Influence of dispersive soil electromagnetic properties on hand‐held time domain electromagnetic sensors

Although metal detectors remain the workhorses of humanitarian demining, it is well established that the performance of both continuous wave (frequency domain) and pulsed induction (time domain) detectors can be severely compromised by so‐called ‘soil‐effects’. Generally, problem soils reduce the signal‐to‐noise ratio and increase the false‐detection rate. In certain locations, the soil‐effect is so severe as to render the detector practically inoperable. The current study is part of an ongoing international effort to establish and quantify the influence of soil electromagnetic properties on the operation of metal detectors and related sensor technologies. In particular, we examine the relative influence of soil electrical conductivity, magnetic susceptibility and associated frequency dependence on the time domain electromagnetic (TDEM) response of pulsed induction metal detectors and related small‐scale TDEM sensors.     

Neotectonic and seismotectonic investigation of seismically active regions in Tunisia: a multidisciplinary approach

Due to its key position within the Africa–Europe convergence zone, Tunisia is marked by thrusting, folding, and faulting and has a major rupture zones associated with active faults. Consequently, most of Tunisian land is seismically active with significant active deformations, showing recent seismic events and their relative surface effects. This paper reports on several aspects of the seismotectonics, historical, and present-day seismicity and places them in the general tectonic and geodynamic framework of Tunisia. Field investigations, based on an integrated multidisciplinary approach, included (1) the identification of active faults, their motion and displacement, geomorphic aspects, and scarps and their relation with the general structural map of Tunisia and (2) an extensive analysis of brittle tectonic deformation affecting Quaternary deposits in several sites throughout Tunisia. The integration of field data within the existing data related to the seismic events that took place during the last decades allowed the establishment of an earthquake distribution map, as well as major seismic zones for better understanding of the seismicity database of Tunisia. To establish microzonation maps in seismic regions such as Gafsa and its surroundings, we have analyzed surface effects and secondary structures associated with active faults and correlated them with deformation rates, reconstructed for significant seismic events. Most faults exhibited typical left-stepping en-echelon with strike-slip component pattern suggesting that Tunisia is presently subjected to NNW–SSE compression. The focal mechanism of most Tunisia earthquakes combined with the existing tectonic and structural information and reconstruction of the Quaternary stress tensor allowed (a) better understanding of seismic zoning, (b) provided better assessment of the seismic hazard, and (c) facilitated the interpretation of the relationship between seismic zones and the geodynamic African–Eurasian plate boundary.     

On the downward continuation of electromagnetic fields1

A concise derivation is given for the downward continuation of the tangential fields on the surface to yield expressions for the fields at a specified depth. A homogeneous slab region is assumed for the analysis.     

Experimental validation of the wavefield transform of electromagnetic fields

The wavefield transform is a mathematical technique for transforming low-frequency electromagnetic (EM) signals to a non-diffusive wave domain. The ray approximation is valid in the transform space and this makes traveltime tomography for 3D mapping of the electrical conductivity distribution in the subsurface possible. The transform, however, imposes stringent frequency bandwidth and signal-to-noise ratio requirements on the data. Here we discuss a laboratory scale experiment designed to collect transform quality EM data, and to demonstrate the practical feasibility of transforming these data to the wavefield domain.
We have used the scalable nature of EM fields to design a time-domain experiment using graphite blocks to simulate realistic field conditions while leaving the time scale undisturbed. The spatial dimensions have been scaled down by a factor of a thousand by scaling conductivity up by a factor of a million. The graphite blocks have two holes drilled into them to carry out cross-well and borehole-to-surface experiments. Steel sheets have been inserted between the blocks to simulate a conductive layer.
Our experiments show that accurate EM data can be recorded on a laboratory scale model even when the scaling of some features, such as drill-hole diameters, is not maintained. More importantly, the time-domain EM data recorded in cross-well and surface-to-borehole modes can be usefully and accurately transformed to the wavefield domain. The observed wavefield propagation delay is proportional to the direct distance between the transmitter and receiver in a homogeneous medium. In a layered medium, data accuracy is reduced and, hence, our results are not so conclusive. On the basis of the experimental results we conclude that the wavefield transform could constitute a valid approach to the interpretation of accurate, undistorted time-domain data if further improvement in the transform can be realized.     

