Direct Current Electrical Methods for Hydrogeological Purposes

The climate change has dramatically decreased the useful freshwater resources so raising the probability of severe droughts. Near-surface geophysics uses the investigational methods of geophysics leading to their massive use in all scientific sectors (geology, hydrogeology, engineering, archaeology, environmental problems). Moreover, the increasing challenge of quantifying extractable, economically viable, potable water supplies has led to the definition of a new subdiscipline of hydrology known as hydrogeophysics. Direct current (DC) electrical methods are probably the most widely used near surface geophysical techniques for environmental investigations. DC methods are increasingly used in different approaches to cover a larger field of applications. In hydrogeological applications, the electrical resistivity distribution can provide important information that allows to characterize the heterogeneity of the aquifers and soil, to reconstruct the geometry of the aquifers and/or waterproof, to study the relationships between freshwater and seawater, or from groundwater different salinity.