Master Project proposal
Project Details
Title
Monitoring fresh-salt interface with time-lapse ERT
Institution / Company
Deltares
Location
Utrecht
Principle Supervisor
Local Supervisor in
Victor Hopman
Company
Supervising University
Short Description
This research will focus on monitoring the influence of tides and storm surges on the fresh-salt water
interface. One of the possible techniques to measure these effects is (real-time) Electrical Resistivity
Tomography. Within this project, you will learn how to collect, process real-time ERT monitoring data
and setup a geophysical monitoring field site.
The electrical conductivity represents the ease with which the electric current is flowing through the
Earth. A water saturated rock is, at least, a two-phase composite consisting of a solid mineral; phase
and pores, which are saturated by an electrolyte. Usually most of the grains are not conductive and
the conductivity is restricted to the pore water plus an additional component along the pore
water/mineral interface in the so-called electrical double layer.
Time-lapse resistivity is also open to a bright future for a variety of applications (amongst others):
monitoring of water flow in the vadose zone, monitoring the production of biogenic gases in peat
layers, imaging the evolution of a salt plume as a function of time.
Skill Profile
0
1
2
3
4
5
comments
Programming
Fieldwork
Laboratory work
Theory
Inversion theory
Processing
Mass data analysis
Interpretation
Convert resistivity to
meaningful info.
Geology
comments
Opportunities provided
Approved Further Education / Training
No
Training with particular software
No
Training with particular hardware
Yes
Probably with fieldwork
equipment (available at
Deltares)
Temporary relocation at a research partner
Yes
Temporary relocation for fieldwork
No
Coverage of costs
Yes
relocation/accommodation/expenses
Local assistance provided
At Deltares, Utrecht
Standard Deltares internship
allowance
Yes
Possibly financial support for
housing for students from
abroad
Publication possible
Yes