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Regional-scale airborne electromagnetic surveying of the Yucatan karst aquifer (Mexico): geological and hydrogeological interpretation

Levé électromagnétique aéroporté à échelle régionale de l’aquifère karstique du Yucatan (Mexique) : interprétation géologique et hydrogéologique

Relevamiento electromagnético aéreo a escala regional del acuífero kárstico de Yucatán (Méjico): interpretación geológica e hidrogeológica

墨西哥Yucatan岩溶含水层区域尺度的航空电磁测量:地质和水文地质解释

Levantamento aero-eletromagnético à escala regional do aquífero cársico de Iucatão (México): interpretação geológica e hidrogeológica

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Abstract

Geometry and connectivity of high-permeability zones determine groundwater flow in karst aquifers. Efficient management of karst aquifers requires regional mapping of preferential flow paths. Remote-sensing technology provides tools to efficiently map the subsurface at such scales. Multi-spectral remote sensing imagery, shuttle radar topography data and frequency-domain airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey data were used to map karst-aquifer structure on the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Anomalous AEM responses correlated with topographic features and anomalous spectral reflectance of the terrain. One known preferential flow path, the Holbox fracture zone, showed lower bulk electrical resistivity than its surroundings in the AEM surveys. Anomalous structures delineated inland were sealed above by a low-resistivity layer (resistivity: 1–5 Ωm, thickness: 5–6 m). This layer was interpreted as ejecta from the Chicxulub impact (Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary), based on similar resistivity signatures found in borehole logs. Due to limited sensitivity of the AEM survey, the subsurface configuration beneath the low-resistivity layer could not be unambiguously determined. AEM measurements combined with remote-sensing data analysis provide a potentially powerful multi-scale methodology for structural mapping in karst aquifers on the Yucatan Peninsula and beyond.

Résumé

La géométrie et la connexion des zones à perméabilité élevée déterminent l’écoulement de l’eau dans les aquifères karstiques. La gestion efficace de ces aquifères karstiques nécessite de cartographier à échelle régionale les chemins d’écoulement préférentiel. Les techniques de télédétection fournissent des outils pour cartographier efficacement la sub-surface à de telles échelles. Les images de télédétection multi-spectrale, les données topographiques fournies par le radar de la navette spatiale et les données de levé électromagnétique aéroporté (EMA) dans le domaine des fréquences ont été utilisées pour cartographier la structure de l’aquifère karstique de la Péninsule du Yucatan, Mexique. Les réponses anomales EMA sont corrélées avec les traits de la topographie et les anomalies de la réflectance spectrale du terrain. L’un des couloirs d’écoulement préférentiel connus, la zone de fracture de Holbox, a montré une résistivité électrique plus faible que les zones de levé EMA voisines. Les structures anomales délimitées à l’intérieur ont été recouvertes par une couche de faible résistivité (résistivité : 1–5 Ωm, épaisseur: 5–6 m). Cette couche a été interprétée comme représentant des matériaux éjectés de l’impact de Chicxulub (limite Crétacé/Paléogène) sur la base des signatures de résistivité similaires observées dans les logs de forage. En raison de la sensibilité limitée du levé EMA, la configuration de sub-surface sous la couche à faible résistivité n’a pas pu être déterminée avec certitude. Les mesures EMA combinées avec l’analyse des données de télédétection offrent une méthodologie multi-échelle potentiellement performante pour la cartographie structurale des aquifères karstiques de la Péninsule du Yucatan et au-delà.

Resumen

La geometría y la conectividad de zonas de alta permeabilidad determinan el flujo del agua subterránea en los acuíferos kársticos. Un manejo eficiente de los acuíferos kársticos requiere un mapeo regional de las trayectorias preferenciales de flujo. La tecnología de sensores remotos proporciona herramientas para mapear eficientemente el subsuelo en tales escalas. Se usaron imágenes multiespectrales de sensores remotos, los datos de topografía satelital y los datos de relevamiento electromagnéticos aéreos (AEM) en el dominio de la frecuencia para mapear la estructura del acuífero kárstico en la Península de Yucatán, Méjico. Las respuestas anómalas de AEM se correlacionan con aspectos topográficos y la reflectancia espectral anómala del terreno. Una trayectoria preferencial de flujo conocida, la zona de la fractura de Holbox, mostró una resistividad eléctrica menor que sus alrededores en los relevamientos AEM. Las estructuras anómalas delineadas tierra adentro fueron cerradas por encima por una capa de baja resistividad (resistividad: 1–5 Ωm, espesor: 5–6 m). Esta capa fue interpretada como la eyección del impacto Chicxulub (límite Cretácico – Paleógeno), basada en señales de resistividad similares encontradas en los registros de las perforaciones. Debido a la sensibilidad limitada del relevamiento AEM, la configuración del subsuelo debajo de la capa de baja resistividad no pudo ser determinada sin ambigüedad. Las medidas de AEM combinada con los análisis de datos de sensores remotos proporciona una herramienta multiescala potencialmente potente para el mapeo de la estructura en acuíferos kársticos de la Península de Yucatán y más allá.

