Skip Links

USGS - science for a changing world

Open-File Report 2007–1068

In cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Seismic Shear Wave Reflection Imaging at the Former Fort Ord, Monterey, California

By Seth S. Haines, Bethany L. Burton, and Lewis E. Hunter

Thumbnail of and link to report PDF (7.6 MB)Download Publication
Open-File Report
PDF (7.6 MB)
Right-Click to 'Download' or 'Save As'

At the former Fort Ord in Monterey County, California, contamination threatens an aquifer that provides drinking water for local communities. Assessment and remediation require accurate hydrological modeling, which in turn require a thorough understanding of aquifer stratigraphy. In order to help guide remediation efforts at the site, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, has undertaken seismic reflection surveys, testing compressional (P) and horizontally polarized shear (SH) waves. Sledgehammer-source SH data show reflections from interfaces up to approximately 60 m deep, which correspond with the major boundaries between aquifers and aquitards. In contrast, P-wave data show only the reflection from the water table at approximately 30 m depth. We collected SH data along two transects and processed these data to produce reflection images. The interpreted SH-wave images agree with available well information, constrain the geology for ground-water models, and provide guidance for future geophysical studies. These favorable results demonstrate the effectiveness of SH reflection methods for imaging unconsolidated aquifer layers at the former Fort Ord and at other sites with similar geologic conditions.

Version 1.0

Posted March 2007



Suggested citation:

Haines, S.S., Burton, B.L., and Hunter, L.E., 2007, Seismic shear wave reflection imaging at the former Fort Ord, Monterey, California: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1068, 13 p., available only online at https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1068/.


Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Acrobat Reader, free of charge or go to access.adobe.com for free tools that allow visually impaired users to read PDF files.

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America home page. FirstGov button U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://pubsdata.usgs.gov/pubs/of/2007/1068/index.html
Questions or Assistance: Contact USGS
Last modified: Wednesday, 07-Dec-2016 20:10:14 EST