Dr. Thomas Burbey is a Professor at Virginia Tech in physical hydrogeology with expertise in regional aquifer system analysis, and regional groundwater flow modeling. Dr. Burbey’s research efforts pertains largely with the use of stress-strain signals for characterizing aquifer properties and deep reservoirs used for CO2 sequestration. Dr. Burbey’s expertise lies in three-dimensional aquifer deformation and flow modeling by incorporating InSAR (synthetic aperture radar) and GPS techniques for quantifying land subsidence (vertical and horizontal) and its relation to aquifer storage and hydraulic conductivity at the local and regional scales. Dr. Burbey also has done extensive work on characterizing aquifers in fractured-rock environments including the use of barometric loading, earth tides and borehole extensometers for fracture characterization and for understanding structural controls on recharge and compartmentalization of fractured rock systems. Fault characterization using deformation signals in 3D is also a newer approach that is being used to better understand fault mechanics. Dr. Burbey has also developed management models with the aim of predicting effects of various water-use scenarios
- Zhou, X., and Burbey, T.J., 2014, How horizontal surface deformation during fluid injection correlates to the reservoir permeability setting:Environmental & Engineering Geoscience, v. 20, no. 3, p. 305-320.
- Zhang, M., Burbey, T.J. Nunes, V.T., and Borggaard, J., 2014, A new zonation algorithm with parameter estimation using hydraulic head and subsidence measurements, Groundwater Journal, v. 42, No. 4, p. 514-524.
- Burbey, T.J., 2013, Poroelastic effects on fracture characterization, Groundwater Journal, v 31, no. 6, p. 904-913.
- Galloway, D.L., and Burbey, T.J., 2011, Review: Regional land subsidence accompanying groundwater extraction: Hydrogeology Journal, v. 19, no 8, p. 1459-1486. doi 10.1007/s10040-011-0775-5.
- Hernandez-Marin, M., and Burbey, T.J. 2010, Controls on initiation and propagation of pumping-induced earth fissures: Insights from numerical simulation: Hydrogeology Journal, DOI 10.1007/s10040-010-0642-9, v. 18, no. 8, pg. 1773-1785.
- Yan, T., and Burbey, T.J., 2008, The value of subsidence data in ground-water model calibration: Ground Water, v. 46, no. 4, p. 438-450.
- Burbey, T.J., 2006, Three-dimensional deformation and strain induced by municipal pumping, Part 2: Numerical analysis: Journal of Hydrology, v 330, p. 422-434.
- Burbey, T.J., Warner, S.M., Blewitt, G., Bell, J.W., and Hill, E., 2006, Three-dimensional deformation and strain induced by municipal pumping, Part 1: Analysis of field data: Journal of Hydrology v. 319 p. 123-142.