摘要

高渗透区域的几何形状和连通性决定了岩溶含水层中地下水流的运动。为了有效管理岩溶含水层,需要对优先流动路径进行区域填图。遥感技术为在这种尺度上高效绘制地下水的流动路径提供了工具。多光谱遥感成像技术、航空雷达地形数据和频域航空电磁(AEM)测量数据被用来绘制墨西哥Yucatan半岛的岩溶含水层的结构。异常的AEM反应与地形特征和地形不规则的光谱反射有密切的联系。在AEM测量中,被人们所熟知的优先流动路径—Holbox裂隙区—显示出了比周围地区更低的体积电阻率。内陆的异常构造被一个低电阻率岩层(电阻率:1∼5Ωm,厚度:5∼6 m)所封闭。以在测井数据中发现的相似电阻率特征为基础,这个岩层被解译成来自于Chicxulub撞击的喷出物(白垩系/古近系的边界)。由于AEM测量敏感性的限制,位于低电阻率岩层之下的地层结构无法确定。与遥感数据分析结合的AEM测量方法提供了一个潜力巨大的多尺度方法,可以用来在Yucata半岛岩溶含水层进行构造填图或其它方面。

Resumo

A geometria e a conetividade de zonas altamente permeáveis determinam o escoamento da água subterrânea nos aquíferos cársicos. A gestão eficiente dos aquíferos cársicos requer o mapeamento regional dos percursos de escoamento preferencial. A essas escalas, as tecnologias de deteção remota fornecem ferramentas para mapear eficientemente a subsuperfície. Foram usadas imagens de deteção remota multi-espetrais, dados da topografia por radar da missão Space Shuttle e dados dos levantamentos aero-eletromagnéticos no domínio de frequência (AEM) para mapear a estrutura do aquífero cársico da Península de Iucatão, no México. As anomalias de AEM correlacionam-se com particularidades topográficas e com anomalias de refletância espetral do terreno. Um percurso de escoamento preferencial conhecido, a zona de fratura Holbox, manifestou no levantamento AEM uma resistividade elétrica geral menor que nas suas vizinhanças. Estruturas anómalas delineadas em terra estavam seladas superiormente por uma camada de baixa resistividade (resistividade: 1–5 Ωm, espessura: 5–6 m). Esta camada foi interpretada como sendo ejecta provenientes da estrutura de impacte Chicxulub (limite Cretácico/Paleogénico), com base em assinaturas de resistividade similares encontradas em diagrafias de sondagens. Devido a limitações de sensibilidade do levantamento AEM, não pode ser determinada sem ambiguidade a configuração da subsuperfície abaixo da camada de baixa resistividade. As medidas de AEM, combinadas com a análise dos dados de deteção remota, fornecem uma metodologia multi-escala potencialmente poderosa para o mapeamento estrutural em aquíferos cársicos da Península de Iucatão e zonas similares.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support from the Austrian Science Fund (project L524-N10 ‘XPLORE’), The Nature Conservancy, UNESCO, Geological Survey of Austria, the COWI Foundation, WWF Verdensnaturfonden/Aase & Ejnar Danielsens Fond 2006 and 2007, ETH Zürich, and Technical University of Denmark is gratefully acknowledged. We thank S. Bogaerts, K. Davidson, D. Jones, B. Phillips and R. Schmittner for permission to use the Sac Actun cave map. Andreas Ahl carried out the AEM data leveling and processing prior to the data analysis and inversion presented herein.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Miljoevej, Building 113, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark

    Bibi R. N. Gondwe & Peter Bauer-Gottwein

  2. Geological Survey of Austria, Neulinggasse 38, 1030, Vienna, Austria

    David Ottowitz, Robert Supper & Klaus Motschka

  3. Amigos de Sian Ka’an, Fuego # 2, Manzana 10 SM 4, Cancún, Quintana Roo, 77500, Mexico

    Gonzalo Merediz-Alonso

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  1. Bibi R. N. Gondwe
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  2. David Ottowitz
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  3. Robert Supper
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  5. Gonzalo Merediz-Alonso
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  6. Peter Bauer-Gottwein
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Correspondence to Bibi R. N. Gondwe.

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Gondwe, B.R.N., Ottowitz, D., Supper, R. et al. Regional-scale airborne electromagnetic surveying of the Yucatan karst aquifer (Mexico): geological and hydrogeological interpretation. Hydrogeol J 20, 1407–1425 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-012-0877-8

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