Late Cenozoic fields of the tectonic stresses in Western and Central Mongolia

The paper addresses the Late Cenozoic fault tectonics and the stress state of the Earth’s crust within the Mongolian microplate, embracing Central and Western Mongolia. We analyze the results of reconstructing the stress fields and the tectonic deformations in the zones of active faulting, located at the uplands and in the intermountain trenches, which bound the microplate (Mongolian Altai; Gobi Altai; Dolinoozersk trough; Khan-Taishir-Nuruu, Khan-Houkhei, and Bolnai uplands) and the Khangai dome. Deformations related with the northeastern general-scale collisional compression are concentrated along the periphery of the Mongolian microplate, and the maximum compression is focused on its western and southern boundaries, thus forming the right- and the left-lateral transpressive structures of the Mongolian and Gobi Altai. The deformations associated with the shortening of the Earth’s crust involve not only the mountain ridges framing the block, but also the intermountain troughs that separate the Gobi and Mongolian Altai from the Khangai dome, and the southern portion of the Khangai Uplift. The diversity in the deformations within the central Khengai region ensues from the coupling of tension caused by the dynamical impact of the mantle anomaly, which is located east of 100°E, with a regional NE compression. Owing to the relatively rigid Khangai block, the deformations are transferred to the northern bound of this structure, namely the seismically active North Khangai fault. The role of compression increases to the west of the zone, where it conjugates with the transpressive structures of the Mongolian Altai. The tension becomes more important in the western part of this zone where the releasing bends are formed. A region characterized by extra tension is localized also to the east of 100° E. In terms of the gradient in the lithosphere thickness and the structure types of the upper crust, the submeridional line running along 100°E is interpreted as the key interblock boundary.     

Portable generator for deep electromagnetic soundings and monitoring of seismically active zones with the use of industrial power transmission lines

The structure and a possible practical application of the portable generator with extremely and super low frequency (ELF-SLF) range (0.1–200 Hz) and power of 2 kW are described. The generator is designed for deep sounding of the Earth’s crust for the purposes of mineral exploration and electromagnetic monitoring of source zones of earthquakes in seismically active regions. Computational and theoretical works, as well as numerical simulation for optimizing the generator’s parameters and element base, are carried out. The main constructive elements of the generator, namely, the power factor corrector, the driver control circuit for power transistors, the inverter of the high-frequency decoupling converter, the multichannel pulse power converter, the output inverter, and etc., are consistently described. The generator’s weight does not exceed 10 kg, and, therefore, the generator may be easily delivered to a testing site using any kind of transport, including planes. The generator is powered by the single-phase network with a voltage of 220 V. The full-scale testing of the generator is performed at the territory of the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous okrug via the connection to the high-voltage transmission line Urengoi-Pangody with a length of 114 km. The maximum current in the line is 12 A. The maximum distance of reliable signal recording is 110 km.     

Interaction between the electromagnetic and acoustic fields in the marine environment

The possibility of generation of additional acoustic harmonics in the geomagnetic field after the propagation of an acoustic wave in the conducting medium through the region with a variable magnetic field has been considered. Two possible procedures of such a generation have been analyzed: the parametric procedure and the dynamic procedure related to ponderomotive forces. The expressions have been obtained for three acoustic harmonics generated by an oscillating magnetic field.     

Burial stress and elastic strain of carbonate rocks

Burial stress on a sediment or sedimentary rock is relevant for predicting compaction or failure caused by changes in, e.g., pore pressure in the subsurface. For this purpose, the stress is conventionally expressed in terms of its effect: “the effective stress” defined as the consequent elastic strain multiplied by the rock frame modulus. We cannot measure the strain directly in the subsurface, but from the data on bulk density and P‐wave velocity, we can estimate the rock frame modulus and Biot's coefficient and then calculate the “effective vertical stress” as the total vertical stress minus the product of pore pressure and Biot's coefficient. We can now calculate the elastic strain by dividing “effective stress” with the rock frame modulus. By this procedure, the degree of elastic deformation at a given time and depth can be directly expressed. This facilitates the discussion of the deformation mechanisms. The principle is illustrated by comparing carbonate sediments and sedimentary rocks from the North Sea Basin and three oceanic settings: a relatively shallow water setting dominated by coarse carbonate packstones and grainstones and two deep water settings dominated by fine‐grained carbonate mudstones and wackestones.     

