Airplanes are searching for underground water in Alberta.
The airplanes fly 120 metres off the ground towing a large low-frequency radio transmitter to complete a ground water mapping and inventory survey.
The geophysics survey uses electromagnetic waves to help locate underground water supplies. The technique, called airborne geophysics, measures the electrical properties of the earth, rock and water below ground level.
The airplanes will not fly directly over urban areas.
The survey is part of a multi-year provincial ground water mapping and inventory program commissioned by the Alberta environment ministry and the Alberta Geological Survey.
The first phase will concentrate on areas between Edmonton and Calgary where ground water is heavily used.
Much of the ground water information that scientists rely on comes from the Alberta Research Council’s mapping programs of the 1960s and 1970s.
About 30 percent of Canada’s population relies on ground water for its entire water supply.
The airborne survey will be conducted for 30 days in January and February.
