Magnetotelluric Method

Stephen Park
IGPP
UC Riverside
magneto@ucrmt.ucr.edu
So, what is the magnetotelluric method?
The magnetotelluric (MT) method determines
the tensor electrical impedance of the earth
through measurement of naturally varying
EM fields, and then uses computer modeling
to find cross sections of electrical resistivity that
yield theoretical responses similar the observed
ones.
And why is it abbreviated MT?
1. It is the empty method because
of the long waiting times in the field
needed for data collection (MIT field
camp students, 1981).
2. It describes the look on the faces in the
audience when the above description is
given.
3. The initials stand for MagnetoTelluric
(Cagniard, 1953).
But seriously.. What can it tell
us about the Earth?
MT is one of the few
techniques capable
of sensing through
the Earths crust to
upper mantle.
IN THE CRUST
Silicate minerals comprise 95% of the crust
and silicate minerals are very resistive*
(< 10-6 S/m). Electrical currents do not like
resistors!

The observed finite conductivity (10-4 - 1 S/m)

of the crust is due to small fractions (ppm-10%)
of interconnected conductive material.

MT cannot be used to determine mineralogy

but can be used to identify small fractions of:
aqueous fluids (0.1-10 S/m)
partial melt (2-10 S/m)
graphite (106 S/m)
metallic oxides and sulfides (104 S/m)

MT has been used successfully to locate:

Underthrust sediments
Regions of metamorphism and partial melting
Fault zones (fractured, fluid-filled rock)

*At crustal temperatures!

IN THE MANTLE

Temperatures are sufficiently high (> C)

that mobilities of crystal defects and impurities
are enhanced.

Ionic mobility Electrical conductivity!

Enhanced mantle conductivity is caused by

higher temperatures
partial melt (> 0.01 S/m)
hydrogen (and carbon?) diffusion

MT has been used successfully to identify:

partial melt
variations in lithospheric temperature
asthenosphere
What IS MT?.
ionosphere
Not all MT signals are from interactions
with the solar wind:

Micropulsations Global
lightning

Range of frequencies
used to probe lower crust

Murphys law is hard at work!!

Lets look at the governing equations

E jH
H E J s

These break down into components:

E z E y E x E z
jH x jH y
y z z x

H x H z H z H y
E y E x
z x y z
H y H x E y E x
E z jH z
x y x y

Consider a halfspace and a vertically incident

plane wave: Is there any difference between
one point and another 1 km away?
NO!
So, what terms vanish above?
 E y E x
jH x jH y
z z

H x H y
E y E x
z z

E z 0 jH z 0

Note lack of vertical fields and similarity of

equations for (Hx,Ey) and (-Ex,Hy).

2Ey
jE y 0
z 2

Assume solutions of form exp(jkz), and get

k=+/- (j) and final result of:

z j z
jt
E y Ae e 2
e 2

z j z
H x (1 j ) Ae jt e 2
e 2
2
Note that both of these contain an
undetermined constant, A, that is set
by the strength of the source field.
in order to get rid of this constant, we
examine the impedance of the Earth:
Z=E/H
Ey 1 2
Z yx
H x (1 j )

Note that phase is constant at -45

and amplitude is proportional to
frequency and resistivity (1/). This
leads to the concept of apparent
resistivity: 1 2
a Z xy

MT responses are represented by phase
and amplitude (apparent resistivity)
 Assignment: Derive equations for Ex, Hy
and Zxy. What similarities or differences do
you see with Zyx?
E y E x
jH x jH y
z z

H x H y
E y E x
z z

E z 0 jH z 0

z j z
E y Ae jt e 2
e 2

z j z
H x (1 j ) Ae jt e 2
e 2
2

Ey1 2
Z yx
H x (1 j )
1 2
a Z xy


z j z
j t
E x Ae e 2
e 2

jt
z j z
H x (1 j ) Ae e 2
e 2
2

Ex 1 2
Z xy
Hy (1 j )

