Unique insight into the seasonal variability of geophysical properties of field soils: practical implications for near-surface investigations

摘要: Electromagnetic wave propagation methods are extensively used in geophysical prospecting, such as in archaeological and utility surveys. The signal penetration attenuation of electromagnetic waves depend strongly on the apparent permittivity electrical conductivity soil, which vary a seasonal basis, affecting detection buried features, especially their detected depth. However, there is a significant lack high-quality long-term seasonal field monitoring data electromagnetic properties different soil conditions to aid understanding how these properties field conditions. results reported this paper will contribute addressing scarcity data. Longterm data presented analysed from bespoke time-domain reflectometry stations designed enable collection relative dielectric permittivity, bulk conductivity, and temperature at high temporal resolution (hourly) three remote sites with soils over an extended period time (16–23 months). In addition providing extensive dataset, data highlight importance using accurate for prospecting. The greatest changes all near-surface soils (< 0.5 m), where many utilities generally found, rapid wetting events slower drying events greatly both conductivity. However, most critical factor determining water holding capacity, which, turn, function clay mineralogy content. An analysis ratio energy loss to storage shows that optimum ground penetrating radar surveying during the dry periods when low, displaying significance on survey outcomes due its effect conductivity. this paper survey planning, thereby ensuring better underground target rate.