Field test of a 3-D ground water flow sensor Conference Paper uri icon

abstract

  • An in-situ, 3-D, ground water velocity meter recently developed at Sandia National Laboratories was field tested at a site on the Brazos River floodplain near College Station, Texas. The velocity meter uses a thermal perturbation technique to quantify ground water magnitude and direction in three dimensions. An eight day pump test was used to compare flow characteristics determined from ground water gradient evaluation with 3-D velocity meter results. After subtracting background flow vectors; horizontal and vertical components of magnitude and direction compare favorably between the two methods. Comparison of measured gradients and velocity meter data suggests hydraulic conductivity values of 65.82 and 56.41 m/day for the coarse and medium sand sections of the aquifer respectively. An analysis of vertical components at one velocity meter location yielded a hydraulic conductivity value of 29.69 m/day and an anisotropy factor of 1.9.

author list (cited authors)

  • Alden, A., & Munster, C.

complete list of authors

  • Alden, A||Munster, C

publication date

  • January 1995