A simple image‐based strain measurement method for measuring the strain fields in an RC‐wall experiment

A simple image‐based method for measuring plane strain fields on the surface of specimens in earthquake engineering experiments was developed. This method integrated camera calibration, stereo triangulation, image metric rectification and image template matching techniques to develop a method that was cost‐effective, easy to apply and provided a satisfactory level of measurement accuracy. A zero‐strain test conducted using this method showed that the measurement accuracy achieved was 0.04 pixels. That is, the relative displacement accuracy achieved was 0.005 mm and the strain accuracy was 0.001. This level of accuracy was achieved using eight‐mega‐pixel digital cameras to measure a 17 cm × 28 cm measurement region. Cracks that were 0.012 mm wide were identified in the concrete by examining the displacement fields calculated through the application of this image‐based method in an RC‐wall experiment. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

电磁和电离层监测的短期地震预报系统

最近科学界确定和公认这样一个事实：在大地震（火山喷发）之前的几天或几小时,在强震和火山活动区的地壳和对流层中存在电磁耦合过程,在电离层内存在异常变化。解释这一现象的一批物理模型出现了。其中最可能的模型基于大气边界层地壳发射物（氡、惰性气体和金属气溶胶）的化学反应。这些发射物改变了边界层的电导率,从而改变了活动区域内的大气电场值。根据实验测量,在大地震前几天或几小时,地表的地震感应的垂直电场强度可达到1至几个kV／m,而在无干扰情况下该值为100v／m。异常电场渗透到电离层引起了不同种类的变化（离子成分、电子密度、标高、电子温度等的变化）,这些变化用实验方法可以从地面及人造卫星上测量到。这样的变化被称作地震的电离层前兆。电离层前兆的优点在于电离层把活动区域作为一个整体,而不只是事件在地面上发生的一个点进行测量。这就避免了导致地面测量的物理和地球化学前兆中出现错误的前兆镶嵌式特征。第二个优点是与其他前兆比较电离层前兆的出现有稳定的时间尺度,这使它在短临地震预报中更具实用价值。因为对所有IASPEI需求的响应,我们现有的知识水平使得电离层前兆的短期地震预报成为可能。逼近震中的位置可以从电离层前兆沿磁力线到地面的投影估计出来。要预报的地震震级可以由电离层中被改变区域的大小估计出来。发震时间可以从电离层前兆出现的时间估计出来。考虑到提议的短临预报系统是第一次创建,地震参数测定的精确度将在系统测试阶段加以确定。作为第一步,这些参数可在理论上估计出来。项目任务阐明如下：（1）在墨西哥Guerrem州创建连续的电磁和电离层监测系统包括基于地面的电离层测高仪,IGEF UNAM和INEGI的GPS接收仪网络,电场探测器网络,监测P．H脉冲的高频（HF）接收仪,甚低频（VLF）接收仪,高频（HF）多普勒装置,氧元素的557．7nm和630nm谱线的光学测量法,磁力仪网络。（2）测试系统的质量,用实验的方法确定虚报和错报的概率及地震参数测定的精确度。（3）如果结果没有问题,就在墨西哥Guerrero州和墨西哥的所有地震活动区应用该系统。（4）把该体系推荐给其他遭受地震灾害的国家,使其在他们的地域内应用。部分已创建的体系和所使用的技术受专利保护。     

数字电磁资料在地震监测中深入应用的讨论

电磁学方法是国内外公认的有良好发展前景的地震监测预报方法之一。本文提出并讨论了“地震电磁动态特征研究”课题的具体思路,供大家讨论、指正,即：通过对其全国地电场、地磁场、地电阻率、地震电磁波和GPSTEC等数据的汇集,进行数据处理方法研究,分析地震电磁场动态演化特征,定期形成“动态演化”数据产品,为相关部门分析预测地震提供背景信息;同时,积累资料和震例分析经验,为开展前兆分析方法和地震电磁效应机理等研究提供依据。     

