Title: An overview of geophysical resistivity model on groundwater distribution in tsunami affected area, South West Coast of India

Authors: Y. Srinivas; S. Saravanan; M. Kathiresan; S. Hudson Oliver; N. Chandrasekar

Addresses: Centre for GeoTechnology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli – 627 012, India ' Centre for GeoTechnology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli – 627 012, India ' Centre for GeoTechnology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli – 627 012, India ' Department of Physics, Senthamarai College of Arts and Science, Madurai – 600 021, India ' Centre for GeoTechnology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli – 627 012, India

Abstract: This paper aimed mainly to understand the geophysical characteristics of groundwater in tsunami affected areas, Kanyakumari district, Tamilnadu, India by applying the Schlumberger vertical electrical sounding techniques. In the study area seven vertical electrical soundings were conducted between April 2010 to October 2010. Based on study, Uthayamarthandam (VES 6) top layer consists of high resistive surface layer with 2000 ohm-m and second layer is 83 ohm-m which indicates its suitability of drinking water and followed by high resistive basement. Mela Kurumpanai (VES 1) is located very nearer to the coast; at this point the aquifer resisitivity is low, i.e., very below the 10 ohm-m which indicates highly saline in nature. Alanchi School (VES 2), Paravilai (VES 4) and Mel Midalam (VES 5) also have aquifer resistivity very low, this indicates highly saline water due to inundated sea water pass through at the time of 26th December 2004 Tsunami waves.

Keywords: India; resistivity survey; tsunami impact; subsurface geology; groundwater distribution; geophysical resistivity models; modelling; tsunami affected areas; drinking water; aquifer resisitivity; salinity; seawater.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHST.2014.068442

International Journal of Hydrology Science and Technology, 2014 Vol.4 No.4, pp.265 - 281

Received: 20 Feb 2014
Accepted: 01 Sep 2014
Published online: 15 Apr 2015 *

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