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eric white

United States Geological Survey, Office of Groundwater, Branch of Geophysics, Graduate Student

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Eric A. White is a Hydrologist in the Hydrologic Remote Sensing Branch of the USGS Water Mission Area. Eric provides support to USGS hydrologists nationally on development and application of hydrogeophysical methods to groundwater studies, with a focus on surface, waterborne, and sUAS methods.
Address: Herndon, Virginia, United States

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Devin L Galloway

U.S. Geological Survey

Christian Camerlynck

J Russell Boulding

Frederick Stumm

Langhorne Smith

University of Copenhagen

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Papers by eric white

Time-domain electromagnetic soundings and passive-seismic measurements for delineation of saline groundwater in the Genesee Valley-fill aquifer system, western New York, 2016–17

Scientific Investigations Report, 2021

Saline water flowing upward through the bedrock-rubble chimneys and mixing with northward groundw... more Saline water flowing upward through the bedrock-rubble chimneys and mixing with northward groundwater flow in the lower confined aquifer likely is a major source of chlorides for this high-conductivity zone. The northern extent of the zone is unclear because of the presence of highly saline water zones that were delineated by time-domain electromagnetic soundings in the lower confined aquifer and uppermost bedrock and are probably associated with historic salt-solution wells in Piffard or possibly sourced from natural brine pools.

Testing of sUAS ground-penetrating radar for non-contact measurement of river bathymetry

Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2021, 2021

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is developing and testing tools and methods to enable fully "no... more The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is developing and testing tools and methods to enable fully "noncontact" stream-discharge estimates to improve streamgaging methods, efficiency, and safety. Current efforts include development and testing of sensors mounted on small unoccupied aircraft systems (sUAS) to provide increased deployment flexibility compared to fixed sensor installation. USGS previously demonstrated that helicopter-mounted ground-penetrating radar (GPR) was useful for noncontact measurement of river bathymetry; however, the cost and complexity of low-altitude heliborne GPR precluded routine application of the method. Due to advancements in sUAS technologies, sUAS increasingly are being used for surveys involving conventional geophysical sensors, such as magnetometers, electromagnetic induction, and radar. The USGS has successfully tested a lightweight , self-contained GPR system mounted on an sUAS for non-contact freshwater bathymetric surveys. Bathymetry collected with sUAS GPR could provide stream profile and water-depth measurements that can be used to estimate stream discharge.

Conceptual and numerical groundwater flow model of the Cedar River alluvial aquifer system with simulation of drought stress on groundwater availability near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for 2011 through 2013

Scientific Investigations Report, 2021

assisted with the collection, processing, and analysis of geological, hydrogeological, and geophy... more

Surface-geophysical investigation of a formerly used defense site, Machiasport, Maine, February 2003

Scientific Investigations Report, 2005

Appendix?. Borehole seismic-velocity survey from borehole TW-1 (a), seismic-refraction earth-laye... more

Characterizing the diverse hydrogeology underlying rivers and estuaries using new floating transient electromagnetic methodology

Science of The Total Environment

APPLICATION OF A TOWED TIME-DOMAIN ELECTROMAGNETIC (tTEM) IMAGING SYSTEM IN JAMESTOWN, NORTH DAKOTA

Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2019

Geophysical Assessment of a Proposed Landfill Site in Fredericktown, Missouri

Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2019

Use of continuous seismic profiling to differentiate geologic deposits underlying selected canals in central and western Nebraska

Fact Sheet

Marine Geophysical Investigation of Selected Sites in Bridgeport Harbor, Connecticut, 2006

Scientific Investigations Report

Photographs of seismic sound sources used at Bridgeport Harbor, Connecticut, including (A and B) ... more Photographs of seismic sound sources used at Bridgeport Harbor, Connecticut, including (A and B) a swept-frequency SB-216s towfish tethered to the boat and towed with a buoy; (C) a SB-0512i towfish with a catamaran; (D) a boomer plate towed behind the boat on a catamaran; (E) 3.5-and 7-kilohertz-tuned transducers; and (F) a high frequency echo sounder ..

Statistical analysis of lake levels and field study of groundwater and surface-water exchanges in the northeast Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, Minnesota, 2002 through 2015: Chapter A of <i>Water levels and groundwater and surface-water exchanges in lakes of the northeast Twin Cities Metropolitan ...

