Curtin/CSIRO Geophysics Group Seminar, 15th July 2021
The effect of large scale geo-electrical structures on the inversion of magnetotelluric data
Date: Thursday, 15th July, 2021
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: ARRC Auditorium, 26 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington
Presenter: Rabea Sedaghat, PhD student, Exploration Geophysics, Curtin University
Abstract
One of the major challenges facing interpreters of MT data is the effect of inherent non-uniqueness of inversion outcomes. Large geo-electrical structures beyond the extent of measured data has potential to impact on the outcome of the inversion leading to misinterpretation of target features. One example is TE and TM mode splitting that may result from the extreme contrast in conductivity along crustal scale faulting where there exists a sharp transition from sediment to crystalline basement.
A second example is the sharp geo-electrical contrast that occurs at coastal margins between ocean and land. Additionally, expansive three dimensional near-surface features, such as salt lakes, clay sheets, or flood basalts may all have negative consequences on inversion of MT data, which cannot fully span such features. In this research, we investigate the effect of three large structures including: Darling Fault, Indian Ocean, and shallow conductive features on Riverdale Rd AMT/MT data in Harvey area.
Rabea Sedaghat is a PhD student at Exploration Geophysics, Curtin University. She received a Bachelor of Science in Physics from University of Tehran in 2004 and a MSc in Geophysics in 2009 from Azad University, Science and research Branch, Tehran, Iran. Her principal research interests lie in the field of magnetotelluric and her areas of expertise include magnetotelluric data acquisition, processing, inversion and interpretation; and geomagnetic observatory.