The geophysical toolbox applied to forest ecosystems - A review.

Studying the forest subsurface is a challenge because of its heterogeneous nature and difficult access. Traditional approaches used by ecologists to characterize the subsurface have a low spatial representativity. This review article illustrates how geophysical techniques can and have been used to get new insights into forest ecology.

Water, nitrate and atrazine transfer through the unsaturated zone of the Chalk aquifer in northern France.

The water quality of the Chalk aquifer is degrading due to fertilizers and pesticides use which are classified as toxic to public health. The study aims to provide a better understanding of the transfer processes in the unsaturated zone of the Chalk aquifer using different environmental tracers (nitrate, atrazine and tritium). The study was conducted in an underground quarry in northern France (St.

Monitoring soil water content by vertical temperature variations.

The availability of high sensitivity temperature sensors (0.001 K sensitivity platinum resistors), which can be positioned at intervals of a few centimeters along a vertical profile in the unsaturated zone, allows short-term in situ determinations-one day or even less-of the thermal diffusivity. The development of high data storage capabilities also makes this possible over long periods and the relative variations in thermal diffusivity allow the monitoring of the variations in water content.

Review of state of the art methods for measuring water in landfills.

In recent years several types of sensors and measurement techniques have been developed for measuring the moisture content, water saturation, or the volumetric water content of landfilled wastes. In this work, we review several of the most promising techniques. The basic principles behind each technique are discussed and field applications of the techniques are presented, including cost estimates.

Leachate recirculation: moisture content assessment by means of a geophysical technique.

Bioreactor technology is a waste treatment concept consisting in speeding up the biodegradation of landfilled waste by optimizing its moisture content through leachate recirculation. The measurement of variations in waste moisture content is critical in the design and control of bioreactors. Conventional methods such as direct physical sampling of waste reach their limits due to the interference with the waste matrix.