The HydroGeoPhysics Facility

What is the instrumentation or service?

HydroGeoPhysics describes the use of nondestructive and nonintrusive measurement methods to characterize and monitor hydrologic systems and processes. There is increasing interest within both the hydrologic and geophysical communities, as shown by rates of publication in both fields. But there are still significant unrealized opportunities.

Geophysical methods hold great potential for imaging subsurface structures and monitoring subsurface processes. Hydrogeophysics is a growing area of scientific interest aimed specifically at using geophysical methods to advance hydrologic sciences. Thus, the HGP Facility provides seed-funding to promote improved integration of geophysics into hydrologic science. The HGP provides travel grants to support direct interactions between hydrologists. The first benefit of this program is the pairing of hydrologists and geophysicists to produce a small grant proposal that satisfies both hydrologic and geophysical metrics of novelty, originality, and likelihood of success. The second benefit is the production of initial data that are intended to support applications for further funding within and beyond NSF. Particular emphasis is placed on identifying and funding early career geophysicists in an effort to form lasting research partnerships and to establish a hydrogeophysical approach to their science.

How do I request access?

To apply for HGP travel support, a hydrologist (or team of hydrologists) should submit a three-page proposal together with a geophysicist (or team of geophysicists). The proposal would support travel for a geophysicist to visit an active hydrologic study site and to consult on the possible inclusion of geophysical methods in the investigations. The proposal should include the following:

A description of the proposed study site and the key hydrologic questions to be addressed.

A brief description of supporting data and a proposal for a geophysical method or methods under consideration.

A brief description of the expected value of the geophysical data to address the hydrologic question(s).

A brief discussion of the novelty and transferability of the proposed hydrogeophysical approach.

A description of the expected interactions (student meetings, seminars, presentations in classes, field/lab visits) during the visit.

A budget for the requested funds to include costs of travel and equipment shipping and/or rental.

Proposals will be rated by a panel of hydrogeophysicists; awards will be made every six months in December and June. We expect to award approximately five grants per year. The expected value of each grant is $2000.00; however, slightly higher requests will be considered with justification.

All interested scientists are encouraged to apply.

Please feel free to contact Ty Ferré (tyferre@gmail.com) if you would like assistance in finding hydrologic or geophysical partners for a proposal or if you need additional information. [See the HGP PDF flyer]

What are the costs involved?

The HGP program covers travel costs associated with a geophysicist visiting a hydrologic site and is meant as seed funding for continued collaboration and funding opportunities. The cost of including geophysical methods in a hydrologic investigation would vary; the HGP program supports interaction and project planning that can help you better estimate these costs.