NJ-AWRA-USGS Airborne Electromagnetic Technology Seminar

NJ-AWRA-USGS Airborne Electromagnetic Technology Seminar

Virtual Seminar

Time:   12:00 pm to 1:00 pm 

Date: Thursday, June 5th, 2025

Lyndsay Ball, Ph.D. - USGS

Burke Minsley, Ph.D. - USGS

Airborne electromagnetic (AEM) and magnetic survey data were collected during July and August 2022 over a distance of 3,588.5 line kilometers covering Delaware Bay and surrounding regions in New Jersey and Delaware. Data were collected as part of the USGS Delaware River Basin Next Generation Water Observing Systems (NGWOS) project to improve understanding of groundwater salinity distributions near Delaware Bay. The survey was primarily funded by the USGS, with partial support through collaboration with the University of Delaware to extend data collection to parts of Rehoboth Bay and Indian River Bay. Data were acquired by SkyTEM Canada Inc. with the SkyTEM 304M time-domain helicopter-borne electromagnetic system together with a Geometrics G822A cesium vapor magnetometer. The survey was acquired at a nominal flight height of 30 - 40 m above terrain along parallel flight lines primarily oriented southwest-northeast and with nominal line spacing of 500 m over land and nearshore, and 3000 m over open-water parts of Delaware Bay. Several irregular flightlines were acquired along, and perpendicular to, nearby rivers to capture salinity patterns along these hydrologic flowpaths.

This Virtual Seminar is qualified for 1 AICP CM self-reporting credit

  This meeting is a virtual meeting, link to be provided to attendees via email upon registration.

Speaker Bios:

Lyndsay Ball, Ph.D.

Research Geophysicist

Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center – Denver, Colorado

Lyndsay Ball is a research geophysicist specializing in the study of hydrogeologic systems and subsurface processes. Based at the Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center in Denver, Colorado, she applies integrated hydrological and geophysical methods—particularly electrical, electromagnetic, and airborne techniques—to investigate complex environmental challenges.

Her current research focuses on characterizing groundwater salinity and understanding the geologic controls on groundwater flow in mountainous and intermountain regions.

Education

Ph.D., Geological Sciences – University of Colorado at Boulder, 2012

B.S., Environmental Science (Soils Concentration) – Virginia Tech, 2003

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Burke Minsley, Ph.D.

Research Geophysicist

Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center – Denver, Colorado

Burke Minsley is a research geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center in Denver, Colorado. Since joining the USGS in 2008, he has focused on developing and applying innovative ground-based and airborne geophysical methods to advance interdisciplinary studies of the Earth’s geosphere, hydrosphere, and cryosphere.

Burke began his career as a field geophysicist on offshore seismic vessels following a B.S. in Applied Physics from Purdue University in 1997. He later earned a Ph.D. in Geophysics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2007, where his research emphasized novel approaches to subsurface imaging and geophysical modeling.

Education

Ph.D., Geophysics – Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2007

B.S., Applied Physics – Purdue University, 1997