Integrating hydro-seismology and electromagnetic methods for enhanced groundwater monitoring

Monitoring groundwater levels and soil moisture content (SMC) is essential yet challenging, especially across large areas due to the logistics of intense surveying and repeatability. Advances in hydroseismology and near surface geophysics offer new possibilities for resolving subsurface dynamics at useful scales in space and time. Seismic velocity variations, sensitive to pore pressure and saturation, enable passive or repeat monitoring of groundwater changes accross large acreages and with sufficient spatial resolution. Electromagnetic induction (EMI) provides rapid, high-resolution mapping of shallow electrical conductivity, serving as a strong proxy for SMC. Combining seismic and EMI data leverages the wide spatial coverage of seismic methods with the detailed, near surface sensitivity and calibration of EMI. This integrated approach improves our ability to track hydrological processes, supporting better groundwater management and drought assessment in regions such as the Netherlands.