Geophysical Monitoring for the Prospects of Groundwater in the Hard Rock Terrain Regions along the Thandava River Basin
Kotra Krishna Kumar *
Department of Basic Sciences and Humanities, Sanketika Vidya Parishad Engineering College, PM Palem, Visakhapatnam, AP, India
Yedluri Israel
Department of Geophysics, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The occurrence, movement and control of groundwater, particularly in hard-rock areas, are governed by different factors such as topography, lithology, and structures like fractures, faults and nature of weathering. An attempt was made in the present study to investigate the extent of the influence of structures such as fractures and thereby delineate the nature of subsurface lithology with the help of electrical resistivity method. Vertical Electrical Soundings by Schlumberger array configuration were recorded in fifty stations of the study area. The choice of the sampling stations in, around and along the basin made the study the first of its kind in the area. The huge sample number made ease of the interpretations with reliability in establishing the geomorphology of the area around the river basin. Groundwater potential zones were delineated with the present status of the reserves. The lithological segregation of the hard rock terrain stands reference for future studies besides suitability of the area made the study in announcing the challenges to be faced for sustainability.
Keywords: Vertical electrical sounding, groundwater, potential zones