Scientific Investigations Report

Maps showing location of identified gas-filled and low-gas sediments along continuous seismic-ref... more

Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge: a Case Study

Integrated Geophysical Characterization of the Winthrop Landfill Southern Flow Path, Winthrop, Maine

Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2002, 2002

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with United Technologies Corporation, used an i... more The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with United Technologies Corporation, used an integrated suite of borehole, surface, and water-borne geophysical methods near the site of the former Winthrop Landfill, Winthrop, Maine, to investigate the hydrogeology controlling the transport of leachate from the landfill to nearby Annabessacook Lake. During the fall of 2000 and summer of 2001, the USGS conducted borehole electromagnetic (EM) induction and gamma logging, and inductive terrain-conductivity, two-dimensional (2D) resistivity, continuous seismic reflection, and magnetic surveys. The objectives of this integrated geophysical study were to provide constraints on the location and extent of the southern flow path(s) of contamination from the landfill to the lake; identify shoreline seep geophysical signatures; identify potentially hidden seeps in the lake; and determine depth to bedrock below Annabessacook Lake in the study area. Interpretation of surface 2D resistivity, magnetic, and inductive terrain-conductivity data and borehole EM logs delineates an electrically conductive anomaly consistent with a leachate plume moving from the current landfill boundary southward through the overburden to the shores of Annabessacook Lake. Surface and borehole geophysical data collected south and southeast of the landfill indicate the presence of discrete, shallow conductive anomalies at the southeastern edge of the landfill and near the lakeshore. The conductive anomalies appear at increasing depths closer to the lake. Magnetic anomalies offshore confirm the presence of iron-rich landfill leachate discharging into the lake south of the landfill. High-resolution swept-frequency seismic data used to map sediment and grain size distribution in the lake sub-bottom along the shoreline identified sediment-infilled bedrock lows that may act as conduits for contaminant migration.

Integrated Use of Surface Geophysical Methods for Site Characterization — A Case Study in North Kingstown, Rhode Island

Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2010, 2010

Estimation of Bedrock Depth Using the Horizontal-to-vertical (H/V) Ambient-noise Seismic Method

Near Surface 2008 - 14th EAGE European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, 2008

Estimating sediment thickness and the geometry of the bedrock surface is a key component of many ... more Estimating sediment thickness and the geometry of the bedrock surface is a key component of many hydrogeologic studies. The horizontal-to-vertical (H/V) ambient-noise seismic method is a novel, non-invasive technique that can be used to rapidly estimate the depth to bedrock. The H/V method uses a single, broad-band three-component seismometer to record ambient seismic noise. The ratio of the averaged horizontal-to-vertical frequency spectrum is used to determine the fundamental site resonance frequency, which can be interpreted using regression equations to estimate sediment thickness and depth to bedrock. The U.S. Geological Survey used the H/V seismic method during fall 2007 at 11 sites in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and 13 sites in eastern Nebraska. In Cape Cod, H/V measurements were acquired along a 60-kilometer (km) transect between Chatham and Provincetown, where glacial sediments overlie metamorphic rock. In Nebraska, H/V measurements were acquired along approximately 11-and 14-km transects near Firth and Oakland, respectively, where glacial sediments overlie weathered sedimentary rock. The ambient-noise seismic data from Cape Cod produced clear, easily identified resonance frequency peaks. The interpreted depth and geometry of the bedrock surface correlate well with boring data and previously published seismic refraction surveys. Conversely, the ambient-noise seismic data from eastern Nebraska produced subtle resonance frequency peaks, and correlation of the interpreted bedrock surface with bedrock depths from borings is poor, which may indicate a low acoustic impedance contrast between the weathered sedimentary rock and overlying sediments and/or the effect of wind noise on the seismic records. Our results indicate the H/V ambient-noise seismic method can be used effectively to estimate the depth to rock where there is a significant acoustic impedance contrast between the sediments and underlying rock. However, effective use of the method is challenging in the presence of gradational contacts such as gradational weathering or cementation. Further work is needed to optimize interpretation of resonance frequencies in the presence of extreme wind noise. In addition, local estimates of bedrock depth likely could be improved through development of regional or study-areaspecific regression equations relating resonance frequency to bedrock depth.

