Rev. Bras. Ciênc. Solo.2002;26(2):373-80.

Soil in Space and Time Genesis and Soil Morphology Soil Survey and Classification

Experimental use of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to investigate tablelands in the northern coast of Bahia, Brazil

J. M. Ucha, M. Botelho, G. S. Vilas Boas, L. P. Ribeiro, P. S. Santana

01/Jun/2002

DOI: 10.1590/S0100-06832002000200011

Nine profiles were studied along a toposequence developed on Barreiras Group sediments, in Fazenda Rio Negro, Entre Rios, Bahia, Brazil. Besides conventional analysis, an electromagnetic probe through GPR – Ground-Penetrating Radar was employed. The objective of this study was to analyze the use of this tool in the acquisition of information on features occurring underground, by comparing the radargrams and pedologic descriptions obtained in the area. The equipment used was a Geophysical Survey model, with an 80 MHz antenna. The radargram results indicated that the antenna is not the ideal for risings, demanding a greater detail of the most superficial layers, up to 1.0 depth meter. Response was excellent for the deepest layers, mainly in probing the occurrence of hardened layers, such as the hardpan. The radargrametric analysis confirmed the existence of a process of transformation in Podzoils, that occurs together with the hardpan and fragipan in depth.