Capacitively coupled effect and capacitive decoupling of multichannel controlled-source audio magnetotellurics observations

Abstract

Controlled-source audio magnetotellurics, which is a common technology in geophysical surveys, typically uses the multichannel mode of data acquisition. Often, a capacitive coupling effect occurs among the multiple receiving wires and receiving electrodes and the earth. This effect causes the distortion of the observed apparent resistivity and phase curves. The capacitive coupling of the observation mode is simulated using an equivalent circuit model, and the characteristics of the influence of the length of the receiving wire and grounding resistance of the electrode on capacitive coupling are investigated via the forward simulation of several typical models. The capacitive decoupling of a device for controlled-source audio geomagnetic observation is studied and applied to process the measured data from the Hongtoushan mining area in Liaoning Province, China. This approach effectively weakens the capacitance coupling effect and improves observation quality, and the inversion results match well with known geological information. This study examines the capacitive decoupling technique and offers a scientific foundation for the standardization of the controlled-source audio geomagnetic data gathering technology.