Influence of the pulse duration and transient measurement time on the display of the low-frequency dispersion of the earth’s electromagnetic properties for marine waters up to 100 m deep

The purpose of the study is to define the influence of the pulse duration and the transient measurement time on the display of the low-frequency dispersion of the electromagnetic properties of the geological formations in the transient measurements by electric lines for marine waters not more than 100 m deep. The study has analyzed the transient signal change Δ U ( t ), finite difference Δ2 U ( t ) and transforms P 1( t ) (the ratio of the above values) as functions of the pulse duration and transient measurement time. The analysis has been conducted with a probe consisting of a source (a horizontal grounded electric line (AB) 500 m long, and a receiver (a three-electrode electric line (MON) 500 m long). The signals calculated for the conducting medium have been compared with the ones calculated for the conducting medium with a conducting polariziable base. The conducting medium is associated with the marine water mass in the shelf areas up to 100 m deep and non-polarizable geological layers. The conducting polarizable base includes geological formations that are characterized with induced polarization. The registration of the base polarization has been realized by introducing frequency-dependent electrical resistivity with the Cole-Cole formula. The calculations show that the optimum condition for the investigation of the polarization process and polarization properties of the geological environment covered with the water mass, is the use of longer-lasting pulses and signal registration till large time values. The optimum measurement condition is inducing the transient process with the pulses with the duration of not less than 4 s, and registering the signal for not less than 4 s. During the practical measurements taking place when towing the probe, the pulse duration and measurement time influence the number of the measured transients in a unit of the profile line length. Correspondingly, the pulse duration and measurement time have to be limited in order to enhance the possibility of the statistical enhancing of the useful signal. At the same time, these limitations should allow registering the display of the galvanic-induced polarization process in the general signal. The induced-polarization signal becomes predominating in the transient at later stages.

shelf, transient electromagnetic method, induced polarization, Cole-Cole model, aquatic geoelectric