Near-saturation dielectric properties of peat soil with entrapped free-phase gas determined using ground penetrating radar

Andrew Parsekian, Lee Slater, Daniel Gimenez

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The volumetric water content (θ) of peat soils below the water table is largely controlled by the production of biogenic methane-rich gas bubbles that are subsequently released to the atmosphere, thereby having significant implications for carbon cycling. Geophysical methods have recently shown promise for improving studies of gas storage and release in peatlands. We investigated the relationship between dielectric permittivity and volumetric water content in organic peat soil using ground-penetrating radar. We developed a novel approach for controlling water content using a pressurized test chamber to reduce the volume of bubbles under high pressure as described by the ideal gas law. This method simulates the bubble-rich natural conditions much more closely than previous studies that utilized drying to vary water content. Our results cover a range of highly saturated peat that is commonly observed in poorly decomposed near-surface peat and we demonstrated that a linear model can be used to estimate water content in peat for a range of water contents (i.e. θ>90%). The data collected from samples taken from different peatlands suggests that it is possible to use our resulting model to convert dielectric permittivity extracted from ground-penetrating radar data into free-phase gas concentration via the water content.

Original languageAmerican English
Title of host publicationSociety of Exploration Geophysicists International Exposition and 81st Annual Meeting 2011, SEG 2011
PublisherSociety of Exploration Geophysicists
Pages3745-3749
Number of pages5
ISBN (Print)9781618391841
StatePublished - Jan 1 2011
EventSociety of Exploration Geophysicists International Exposition and 81st Annual Meeting 2011, SEG 2011 - San Antonio, United States
Duration: Sep 18 2011Sep 23 2011

Publication series

NameSociety of Exploration Geophysicists International Exposition and 81st Annual Meeting 2011, SEG 2011

Other

OtherSociety of Exploration Geophysicists International Exposition and 81st Annual Meeting 2011, SEG 2011
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Antonio
Period9/18/119/23/11

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geophysics

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