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A review on the use of geoelectrical methods for characterization and monitoring of contaminant plumes

  • Review Article - Applied Geophysics
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Abstract

Geophysical characterization of contaminated sites is an important procedure in pre- and post-site remediation. It has been carried out in several contaminated sites, irrespective of differences in site geology, nature of contaminants, and prevailing hydrological conditions. Electrical prospecting methods are the most used geophysical techniques for contaminant plume mapping. Due to this widespread use, there is an increasing number of literature on the use of electrical methods directed toward contaminant plume mapping. Yet, it lacks a comprehensive framework in literature that synthesizes the methods’ concepts, applications, and limitations. In this review, we summarized the use of electrical methods (electrical resistivity, self-potential, and induced polarization) in mapping contaminant plumes and provided a synthesis of concepts, applications, and limitations. The advantages, drawbacks, and the solutions achieved so far were emphasized in this review. Some of the advantages are that electrical methods are faster, cheaper, noninvasive and provide continuous images of contaminant plumes when compared to the traditional techniques. The drawbacks highlighted include the non-uniqueness of the vertical electrical sounding (VES), distortion effect of the 2D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and huge cost of 3D ERT data acquisition. We also highlighted other geophysical methods that could be used to map contaminant plumes. Conclusively, this review paper identified future research direction and offers insight into emerging issues associated with these techniques for better modeling of contaminated sites.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Dr. Ahmed Ismail of the Boone Pickens School of Geology, Oklahoma State University, for reading and improving the manuscript. We also thank the editor and anonymous reviewers for their suggestions that improved the quality of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Boone Pickens School of Geology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA

    Oluseun Adetola Sanuade

  2. Department of Geosciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 30302, USA

    Kolawole Isaac Arowoogun

  3. Department of Geophysics, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Oye, Ekiti State, Nigeria

    Joel Olayide Amosun

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  1. Oluseun Adetola Sanuade
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  2. Kolawole Isaac Arowoogun
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  3. Joel Olayide Amosun
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Correspondence to Kolawole Isaac Arowoogun.

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The authors (Oluseun Adetola Sanuade, Kolawole Isaac Arowoogun, and Joel Olayide Amosun) declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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Edited by Prof. Sanyi Yuan (ASSOCIATE EDITOR).

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Sanuade, O.A., Arowoogun, K.I. & Amosun, J.O. A review on the use of geoelectrical methods for characterization and monitoring of contaminant plumes. Acta Geophys. 70, 2099–2117 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-022-00858-9

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