Resistivity and Georadar survey on the Nazca lines

The investigation of shallow structures beneath the Nazca lines aims at a better understanding of the alteration and weathering processes of the desert soils. Suitable geophysical, mineralogical, geochemical, and geotechnical methods should be identified. Our paper reports the application of a combined resistivity and georadar survey at a single test site. The resulting images of the two methods indicate similar structures. Georadar enables a fast and continuous data acquisition but is restricted in its depth of penetration in dependence of the nominal frequency. The slower resistivity imaging reveals structural features up to a depth of 3.5 m.