SAME apparent resistivity and phase

is 135 (-1 is 180) different from Zyx.
Summary

Layered halfspace characteristics:

apparent resistivity is independent of frequency
phase is either 45 or 135
apparent resistivities for two modes (Ex,Hy
and (Ey,Hx) are equal
NO vertical fields.
Asssignment:
In a 1-D earth (layered geology) and a vertically
incident plane wave source, what terms can
be eliminated? x
y

E z E y E x E z
jH x z jH y
y z z x

H x H z H z H y
E y E x
z x y z
H y H x E y E x
E z jH z
x y x y

In a 2-D earth (variations in conductivity in

x and z only) and a vertically incident plane
wave source, what terms can be eliminated?
x
y

z
| 0 Z1|
| -Z1 0 |

| 0 Z1|
| Z2 0 |
| Z1 Z2|
| Z3 Z4|
T
When we have multiple sites, we plot a
pseudosection:
Interpretation:

1. 1-D modeling, inversion fast, easy,

readily available, almost always WRONG!

2. 2-D modeling, inversion slower, more

difficult, programs usually available, may
have 3-D effects in data.

3. 3-D modeling used to verify 2-D results,

programs available but only simple models
possible. Inversion not yet available.

2-D inversion is standard tool for

interpretation.
A system of equations for Ex, Ez, and Hy
(called the TM mode):
Hy Hy
Ez Ex
x z
Ez Ex
jHy
x z
and a system of equations for Hx, Hz, and
Ey (called the TE mode):
Ey Ey
jHz jHx
x z

Hz Hx
Ey
x z
Note similarities in equations if E, H
switched
and , -j switched. This leads to
some
simplifications in programming the
forward
solution! Each mode is simply excited
These sources lead to problems in solving
both sets of equations with one forward
solution!

In EM, basic boundary conditions at

Interfaces are:
1)continuity of tangential fields
2)continuity of normal current density

Consider the TM case (with Jx source):

Jx

Because Jx at the surface must be

continuous both across the air-Earth
interface and between the adjacent prisms,
Jx is constant everywhere on the surface
and therefore is a equivalent to an MT
source with a uniform plane wave. Thus,
the current sheet is placed at z=0.
Consider the TE case (with Jy source):

Ey1 Ey2

Jy

Continuity of tangential E at the surface

requires that Ey be continuous across
the air-Earth interface AND at the edges
of the prisms. Because Jy = Ey, Jy must
be DIScontinuous at the edges of the prism.
This means that Jy varies in the x direction
across the model and does NOT represent
a uniform source!

SOLUTION: Add air layers to top of model

to a sufficient height that Jy is once again
uniform (typically 8-10 layers to a height
of ~100 km or more).
Typical steps for interpretation:

1. Identify TE, TM modes based on

a. comparison to geologic strike
b. decomposition of impedance tensor
c. similarity of Hz with Hhorizontal

TE mode:
Induction Hhorizontal
arrows I
H
Hz

2. Design starting model based on

a. geologic structure
MT can provide resistivity sections at many
scales from the uppermost crust

High resolution MT profile in Krygyzstan to determine neotectonic structure

to the entire crust.

 MT profile across Sierra Nevada and
eastern California:

KVF 37N
K
OV
1 3 10 15 22 DP
105112 115 D V
HS 123
6
Isabella 118 128
anomaly
GV
SN

Scale

T=100 s
35
.1

120W 118 116

MT modeling and inversion are regional problems!
Data in the Sierra Nevada are affected by the highly
conductive Pacific Ocean (and all of the structure
in between). Mackie et al. (1996) showed with
a 3-D model of California that the Transverse
Ranges resistivity affected electric field levels
in Death Valley.
 W GV HS DP PV DV E
3 10 112 118 128
1 6 15 22 106 117 123
25 130
0 SL
<100 <30

>100 >100 >100

100
Depth, km

>300 <30
200

300 Some sensitivity to depths

up to 400 km

0 100 200 300

Distance, km

0 1 2 3 4
L o g 1 0 ()

However, what you really need not

electrical resistivity..