Application of Electrical Resistivity Tomography to the detection of the Ermakia (Northern Greece) cavity system


Published: Jan 1, 2007
Keywords:
Electric tomography seismic refraction tomography cave mapping
G. Vargemezis
P. Tsourlos
C. Papazachos
D. Kostopoulos
Abstract

Electrical resistivity tomography has been applied for the exploration of a karstic cave system at the region of Ermakia, next to the city of Ptolemais (NWt Greece). Geological investigations indicated that the main known Ermakia cave chamber "communicates " with at least one underground karstic ovoid. This evidence lead us to prospect the surrounding area by applying 2-D Electrical tomography survey on a regular grid in both x,y directions. Survey lines crossed the known cave in order to verify k the suitability of the method at the specific area and calibrate the resistivity values. Resistivity data were inverted and results were compiled in qusi3-D resistivity images. The interpreted results indicated the existence of two more chambers next to the known one which is in agreement with in-situ observations.

Article Details
  • Section
  • New Technologies in Geophysical and Geological Research
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
References
Cardarelli, E., Marrone C, and Orlando L., 2003. Evaluation of tunnel stability using integrated geophysical methods, Journal of Applied Geophysics, 52 (2-3), 93-102.
Chamberlain, A.T., Sellers, W., and Proctor, C, 2003. Cave detection in limestone using ground penetrating radar. Journal of Archaeological Science, 27. (10), 957-964 OCT 2000.
El-Qady, G., Hafez, M., and Abdalla, M, 2005. Imaging subsurface cavities using geoelectric tomography and ground-penetrating radar, Journal of Cave Karst studies, 67 (3), 174-181.
Gibson, P.J., Lyle, P., and George, D.M., 2004. Application of resistivity and magnetometry geophysical techniques for near-surface investigations in karstic terranes in Ireland, Journal of Cave Karst studies, 66 (2), 35-38.
Leucci, G., and De Giorgi, L., 2005. Integrated geophysical surveys to assess the structural conditions of a karstic cave of archaeological importance, Nat. Hazard Earth Sys., 5 ( 1), 17-22.
McCann, D.M., Jackson, P.D., and Culshaw, M.G., 1987. The use of geophysical surveying methods in the detection of natural cavities and minshafts, Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology, 20, 59-73.
Madrussani, G., Böhm, G., Vesnaver, Α., and Schena, G., 1999. Tomographic detection of cavities in mines for acid drainage control, European Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, 3, 115-130.
Nath, SK, 2004. Cross-hole seismic tomography - A geophysical tool for detecting mine galleries, Nat. Acad. Sci. Lett., 27 (3-4), 77-94.
Piro, S., Tsourlos, P., and Tsokas, G., 2001. Cavity detection employing advanced geophysical techniques: a case study, European Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, 6,3-31.
Santos, F., and Afonso, Α., 2005. Detection and 2d modelling of cavities using pole-dipole array, Environmental Geology, 48 (1), 108-116.
Styles, R., McGrath, R., and Thomas, E., 2005. The use of microgravity for cavity characterization in karstic terrains, QJEng. Geol. Hydrog, 38, 155-169
Tsourlos, P., 1995. Modelling, interpretation and inversion of multi-electrode resistivity survey data, D.Phil. Thesis, University of York, U.K.
Tsourlos, P., Szymanski, J., and Tsokas, G. 1998. A smoothness constrained algorithm for the fast 2-D inversion of DC resistivity and induced polarization data, Journal of the Balkan Geophysical Society, 1, 1, 3-13.
Zhou, QY, Matsui, H, and Shimada, J., 2004. Characterization of the unsaturated zone around a cavity in fractured rocks using electrical resistivity tomography, Journal of Hydrological Research, 42, 25-31.
Most read articles by the same author(s)