Faculty Profile: Lee D. Slater, Ph.D.
 
 

LEE D. SLATER
Tel: 816.235.2978
Fax: 816-235-5535
SlaterL@umkc.edu

 

 

 

 

RESEARCH SUMMARY:
My current research focuses on the improved application of electrical geophysics techniques in near-subsurface studies. I conduct both laboratory and field investigations. My expertise includes: laboratory spectral induced polarization (SIP) measurements; field induced polarization (IP) methods; cross borehole electrical imaging applications (ERT and IP tomography); geophysical tracer tests; estimation of hydraulic properties with geophysics
STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES:
I currently have funding to support graduate (MS and Ph.D.) research projects in the above fields. Please contact me if interested

EDUCATION:

B.Sc. Environmental Science, University of East Anglia, UK, 1992
M.Sc. Marine Geotechnics, University College of North Wales, UK, 1993
Ph.D. Environmental Science (Hydrogeology & Geophysics), Lancaster University, UK, 1997

TEACHING:

Overview:  I teach applied and environmental geophysics, hydrogeology and environmental science.
Winter 2002: No teaching duties

LINK TO COURSE SUPPORT MATERIALS

RESEARCH:

Current research in progress:

  • "Microbial Influences on Geophysical Signatures: A Proxy for the Understanding and the Monitoring of Natural Attenuation", funded by U.S. Department of the Interior, Geological Survey, Regional Water Resources Research Program (Missouri): In this collaborative project with Dr. Estella Atekwana (University of Missouri - Rolla) we are studying the role of electrical geophysics as potential non-invasive indicators of natural attenuation of organic sediments. Laboratory column experiments have been designed in which geochemical indicators of bioremediation will be compared with the frequency dependent electrical response.

  • "Investigating the complex resistivity (0.01-1000 Hz) response to saturation state for unconsolidated sediments",  funded by the National Science Foundation, Earth Sciences Program:  In this laboratory project we are determining the low-frequency (0.1-1000 Hz) electrical response of a range of unconsolidated sediments during saturation and drainage. In particular, we are studying changes in the polarization at the grain-fluid interface as saturation changes. Link to NSF Award Abstract

  • "Improving interpretation of lithological parameters from Spectral Induced Polarization (SIP) measurements", funded by the American Chemical Society - Petroleum Research Fund: In this laboratory project we intend to make measurements of the low-frequency (0.1-1000 Hz) clay-sand mixtures with varying clay mineralogy. We hope to improve understand of the induced polarization response of unconsolidated materials.  

  • "Collaborative research: Evaluation of mass transport in a large Maine peatland", funded by the  National Science Foundation, Earth Sciences Program:: In this collaborative project with Dr. Andrew Reeve (Dept. of Geology at U.Maine) we adopting a joint hydrogeological/geophysical approach to the study of the controls on nutrient transport in a large peatland. Included in this work are fundamental laboratory measurements to evaluate the electrical properties of organic sediments. The field geophysics includes (a) stratigraphic mapping using resistivity, induced polarization and ground penetrating radar (b) long term tracer monitoring using electrical imaging. Link to NSF Award Abstract

 

  • "Electrical geophysics to assist evaluation of reactive barrier integrity and performance", funded by the U.S. Department of Energy: In this project we are evaluating the utility of high resolution 2D/3D cross-borehole electrical imaging (resistivity and induced polarization) for determining the integrity of permeable reactive barriers (PRBs). Our measurements at the Kansas City DOE plant indicate that electrical imaging is a highly effective approach to PRB characterization. 


PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
 

Accepted/Published:

  1. Slater, L. and Lesmes, D., Electrical-hydraulic relationships observed for unconsolidated sediments, Water Resources Research, In Press.
  2. Sandberg, S., Slater, L. and Versteeg, R., An integrated geophysical study of the hydrogeology of an anisotropic unconfined aquifer, Journal of Hydrology, In Press.
  3. Slater, L. and Reeve, A., 2002, Understanding peatland hydrology and stratigraphy using integrated electrical geophysics, Geophysics, 67, 365-378.
  4. Slater, L., Binley, A., Versteeg, R., Cassiani, G., Birken, R. and Sandberg, S., A 3D ERT study of solute transport in a large experimental tank, Journal of Applied Geophysics, 49(4), 211-229.
  5. Slater, L. and Lesmes, D., 2002, IP interpretation in environmental investigations, Geophysics, 67, 77-88.
  6. Sandberg, S. and Slater, L., 2001, Geophysical monitoring through a tidal cycle at Crescent Beach State Park, Maine, Journal of Environmental & Engineering Geophysics, 6, 165-174.
  7. Slater, L., and Sandberg, S.K., 2000, Resistivity and induced polarization monitoring of salt transport under natural hydraulic gradients, Geophysics, 65(2), 408-420.
  8. Slater, L., Binley, A., Daily, W. and Johnson, R., 2000, Cross-borehole ERT imaging of a controlled tracer injection, Journal of Applied Geophysics: Special Issue – Environmental Geophysics, 44(2-3), 85-102.
  9. Slater, L., Hamilton, N., Sandberg, S. and Jankowski, J., 2000, Magnetic prospecting at a historic and a pre-historic settlement in Maine, Archaeological Prospection, 7, 31-41.
  10. Brown, D. and Slater, L., 1999, Focused packer testing using geophysical tomography and CCTV in a fissured aquifer, Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology, 32(2), 173-184.
  11. Slater, L., Sandberg, S.K. and Jankowski, M., 1998, Survey design procedures and data processing applied to the EM azimuthal resistivity method, Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, 3, 167-177.
  12. Hubbard, B., Binley, A., Slater, L., Middleton, R. and Kulessa, B., 1998, Inter-borehole electrical resistivity imaging of englacial drainage, Journal of Glaciology: Instruments and Methods, 44, 429-434.
  13. Slater, L., Binley, A. and Brown, D., 1997, Electrical imaging of fractures using groundwater salinity change, Ground Water, 35, 436-442.
  14. Slater, L., Zaidman, M. D., Binley, A. M. and West, L. J., 1997, Electrical imaging of saline tracer migration for the investigation of unsaturated zone transport mechanisms, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 1. 291-302.
  15. Slater, L., Brown, D. and Binley, A., 1996, Determination of hydraulically conductive pathways in fractured limestone using cross-borehole electrical resistivity tomography, European Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, 1, 35-52.
  16. Slater, L., Kulessa, B. and Barton, K., 1996, Assessment of the ability of geophysical methods to detect and define fulacht fia (burnt mounds) on Clare Island, County Mayo, Ireland, Archaeological Prospection, 3, 43-59.

