Evaluation of Thermal Resistivity Response to Lithology, Gradational Soil Water Content and Ambient Soil Temperature

—Thermal resistivity survey was recently carried out with the aim of ascertaining its response to different lithologies, degree of soil water content, and ambient soil temperature within a specified location. The methodology employed in the determination of soil thermal resistivity and soil water content involves measuring the rate of temperature changes with time, and the use of Gravimetric method. The outcome of this study has shown that the range of thermal resistivity in the study area is between 0.075798824 oCm/W to 0.455356332 oCm/W, which incidentally falls within the thermal resistivity range of sand and clay. The results obtained revealed that the site is characterized with a central low thermal resistivity region that is flanked by relatively high thermal resistivity on both side. It also revealed that the distribution pattern of the soil water content is in consonant with the distribution of soil thermal resistivity. It was observed that the western region of the model which is predominately clay, registered a high thermal resistivity in parts where its water content is low, and low soil thermal resistivity where its soil water content is high. The eastern region which is predominately sand also registered range of soil thermal resistivity base on the degree of soil water content. The results have helped to establish the fact that soil water content has a very great influence on the observed response of soil thermal resistivity, and it also revealed that the disparity of thermal resistivity response within soil of the same lithological composition is due to degree of water content in it. The direct comparison of ambient soil temperature model, and thermal resistivity model revealed that thermal resistivity model, registered the least value at the points where the soil ambient temperature registered highest value, and vice versa. It was therefore concluded that soil water content and lithology have greater influence on thermal resistivity response, than soil