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1 Magnetotelluric instrumentation
An MT station records time variations in the natural electric and magnetic fields.
In magnetic surveys, the static component of the geomagnetic field is measured, and the MT signals are
noise that must be removed.
5 components are recorded as a function of time [Ex(t) , Ey(t), Hx(t) , Hy(t), Hz(t)]
Timing is obtained from GPS time signals.
EMI induction coils
Electric field measurements
~100 m dipole with non-polarizing electrode at each end. The instrument measures the voltage
between the electrodes. Usually two dipoles are used, one north-south and one east-west.
Wire should be placed on the ground so it can’t move (why?).
Metal stakes can be used. However electric field data quality can be low since as they corrode they
generate noise. Metal electrodes can also become polarized. Can be used above 50 Hz if needed.
Vertical electric field can be measured but is usually very weak, owing to the contrast in conductivity
between the air and the Earth. Measurement requires a borehole (Jones and Geldart, (1967).
Magnetic field measurements
3 components of the magnetic field are usually measured at each station.
At high frequency (above 0.01 Hz) an induction coil is used. This is a cylinder with millions of turns of
copper wire. A change in the magnetic field along the axis of the coil will induce a voltage in the coil.
Thus only relative measurements of the magnetic field are made. The coils are usually buried to
minimize motion (why?) and give thermal stability (why?).
For lower frequencies a 3-component flux gate magnetometer is used. These give absolute
measurements of the magnetic field with a precision to 0.01 nT, so there is no lowest frequency at which
they work. However they have non-geophysical uses and their export from North America is carefully
controlled.
Audio magnetotellurics (AMT)
Few hours recording time per site. Data from 10000-1 Hz.
Exploration to 1-2 km depth. Induction coils for magnetic sensor
Broadband magnetotellurics (BBMT)
Phoenix Geophysics V5-2000 system
Typically 1-2 days recording per site.
Used in exploration to 10 km, often in commercial exploration.
Data from 1000 Hz to 1000 s.
Induction coils for magnetic sensor
Long period magnetotellurics (LMT)
Several weeks recording at each station.
Used for deeper exploration, primarily in academic studies.
Data in period range 1-10000 s.
Fluxgate magnetometer for magnetic sensor
To measure from 1000 Hz to 20,000 s, two types of MT instruments are needed.
(1) The upper part of this frequency band (1000 Hz – 1000 s) can be recorded by occupying a site for a
day or two. These broadband MT instruments use induction coils for magnetic field measurements.
(2) The lower frequencies are recorded with long period instruments that stay at a site for 1 week to 1
month. They use fluxgate magnetometers for magnetic field measurements and a sample is recorded
every 5 s. What is the highest frequency they will record?