People
Francis Birch
Ph.D. Princeton University 1969
- Professor of Geophysics in Earth Science
Research Areas
Ground-water geophysics, marine geophysics, and geophysics applied to problems of Quaternary geology
Research Emphasis
In the summer of 2001, I used our new borehole radar instrument to detect fractures deep in bedrock as part of a multidisciplinary "bedrock bioremediation" study at the former Pease Air Force Base. In addition to increasing our general knowledge of the site, we're using the borehole radar images to decide where to drill adjacent wells sharing the same interconnected fractures. The overall plan is to do active bioremediation experiments in these connected wells and fractures. We plan to expand our bioremediation efforts to a new site and a new contaminant.
Throughout my years at UNH I have worked on understanding the geology of the seacoast region and inner continental shelf of New Hampshire. Methods used include seismic refraction and reflection, side-scan sonar, magnetics, resistivity, ground-penetrating radar, borehole radar and self-potential as well as vibracoring and gravity coring.
For many years I've been teaching geophysical short courses in Latin America. In the summer of 1999 I gave a short course on magnetic exploration methods at the Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosí, my seventh short course in México. I've also taught a short course in Puerto Rico as well as two regular courses during a semester leave at the University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez.
Last fall Peter Foster completed his MS thesis on use of ground-penetrating radar and borehole radar in the seacoast region of New Hampshire. With surveys over many different surficial deposits, he showed where the radar is effective and where it's not. This research has raised some interesting questions for follow-up by subsequent students. He also conducted borehole radar measurements in two contrasting lithologies as part of the Pease bioremediation project.
Courses Taught
Introduction to Geology ESCI 401; Earth, Ocean and Atmosphere Dynamics ESCI 658; Applied Geophysics ESCI 734/834; Special Topic/Electromagnetic Methods ESCI 796/896; Special Topic/Advanced Geophysics ESCI 796/896; Graduate Seminar, Geology ESCI 994