Ground‐Penetrating Radar and Swept‐Frequency Seismic Imaging of Shallow Water Sediments in the Hudson River

Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2001, 2001

Ground-penetrating radar and swept-frequency seismic sub-bottom data were collected on the Hudson... more Ground-penetrating radar and swept-frequency seismic sub-bottom data were collected on the Hudson River between Kingston and Saugerties, New York, in April, 1999, as part of a pilot project to create a comprehensive benthic map of the Hudson River. The radar and seismic data were collected simultaneously to evaluate the usefulness of each method for shallow-water stratigraphic mapping. The data were used in preparation of a benthic map and for creation of a facies distribution map. The results show that in shallow water (less than 20-feet deep) in the Hudson River, the radar method obtains better penetration and resolution than the seismic method. Virtually all radar data collected in shallow water shows detailed sub-bottom structure, whereas 65 percent of the seismic data does not show any sub-bottom penetration, due to the presence of methane gas in the sub-surface and (or) a hard water bottom. The majority of the interpreted facies show sub-bottom deposition that formed in a relatively low energy environment. Significant changes do occur over relatively short distances however. This allows a GIS-based interpretation of the mapping of the spatial distribution of the facies and the recognition and differentiation of sedimentary regimes in the river.

Combined use of frequency-domain electromagnetic and electrical resistivity surveys to delineate near-lake groundwater flow in the semi-arid Nebraska Sand Hills, USA

Hydrogeology Journal, 2010

A frequency-domain electromagnetic (FDEM) survey can be used to select locations for the more qua... more A frequency-domain electromagnetic (FDEM) survey can be used to select locations for the more quantitative and labor-intensive electrical resistivity surveys. The FDEM survey rapidly characterized the groundwaterflow directions and configured the saline plumes caused by evaporation from several groundwater-dominated lakes in the Nebraska Sand Hills, USA. The FDEM instrument was mounted on a fiberglass cart and towed by an all-terrain vehicle, covering about 25km/day. Around the saline lakes, areas with high electrical conductivity are consistent with the regional and local groundwater flow directions. The efficacy of this geophysical approach is attributed to: the high contrast in electrical conductivity between various groundwater zones; the shallow location of the saline zones; minimal cultural interference; and relative homogeneity of the aquifer materials.

Time-domain electromagnetic soundings and passive-seismic measurements for delineation of saline groundwater in the Genesee Valley-fill aquifer system, western New York, 2016–17

Scientific Investigations Report, 2021

Saline water flowing upward through the bedrock-rubble chimneys and mixing with northward groundw... more Saline water flowing upward through the bedrock-rubble chimneys and mixing with northward groundwater flow in the lower confined aquifer likely is a major source of chlorides for this high-conductivity zone. The northern extent of the zone is unclear because of the presence of highly saline water zones that were delineated by time-domain electromagnetic soundings in the lower confined aquifer and uppermost bedrock and are probably associated with historic salt-solution wells in Piffard or possibly sourced from natural brine pools.

Testing of sUAS ground-penetrating radar for non-contact measurement of river bathymetry

Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2021, 2021

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is developing and testing tools and methods to enable fully "no... more The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is developing and testing tools and methods to enable fully "noncontact" stream-discharge estimates to improve streamgaging methods, efficiency, and safety. Current efforts include development and testing of sensors mounted on small unoccupied aircraft systems (sUAS) to provide increased deployment flexibility compared to fixed sensor installation. USGS previously demonstrated that helicopter-mounted ground-penetrating radar (GPR) was useful for noncontact measurement of river bathymetry; however, the cost and complexity of low-altitude heliborne GPR precluded routine application of the method. Due to advancements in sUAS technologies, sUAS increasingly are being used for surveys involving conventional geophysical sensors, such as magnetometers, electromagnetic induction, and radar. The USGS has successfully tested a lightweight , self-contained GPR system mounted on an sUAS for non-contact freshwater bathymetric surveys. Bathymetry collected with sUAS GPR could provide stream profile and water-depth measurements that can be used to estimate stream discharge.

