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Near - surface study of a hot spring site in Fiji

Lal, Alvin and Deo, Ravin N. and Kumar, Ajal (2018) Near - surface study of a hot spring site in Fiji. Acta Geophysica, NA . NA. ISSN 1895-6572

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Abstract

A geophysical investigation of a hot spring system located in Rabulu, Fiji, was carried out from October 2014 to March 2015. The investigation covered a survey area of 6075 m2. Self-potential (SP), ground temperature and soil carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations were measured and investigated for their distribution characteristics and inter-linkages. Results indicated obvious anomalous zone at the hot spring discharge site. The SP profile analysis highlighted thermal water upwelling zones and elevation-driven subsurface groundwater pathways. Measurement of subsurface temperatures up to 1 m depths revealed increasing temperatures, indicating potentially high thermal gradients in the area. Surface soil CO2 distributions also agreed with SP and ground temperature results. The overall result of the study demonstrated that synchronised measurements of SP, ground temperature and soil CO2 can be instrumental in identifying anomalous zones near the hot spring sites. Other parameters such as spring water temperature, discharge rate and energy flux estimates from the spring were calculated and analysed. The high-dense multi-parameter data coverage allowed interpretation of geothermal features at a scale never conducted in Fiji before. The near-surface investigations reported in this study corroborate previously suggested steady geothermal activity in the region, deserving further detailed investigation.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: Q Science > QC Physics
Divisions: Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) > School of Engineering and Physics
Depositing User: Ms Shalni Sanjana
Date Deposited: 04 Jul 2018 23:41
Last Modified: 04 Jul 2018 23:41
URI: https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/10910

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