Interpretation of magnetotelluric measurements over an electrically dispersive one-dimensional earth

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Geophys. Prospect.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2478.1987.tb00799.x· OSTI ID:6504244

Patella, D

Frequency dispersion of electromagnetic parameters of earth materials has been widely documented in recent years. It is claimed that magnetotellurics (MT)may be significantly affected by dispersion. This paper studies the MT plane-wave interpretative problem for a one-dimensional earth characterized by the presence of dispersive layers. The theoretical properties of the MT field under the dispersion hypothesis, and the main features of the dispersion phenomenon are synthetically reviewed. The examination of previously published MT curve responses over some models of dispersive earth section shows that ambiguity can arise when interpreting MT data with no other source of information. Thus it maybe almost impossible to distinguish between the response of a dispersive section and an equally probable dispersion-free section. The dispersion magnetotelluric (DMT) method is proposed as a means to resolve the ambiguity. The DMT method is based on the execution, at the same site, of an MT sounding and of an always dispersion-free dc geoelectric deep sounding.

• Research Organization: Dept. of Geophysics and Volcanology, Univ. of Naples
• OSTI ID: 6504244
• Journal Information: Geophys. Prospect.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Prospect.; (United States) Vol. 35:1; ISSN GPPRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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