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Interpretation of magnetotelluric resistivity and phase soundings over horizontal layers

Journal Article · · Geophysics; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1440610· OSTI ID:7332244
The present paper deals with a new inverse method for quantitatively interpreting magnetotelluric apparent resistivity and phase-lag sounding curves over horizontally stratified earth sections. The recurrent character of the general formula relating the wave impedance of an (n-l)-layered medium to that of an n-layered medium suggests the use of the method of reduction to a lower boundary plane, as originally termed by Koefoed in the case of dc resistivity soundings. The layering parameters are so directly derived by a simple iterative procedure. The method is applicable for any number of layers but only when both apparent resistivity and phase-lag sounding curves are jointly available. Moreover no sophisticated algorithm is required: a simple desk electronic calculator together with a sheet of two-layer apparent resistivity and phase-lag master curves are sufficient to reproduce earth sections which, in the range of equivalence, are all consistent with field data.
Research Organization:
Univ., Bari, Italy
OSTI ID:
7332244
Journal Information:
Geophysics; (United States), Journal Name: Geophysics; (United States) Vol. 41:1; ISSN GPYSA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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