Geophysicists converge on Charleston to address crises in near-surface region of Earth

Published: April 7, 2011

CLEMSON — When communities face the threat of environmental catastrophe — earthquakes and tsunamis, landslides, droughts, toxic drinking water — the first people they look to for help typically aren't geophysicists.

Perhaps they should be.

"Geophysicists have specialized knowledge and technical skills that lend themselves to the prevention and mitigation of natural hazards and environmental problems in some of the world's neediest communities," said Stephen Moysey, an assistant professor of environmental engineering and earth science at Clemson University with a specialty in hydrogeophysics.

"Our science isn't confined to laboratories," Moysey said. "The Earth is our laboratory."

Moysey will gather with colleagues from across the planet in Charleston for five days next week to discuss new and emerging methods to probe the Earth's "critical zone" — the near-surface region of the planet that supports ecosystems, climate, agriculture and all human activities.

The international Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems — SAGEEP for short — brings together several hundred geophysicists, engineers and other scientists to discuss ways to "see" inside the earth.

While geophysics may not be commonplace conversation for most people, the problems these scientists are addressing are all too common: the science behind earthquakes, drought and the efforts of engineers to protect people from natural disaster.

Moysey will give a featured address on work he and Clemson graduate student Dan Matz performed in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India, to study scarce water resources.

Even though the amount of annual rainfall in that part of India is similar to that in South Carolina, the area is plagued with drought because most of its rain falls in only three months of the year during the monsoon season.

"Water resources are reaching a crisis point in India. Agricultural demand is a major factor," Moysey said. "Analysis of gravity data from the GRACE satellite suggests that groundwater losses are occurring much more rapidly than anticipated. Through our work, we have found that villagers are making a significant impact on the watershed and we are providing tools that they can use to help them manage their resources."

For two years, Moysey and Matz used electromagnetic induction tools — technology similar to metal detectors — to map soil moisture and shallow aquifers in the Salri watershed.

The project was sponsored by Geoscientists Without Borders, a program focused on supporting with communities in need through projects using applied geophysics.

"The lack of freshwater is a chronic problem in central India that has impacted the health, productivity and quality of life for millions of people living there," Moysey said. "Before taking charge of their environment, two thirds of villagers in our study area faced domestic water scarcity for two to four months of the year, and 80 percent say they must stop work during the dry season due to lack of water availability.

"The Geoscientists Without Borders program has created a new opportunity for the near-surface geophysics community to participate in solving humanitarian problems around the world," he said. "The true impact of our project, however, crosses the borders of science. It's about the empowerment of people through experience. To this end we have provided hands-on training in the watershed for villagers, development staff and students."

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