Geoelectrical laboratory and field studies of groundwater occurrence in a landslide area: a case study from Japan

Abstract

We present the results of electrical resistivity surveys carried out to estimate the seasonal variation of the water table level in a large-scale landslide area of Tertiary geology in Japan. One long profile, trending NE-SW, was established perpendicular to the main regional geology of the region. Three boreholes are located very close to the profile. The profile was surveyed twice, once before snowfall and once after snow had melted. The relationship between resistivity and water saturation of pyroclastic materials was clarified through laboratory tests. We did this in order to estimate the water content of the pyroclastic layer from the observed resistivity distribution in the landslide area. The resistivity of the saturated pyroclastic deposit calculated using an empirical formula was found to be 570 ?.m. Based on this computed resistivity, the groundwater level was deduced by assuming that the pyroclastic deposits were fully saturated beneath the water table. We show that the estimated water table before snowfall is lower than that inferred after snow has melted, by about 1.1 to 4.7 m. This suggests that the water table in the upper part of the pyroclastic layer in the landslide area fluctuates greatly, compared to the lower part. This seasonal groundwater fluctuation is possibly caused by the infiltration of water into the subsurface after snowmelt.