Conceptual and numerical groundwater flow model of the Cedar River alluvial aquifer system with simulation of drought stress on groundwater availability near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for 2011 through 2013

Scientific Investigations Report, 2021

assisted with the collection, processing, and analysis of geological, hydrogeological, and geophy... more

Surface-geophysical investigation of a formerly used defense site, Machiasport, Maine, February 2003

Scientific Investigations Report, 2005

Appendix?. Borehole seismic-velocity survey from borehole TW-1 (a), seismic-refraction earth-laye... more

Characterizing the diverse hydrogeology underlying rivers and estuaries using new floating transient electromagnetic methodology

Science of The Total Environment

APPLICATION OF A TOWED TIME-DOMAIN ELECTROMAGNETIC (tTEM) IMAGING SYSTEM IN JAMESTOWN, NORTH DAKOTA

Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2019

Geophysical Assessment of a Proposed Landfill Site in Fredericktown, Missouri

Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2019

Use of continuous seismic profiling to differentiate geologic deposits underlying selected canals in central and western Nebraska

Fact Sheet

Marine Geophysical Investigation of Selected Sites in Bridgeport Harbor, Connecticut, 2006

Scientific Investigations Report

Photographs of seismic sound sources used at Bridgeport Harbor, Connecticut, including (A and B) ... more Photographs of seismic sound sources used at Bridgeport Harbor, Connecticut, including (A and B) a swept-frequency SB-216s towfish tethered to the boat and towed with a buoy; (C) a SB-0512i towfish with a catamaran; (D) a boomer plate towed behind the boat on a catamaran; (E) 3.5-and 7-kilohertz-tuned transducers; and (F) a high frequency echo sounder ..

Statistical analysis of lake levels and field study of groundwater and surface-water exchanges in the northeast Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, Minnesota, 2002 through 2015: Chapter A of <i>Water levels and groundwater and surface-water exchanges in lakes of the northeast Twin Cities Metropolitan ...

Scientific Investigations Report

Maps showing location of identified gas-filled and low-gas sediments along continuous seismic-ref... more

Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge: a Case Study

Integrated Geophysical Characterization of the Winthrop Landfill Southern Flow Path, Winthrop, Maine

Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2002, 2002

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with United Technologies Corporation, used an i... more The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with United Technologies Corporation, used an integrated suite of borehole, surface, and water-borne geophysical methods near the site of the former Winthrop Landfill, Winthrop, Maine, to investigate the hydrogeology controlling the transport of leachate from the landfill to nearby Annabessacook Lake. During the fall of 2000 and summer of 2001, the USGS conducted borehole electromagnetic (EM) induction and gamma logging, and inductive terrain-conductivity, two-dimensional (2D) resistivity, continuous seismic reflection, and magnetic surveys. The objectives of this integrated geophysical study were to provide constraints on the location and extent of the southern flow path(s) of contamination from the landfill to the lake; identify shoreline seep geophysical signatures; identify potentially hidden seeps in the lake; and determine depth to bedrock below Annabessacook Lake in the study area. Interpretation of surface 2D resistivity, magnetic, and inductive terrain-conductivity data and borehole EM logs delineates an electrically conductive anomaly consistent with a leachate plume moving from the current landfill boundary southward through the overburden to the shores of Annabessacook Lake. Surface and borehole geophysical data collected south and southeast of the landfill indicate the presence of discrete, shallow conductive anomalies at the southeastern edge of the landfill and near the lakeshore. The conductive anomalies appear at increasing depths closer to the lake. Magnetic anomalies offshore confirm the presence of iron-rich landfill leachate discharging into the lake south of the landfill. High-resolution swept-frequency seismic data used to map sediment and grain size distribution in the lake sub-bottom along the shoreline identified sediment-infilled bedrock lows that may act as conduits for contaminant migration.

