Seismic refraction exercise for a hydrogeology course

Devin Castendyk

State University of New York, College at Oneonta

This activity has been reviewed by 2 review processes (view details)

This activity was selected for the On the Cutting Edge Reviewed Teaching Collection

This activity has received positive reviews in a peer review process involving five review categories. The five categories included in the process are
- Scientific Accuracy
- Alignment of Learning Goals, Activities, and Assessments
- Pedagogic Effectiveness
- Robustness (usability and dependability of all components)
- Completeness of the ActivitySheet web page
For more information about the peer review process itself, please see https://serc.carleton.edu/teachearth/activity_review.html.
This activity has benefited from input from faculty educators beyond the author through a review and suggestion process. This review took place as a part of a faculty professional development workshop where groups of faculty reviewed each others' activities and offered feedback and ideas for improvements. To learn more about the process On the Cutting Edge uses for activity review, see http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/review.html.

Initial Publication Date: August 6, 2007 | Reviewed: October 31, 2012 (see revision history: 2 events)

Summary

This problem has students analyze seismic refraction data to determine the depth to the water table and stratigraphy. Simple, useful, and gratifying.

Seismic refraction | College Lower (13-14), College Upper (15-16)

Expand for more detail and links to related resources

Share your modifications and improvements to this activity through the Community Contribution Tool »

Context

Audience

This problem is designed for an Introduction to Hydrogeology course targeting sophomores and junions.
Integrates geophysics into a core course in geology

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

Students should be comfortable drawing graphs and making simple algebra calculations. Students should review the associated power point presentation for this exercise to be familiar with seismic refraction theory.

How the activity is situated in the course

This exercise is situated toward the end of the semester when students are introduced to field methods in hydrogeology.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

Determining the depth to the water table and local stratigraphy using seismic refraction.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

Students analyze raw data to make interpretations of stratigraphy and hydrology.

Other skills goals for this activity

Students draw graphs and make simple algebra calculations.

Description of the activity/assignment

After reviewing a power point presentation on the use of seismic refraction methods in hydrogeology, students are given seismic refraction data collected on the campus of the State University of New York, College at Oneonta, and asked to determine the depth to the water table in addition to drawing a stratigraphic column. The project can be conducted during class or as a take home assignment.
Has minimal/no quantitative component
Uses geophysics to solve problems in other fields

Determining whether students have met the goals

The instructor can compare the stratigraphic columns prepared by the students to the column provided in the solution set provided with this exercise.

More information about assessment tools and techniques.

Teaching materials and tips

Activity Description/Assignment (Microsoft Word 694kB Aug6 07)

Share your modifications and improvements to this activity through the Community Contribution Tool »

Instructors Notes (PowerPoint 5.7MB Aug6 07)
Solution Set (Microsoft Word 1.6MB Aug6 07)

Other Materials

Supporting references/URLs

Burger, H.R., Sheehan, A.F., and Jones, C.H., 2006. Introduction to Applied Geophysics, W.W. Norton & Co., New York, Chapters 2 and 3, pp. 7-148.

Fetter, C.W., 2001. Applied Hydrogeology, 4th Ed., Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, pp. 483-490.

See more Teaching Activities »