Pliocene Lignite Coal from BEN Village
Closeup of Pliocene lignite coal from a Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) village in Serbia. Lignite is low rank, or relatively unaltered (soft, or “brown”) coal, and is characterized by a brownish color and appearance that often resembles wood. This lignite releases copious amounts of dissolved orga...
Location: Serbia

Pliocene Lignite Bed
Seam or bed of Pliocene lignite from a mine in the Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) area of Romania. Rainwater falling onto the surface penetrates into the ground, becoming ground water, and leaches toxic organic substances from this coal. The ground water continues to BEN villages in the valleys be...
Location: Romania

BEN Sampling in Serbia
USGS scientist Bill Orem (left) and Adrian Muntean, a colleague from Romania, sampling water from a well in a Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) household in Serbia. The scientists will analyze the water for the presence of coal-derived organic substances dissolved in the water. The USGS works closely...
Location: Serbia

Drinking Well in a BEN Village
A well, typical of those found in both Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) villages and non-BEN villages in the affected countries. Wells and springs are the primary drinking water supplies for these rural villages. In the BEN areas, these shallow wells are fed by groundwater that leaches nearby immatu...
Location: USA

Satellite view of Swim Lake and nearby lakes.
Satellite view of Swim Lake (upper right) and nearby lakes in Polk County, Florida, surrounded by citrus groves. Courtesy Florida State University, 2008; Southwest Florida Water Management District, 2008....
Location: Polk County, FL, USA

Electromagnetic Survey
USGS hydrologist conducts a broadband electromagnetic survey in New Orleans, Louisiana. The survey was one of several geophysical methods used during USGS applied research on the utility of the multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW) seismic method for non-invasive assessment of earthen levee...
Location: New Orleans, LA, USA

Seismic Survey
USGS hydrologists conduct a seismic survey in New Orleans, Louisiana. The survey was one of several geophysical methods used during USGS applied research on the utility of the multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW) seismic method (no pictured here) for non-invasive assessment of earthen leve...
Location: New Orleans, LA, USA

Ground-penetrating Radar Survey (GPR)
USGS hydrologist conducts a ground-penetrating radar survey to investigate and characterize the shallow subsurface. The survey was conducted as part of an applied research effort by the USGS Office of Groundwater Branch of Geophysics in 2006....
Location: Parris Island, SC, USA

Near-Surface Geophysics: Two-Dimensional Resistivity
USGS hydrologist conducts a two-dimensional (2D) resistivity survey to investigate and characterize the shallow subsurface. The survey was conducted as part of an applied research effort by the USGS Office of Groundwater Branch of Geophysics in 2006....
Location: Parris Island, SC, USA

Fiber Optic Temperature Sensing in Hydrology
USGS hydrologists deploy fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing equipment in Ashumet Pond, Mashpee, Massachusetts. Fiber-optic distributed temperature sensing is an emerging technology that has promise for characterizing estuary-aquifer interaction. The technology evaluation was conducted by th...
Location: Mashpee, MA, USA

Near-Surface Seismic Survey in the Bronx
USGS hydrologists prepare equipment for multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW) land seismic imaging survey. The geophones (in the yellow "land streamer") are pulled behind a vehicle. This relatively new system allows for inexpensive and rapid data acquisition. The survey was conducted a...
Location: Bronx, NY, USA

Near-Surface Seismic Survey in the Bronx
USGS hydrologists prepare equipment for a multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW) land seismic imaging survey. In this picture, the accelerated weight-drop energy source (blue box) is attached to the back of a vehicle. This relatively new system allows for inexpensive and rapid data acquisiti...
Location: Bronx, NY, USA

Near-Surface Seismic Survey in the Bronx
USGS hydrologists conduct a multi-channel analysis of surface waves (MASW) land seismic imaging survey. The yellow land streamer contains the geophones and is towed behind a vehicle. This relatively new system allows for inexpensive and rapid data acquisition. The survey was conducted as part of an ...
Location: Bronx, NY, USA

Evaluating Geophysical Equipment & Methods
USGS hydrologists monitor data collection during a geophysical survey using the horizontal-to-vertical ambient-noise seismic method. This method can be used to estimate unconsolidated sediment thickness and map the bedrock surface as part of groundwater investigations. The survey was conducted as pa...
Location: RI, USA

Using GPS in the Field
USGS hydrologist collects location data using GPS during a near-surface geophysics survey. The survey was conducted as part of an applied research effort by the USGS Office of Groundwater Branch of Geophysics in 2007....
Location: CA, USA