Influence of long‐period filter cut‐off on elastic spectral displacements

The effect of the long‐period filter cut‐off, T_c, on elastic spectral displacements is investigated using a strong ground‐motion database from Europe and the Middle East. The relation between the filter and oscillator responses is considered to observe the influence of T_c for both analogue and digital records, and the variations with site classification, magnitude, filter order and viscous damping. Robust statistics are derived using the re‐processed European data to generalize the effects of the long‐period filter cut‐off on maximum oscillator deformation demands as a function of these seismological and structural features. Statistics with a 95% confidence interval are derived to suggest usable period ranges for spectral displacement computations as a function of T_c. The results indicate that the maximum period at which spectral displacements can be confidently calculated depend strongly on the site class, magnitude and filter order. The period range where reliable long‐period information can be extracted from digital accelerograms is twice that of analogue records. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Variations of the electromagnetic fields and ionospheric parameters in the Baikal Rift Zone

Variations in the geomagnetic and electric fields and variations of the total electron content (TEC) of the ionosphere recorded in the Baikal Rift Zone (BRZ) during the expeditions in 2009 and 2010 are analyzed. Synchronous bursts in the geomagnetic field on the ground and in the ionosphere, which are caused by propagation of electromagnetic disturbances (spherics) generated by the remote lightning discharges, are revealed. The analysis of the occurrence frequency of the electromagnetic disturbances at an altitude of ∼700 km shows that there is a preferred region of predominant propagation of these disturbances from the Earth-ionosphere waveguide to the upper ionosphere. When the ionospheric penetration point moves through this preferred region, the frequency spectrum of TEC variations changes, and the northern boundary of the region of spectral alteration is located at ∼54°N. The bursts in TEC that map on the zones of the main faults in the Tunka valley are identified. The results probably suggest a relation between the electromagnetic phenomena in the ionosphere and the structures in the lithosphere.     

Geological environmental monitoring based on synchronous borehole geoacoustic and electromagnetic measurements: Use of natural electromagnetic radiation

The results of synchronous geoacoustic and electromagnetic measurements at three boreholes located in the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky geodynamic survey area with considerably different electromagnetic environments are studied. It is shown that reliable detection of geoacoustic emission responses to natural electromagnetic radiation in the range of 0.01–1.0 kHz is possible if geophones are placed in sufficiently deep boreholes. The results demonstrate the fundamental possibilty of using natural super-low-frequency electromagnetic radiation to monitoring of stress–strain states of the geological environment.     

基于GPS应变、地震应变率与震源应力场对帕米尔高原现今构造变形特征的分析

研究帕米尔高原的构造变形特征对于理解印度板块向北推挤过程中的应变分配方式以及应力转换模式具有重要的意义.本文利用区域GPS应变场、地震应变场与震源应力场分析帕米尔高原的构造形变特征.主要结论为:(1)该区域变形主要以NNW-SSE或近N-S向的挤压为主,在高原内部伴有明显的近ENE-WSW或E-W向拉张,应力方向在帕米尔高原与塔吉克盆地区域呈现逆时针旋转的趋势,而在塔里木盆地则显示几乎与帕米尔高原的一致的应力状态,这可能与两侧盆地块体的强度差异有关.(2)安德森断层参数A∅显示帕米尔高原北缘与西侧区域为逆断层应力状态,在高原内部为正断层应力状态,这与GPS应变的结果显示的应变主要集中在主帕米尔断裂与阿莱谷地附近而在高原内部应变较低是一致的,另外应力在喀喇昆仑断裂北段的方向基本平行于断层走向,以及断层北端较低的滑动速率,这说明了地壳挤压缩短可能是帕米尔高原主要的的构造变形特征,并不支持由于边界走滑断裂导致的应变分异或者块体挤出的模式.(3)综合考虑地震应变方向与SHmax从帕米尔北部NNW-SSE方向到天山北部的近N-S方向的转换,GPS应变方向在帕米尔高原两侧盆地都存在不同程度的旋转,应力场安德森参数A∅显示的应力状态以及SKS的结果显示的近ENE-WSW方向,我们认为印度板块向北推挤与天山造山带碰撞导致帕米尔高原不对称的径向逆冲是帕米尔高原现今构造变形的主要成因与构造模式.     

Dynamic vibrations and stresses in a circular annulus of non-isotropic elastic material

Summary FollowingCinelli, we have discussed here the radial motion and stresses in a nonisotropic circular annulus subjected to dynamic loads on the surfaces.     

