Using synthetic models to understand the detecting ability of ground‐penetrating radar for water‐conducting structures in the bedrock of formerly glaciated site

Utilizing synthetic models for the interpretation of ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) profiles can aid in the detection of hydrogeological structures by identifying their signatures. In this study, finite difference (FD) forward modelling was used to understand the detection ability of 50 MHz GPR for (1) the quaternary deposit–bedrock contact, (2) changes in bedrock lithology, (3) water‐conducting structures, and (4) weathered bedrock at depths of 5–20 m in a mining development site in a crystalline bedrock environment that has been affected by past glaciations and weathering. Two types of FD models were created: semirealistic models that focused on the detectability of one feature at a timeand realistic models that were generated to represent selected 50 MHz GPR profiles from the study area as realistically as possible. The real GPR profiles were modelled according to the interpretation and application of the parameters from the semirealistic models, and the modelling demonstrated a good match with the real GPR signals. FD modelling enables distinguishing signature features that could easily get mixed with the heterogeneity of media and topography and lithology‐related effects.