Airborne geophysics for catchment management ? why and where

Abstract

Airborne geophysical data, used in conjunction with other relevant data, can provide unparalleled insights into catchment evolution and hydrological processes. An understanding of these processes is essential for managing dryland salinity in agricultural catchments. However, tangible benefits from airborne geophysical surveys flown for catchment management purposes rely on feasible land-management options, not the geophysical data. This paper reviews two case studies in the northern agricultural region of Western Australia. In both surveys the airborne geophysical data provided new knowledge; however, the value of the data in terms of application to land management was quite different.