In review:

  1. Kemna, A., Binley, A. and Slater, L., Cross-Borehole IP Imaging for engineering and environmental applications, Geophysics, Submitted 01/03/02
  2. Slater, L. and Binley, A., Evaluation of permeable reactive barrier (PRB) integrity using electrical imaging methods, Geophysics, Submitted 01/11/02
  3. Slater, L. and Niemi, T., Detection of active faults along the Dead Sea Transform using ground penetrating radar and implications for seismic hazards within the city of Aqaba, Jordan, Tectonophysics, Submitted 05/23/02
  4. Slater, L. and Glaser, D., Controls on induced polarization in sandy unconsolidated sediments and application to aquifer characterization, Geophysics, Submitted 06/26/02

RECENT CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS (n=27)

  • Slater, L., 2002, Electrical imaging of permeable reactive barriers (PRBs), Containment Workshop 1: Performance and verification of barriers through prediction and monitoring, June 30-July 2, 2002, Baltimore, Maryland, Presentation.
  • Slater, L., Reeve, A., Utne, I and Glaser, D., Resistivity, induced polarization and ground penetrating radar (GPR) investigations of subsurface controls on vegetation communities in Caribou Bog, Maine, Society of Wetland Scientists, 23rd Annual Conference: Wetland Linkages: A Watershed Approach, June 2-7, 2002, Lake Placid, NY, Abstract.
  • Reeve, A. and Slater, L., 2002, Hydrology and mass transport processes in Caribou Bog, Maine, Society of Wetland Scientists, 23rd Annual Conference: Wetland Linkages: A Watershed Approach, June 2-7, 2002, Lake Placid, NY, Abstract.
  • Niemi, T.M., Slater, L., and Harrison, J.B.J., 2002, Paleoseismic study of active faults along the Dead Sea transform in Aqaba, Jordan using trenching and ground-penetrating radar surveys (abst): Seismological Research Letters, v.73, no. 2, p. 246.
  • Reeve, A., and Slater, L., 2002, Initiating a solute transport experiment in a large Maine peatland, 2002 Abstracts with Programs, Geological Society of America, Northeast Section, Volume 34, Number 1.
  • Ulrich, C., Slater, L. and Utne, J.I., 2002, Spectral induced polarization measurements on unsaturated, unconsolidated sediments, Proceedings of the Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Environmental & Engineering Problems (SAGEEP), February 10-14, Las Vegas, NE, 10pp. [PDF file]
  • Slater, L., Glaser, D., Utne, J.I., 2002, Electrical imaging of permeable reactive barrier integrity, Proceedings of the Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Environmental & Engineering Problems (SAGEEP), February 10-14, Las Vegas, NE, 10pp. [PDF file]
  • Slater, L., Lesmes, D. and Glaser, D., 2001, Electrical, lithologic and hydraulic relationships observed for unconsolidated sediments, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, December 10-15, San Francisco, CA, Abstract GP11-08 [PDF File]
  • Slater, L., Niemi, T., Glaser, D., Utne, J. and Mansoor, N., 2001, "Ground penetrating radar analysis of seismic hazard in Aqaba, Jordan", Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Nov 1-10, 2001, Boston, MA.
  • Slater, L., Reeve, A. and Glaser, D., 2001, "Improving understanding of peatland hydrogeology using electrical geophysics", Proceedings of the Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Environmental & Engineering Problems (SAGEEP), March 4-7, 2001, Denver, CO, 10pp. [PDF File]

CONSULTING

Environmental/engineering geophysics consulting is conducted through the UMKC Center for Applied Environmental Research (CAER). In addition to advising on geophysical studies, UMKC has field geophysics capability. The department owns the following equipment:
 IRIS SYSCAL R1-PLUS resistivity/IP imaging system
RAMAC ground penetrating radar
GEONICS digital EM31
GEM Overhauser magnetometer 
Please contact me at the above e-mail address regarding consulting.

COMMUNITY

Students enrolled in  Geophysics classes engage in field experiences designed to help the local community. During the Winter 2000 semester students conducted a 2-day field survey at the historic Vaile Mansion, in Independence, Missouri. The Vaile Historic Preservation Society is engaged in reconstructing the past in the grounds of this 120 year old house. UMKC students used modern geophysical equipment in an effort to locate foundations of old buildings, old pipes and a lost wine cellar. The following link provides a PDF file of a newspaper article describing this work: [PDF file] 

OTHER ACTIVITIES