Joint evaluation of fracture azimuth by electromagnetic wave and elastic wave

With the multi-wave, multi-component seismic wave exploration, one can apply the anisotropy of fracture media to analyze the attributes of the fracture media, including the fracture azimuth. In the meantime, the techniques of full-polarimetric electromagnetic wave, including full-polarimetric borehole radar, can also be used to analyze the attributes of the fracture. However, the analysis precision of both the multi-component elastic wave exploration and full-polarimetric electromagnetic wave exploration is prone to the influence of noise and other factors. So far, some researchers have conducted studies on the joint inversion of electromagnetic waves and seismic waves. This paper develops evaluation techniques of fracture azimuth by electromagnetic wave, elastic wave, and joint analysis of coincident elastic reflection and electromagnetic data. Firstly, based on the shear wave splitting of elastic waves, this paper develops a statistical analysis technique which applies Pearson correlation coefficient to count and analyze the azimuth angle of fracture. Secondly, based on the information of electromagnetic polarization rotated by fracture, this paper develops a statistical analysis method of full-polarimetric electromagnetic waves which applies the maximum amplitude ratio between the co-polarization and cross-polarization to analyze the azimuth angle of fracture. Furthermore, based on the analysis result of the elastic wave and full-polarimetric electromagnetic wave, this paper develops a joint analysis technique which adopts the standard deviation. At last, authors in this study conduct joint detection experiments on the coincident fracture medium by using the ultrasonic and full-polarimetric ground penetrating radar. The experimental result indicates that both single geophysical methods are capable of analyzing the fracture azimuth angle, but the joint analysis is more accurate.     

Morphologic and sedimentologic patterns of active aeolian dune‐fields on the east coast of Maranhão,northeast Brazil

The eastern portion of the Maranhão coast is characterized by large active dune‐fields located in a tropical setting. This article combines the analysis of dune‐field morphologic patterns with the classical analysis of grain size and heavy minerals to study the sedimentary dynamics of the active aeolian system in this region. Based on the heavy mineral analysis, the main sedimentary suppliers feeding the system are the westward alongshore drift bringing sand from the coast east of the Parnaíba River mouth and the river itself. The absence of well‐defined variation patterns of the two morphometric parameters studied, dune spacing and crest length, reflects complex sedimentary dynamics and transport pathways, inside the aeolian system, despite the unidirectional wind. During the wet season, the interdune plains are flooded and the system is intensely reworked by intermittent drainages. During the dry season, the deposits formed by the drainages and interdune lakes become temporary internal sedimentary sources for the system. Due to this combined aeolian‐fluvial transport, the sediment source area has a planar geometry, with contributions from the beach and interdune plains, and not linear as expected in a typical case of source only in the beach. The areal limits of the dune‐fields is the main boundary condition controlling the dune‐field patterns, as dune spacing and crest length, by changing the sedimentary inflow–outflow balance and interactions between migration dunes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modelling and analysis of electromagnetic fields in 3D inhomogeneous media

The main progress in the 3D modelling of electromagnetic fields, achieved during the last few years, is summarized. Various 3D numerical modelling techniques are described and compared as to their possibilities and efficiency. Numerical studies are complemented by laboratory scale modelling.Conventional methods of the analysis of the magnetotelluric and magnetovariational surface characteristics are confronted with new trends in MT tensor analysis and decomposition. Various approaches to the analysis of simplified 3D structures are also presented.     

岩石破裂电磁辐射频率与弹性参数的关系

为进一步研究岩石破裂电磁辐射特征,本文根据岩石破裂电磁辐射是由岩石破裂时产生带电粒子扰动引起的假说,通过断裂力学理论中的张开位移法计算岩石破裂过程中的裂纹宽度,由电磁辐射频率与破裂宽度之间的关系,研究电磁辐射频率与弹性参数之间的关系,并给出了它们之间的关系表达式.通过建立具有中心贯穿裂纹的无限大平板模型,根据破裂宽度计算了在该模型条件下几种岩石破裂过程中产生电磁辐射频率范围.理论模型计算出来的频率范围主要集中在实验观测的中高频段,并体现出频率随弹性参数的变化.