78 Namitha et al. 41(2) Geophysical Techniques for Aquifer Characteristic Studies - A Case Study of Tavanur Grama Panchayat, Malappuram, Kerala SAJEENA, S., NAMITHA, M.R.*, APARNA., HARIPRIYA, S., MANCHIMA S. LAL and MEGHA, P.P. Kelappaji College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Tavanur, Malappuram - 679 573, Kerala, India Received: 20.09.2023 Accepted: 31.12.2023 A study on the aquifer characteristics of Tavanur Grama Panchayat, Malappuram, Kerala was conducted across 23 VES locations by vertical electrical sounding technique. The study aimed to analyse the hydro-geological characteristics of the geological formations of Tavanur Panchayat using an electrical resistivity meter. The data obtained from the vertical electrical sounding was interpreted using IPI2WIN software and sounding curves were generated which depict the changes in apparent resistivity with the distance between electrodes or with depth. From the sounding curves obtained from IPI2WIN software, it was found that among 23 locations, seventeen locations showed three layered substrata and four locations showed four layered substrata. A total of 7 types of sounding curves were obtained viz., H, K, A, Q, HA, HK and QH. Out of the 23 locations, 8 locations showed the H type and 3 locations showed A type sounding curves. The resistivity and pseudo cross sections of 6 sections including 3 to 7 VES locations were also prepared and analysed. From this study, it could be concluded that the majority of the study area has lateritic soil to hard laterite with medium to high groundwater potential and the areas were found suitable for the construction of open wells. (Key words: Aquifer, Electrical resistivity survey, IPI2WIN software,Vertical electrical sounding) *Corresponding author: E-mail: namithamadhu93@gmail.com J. Indian Soc. Coastal Agric. Res. 41(2): 78-93 (2023) https://doi.org/10.54894/JISCAR.41.2.2023.142669 Geophysical surveys yield dependable delineations of groundwater potential zones through the integration of surface and subsurface data pertaining to hydrogeological characteristics (Sainato et al., 2003). The electrical resistivity method is a commonly used geophysical method for groundwater exploration throughout the world (El-Qady and Ushijima 2001; Loke et al., 2014).This method helps address various hydrogeological challenges viz., assessing the spatial extent of aquifers (Greggio et al., 2018), determining the hydraulic parameters of aquifers (De Clercq et al., 2020), monitoring seawater intrusions into coastal aquifers (Niculescu and Andrei, 2021), etc. The convenience in field application, ability to provide information on the subsurface strata ranging from a few meters to several hundred meters and software interpretation of data in both 2D and 3D formats are considered the major advantages of this method. Profiling and vertical electrical sounding are the most extensively utilized electrical resistivity approaches for assessing aquifer systems globally (Nagaraj et al., 2021). The vertical electrical sounding (VES) technique is more preferred due to its simple implementation and cost- effectiveness in comparison to alternative methods. The technique has been found to be substantially effective in mapping aquifer systems, delineating geological layers and identifying structural anomalies indicative of faults and fractures (Hamzah et al., 2007). The VES is a depth-sounding galvanic method and has proved very useful in groundwater studies due to the simplicity and reliability of the method. The electrical resistivity data can be interpreted to calculate the accurate depths and resistivities for each VES curve using computerized methods (IPI2win-1D Program, 2000). The major sources of groundwater in Malappuram, a northern district in the state of Kerala, are open wells and bore wells. Tavanur panchayat in Malappuram district is located on the southern bank of Bharathapuzha. According to a report by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), the groundwater level in Tavanur Panchayat is generally in the range of 2 to 8 m below ground level. Tavanur Panchayat may experience changes in water demand