Integrated Use of Surface Geophysical Methods for Site Characterization — A Case Study in North Kingstown, Rhode Island

Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2010, 2010

Estimation of Bedrock Depth Using the Horizontal-to-vertical (H/V) Ambient-noise Seismic Method

Near Surface 2008 - 14th EAGE European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, 2008

Estimating sediment thickness and the geometry of the bedrock surface is a key component of many ... more Estimating sediment thickness and the geometry of the bedrock surface is a key component of many hydrogeologic studies. The horizontal-to-vertical (H/V) ambient-noise seismic method is a novel, non-invasive technique that can be used to rapidly estimate the depth to bedrock. The H/V method uses a single, broad-band three-component seismometer to record ambient seismic noise. The ratio of the averaged horizontal-to-vertical frequency spectrum is used to determine the fundamental site resonance frequency, which can be interpreted using regression equations to estimate sediment thickness and depth to bedrock. The U.S. Geological Survey used the H/V seismic method during fall 2007 at 11 sites in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and 13 sites in eastern Nebraska. In Cape Cod, H/V measurements were acquired along a 60-kilometer (km) transect between Chatham and Provincetown, where glacial sediments overlie metamorphic rock. In Nebraska, H/V measurements were acquired along approximately 11-and 14-km transects near Firth and Oakland, respectively, where glacial sediments overlie weathered sedimentary rock. The ambient-noise seismic data from Cape Cod produced clear, easily identified resonance frequency peaks. The interpreted depth and geometry of the bedrock surface correlate well with boring data and previously published seismic refraction surveys. Conversely, the ambient-noise seismic data from eastern Nebraska produced subtle resonance frequency peaks, and correlation of the interpreted bedrock surface with bedrock depths from borings is poor, which may indicate a low acoustic impedance contrast between the weathered sedimentary rock and overlying sediments and/or the effect of wind noise on the seismic records. Our results indicate the H/V ambient-noise seismic method can be used effectively to estimate the depth to rock where there is a significant acoustic impedance contrast between the sediments and underlying rock. However, effective use of the method is challenging in the presence of gradational contacts such as gradational weathering or cementation. Further work is needed to optimize interpretation of resonance frequencies in the presence of extreme wind noise. In addition, local estimates of bedrock depth likely could be improved through development of regional or study-areaspecific regression equations relating resonance frequency to bedrock depth.

Ground‐Penetrating Radar and Swept‐Frequency Seismic Imaging of Shallow Water Sediments in the Hudson River

Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems 2001, 2001

Ground-penetrating radar and swept-frequency seismic sub-bottom data were collected on the Hudson... more Ground-penetrating radar and swept-frequency seismic sub-bottom data were collected on the Hudson River between Kingston and Saugerties, New York, in April, 1999, as part of a pilot project to create a comprehensive benthic map of the Hudson River. The radar and seismic data were collected simultaneously to evaluate the usefulness of each method for shallow-water stratigraphic mapping. The data were used in preparation of a benthic map and for creation of a facies distribution map. The results show that in shallow water (less than 20-feet deep) in the Hudson River, the radar method obtains better penetration and resolution than the seismic method. Virtually all radar data collected in shallow water shows detailed sub-bottom structure, whereas 65 percent of the seismic data does not show any sub-bottom penetration, due to the presence of methane gas in the sub-surface and (or) a hard water bottom. The majority of the interpreted facies show sub-bottom deposition that formed in a relatively low energy environment. Significant changes do occur over relatively short distances however. This allows a GIS-based interpretation of the mapping of the spatial distribution of the facies and the recognition and differentiation of sedimentary regimes in the river.

Combined use of frequency-domain electromagnetic and electrical resistivity surveys to delineate near-lake groundwater flow in the semi-arid Nebraska Sand Hills, USA

Hydrogeology Journal, 2010

A frequency-domain electromagnetic (FDEM) survey can be used to select locations for the more qua... more A frequency-domain electromagnetic (FDEM) survey can be used to select locations for the more quantitative and labor-intensive electrical resistivity surveys. The FDEM survey rapidly characterized the groundwaterflow directions and configured the saline plumes caused by evaporation from several groundwater-dominated lakes in the Nebraska Sand Hills, USA. The FDEM instrument was mounted on a fiberglass cart and towed by an all-terrain vehicle, covering about 25km/day. Around the saline lakes, areas with high electrical conductivity are consistent with the regional and local groundwater flow directions. The efficacy of this geophysical approach is attributed to: the high contrast in electrical conductivity between various groundwater zones; the shallow location of the saline zones; minimal cultural interference; and relative homogeneity of the aquifer materials.