tsourlos et al., 2003). Rainfall affects the dilution and flow of leachate, so rainfall is an important factor to consider when conducting ER monitoring in contaminated areas. Aduojo et al. (2018) conducted ERTs in leachate-contaminated areas in wet and dry seasons and analyzed changes in ER. Low ER anomaly appeared wider in the wet seasons because leachate moves well in the wet season compared to the dry season and saturation increases. In the dry season, the area of the low ER anomaly that appeared in the rainy season was reduced, and the low ER anomaly appeared in the more intensive region.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Song, S.Y., Kim, B., Jeong, J. et al. 4D interpretation of time-lapse electrical resistivity monitoring data to identify preferential flow path in a landfill, South Korea. Environ Monit Assess 195, 625 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11149-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11149-1