| Abstract: | This paper is an extension of a previous study, in which the principles of self-potential ground surface tomography were outlined. The new arguments which are here set forth are the proper accounting for the topographic effects and a robust approach to global 3D tomography. The 2D case is initially considered in order to facilitate a full understanding of the new method. In order to gauge the topographic distortions, the concepts of slope effect and surface regularization are introduced, as suitable means to compute point by point correction factors of the measured self-potential data, prior to the recognition of the tomographic images of the primary and induced electric sources underground. The tomographic approach is then developed by introducing again the concepts of the scanning function and of the charge occurrence probability function, which were amply dealt with in the previous paper. The new approach to 3D global tomography means here the composition of charge occurrence probability functions related to any two orthogonal surface components of the natural electric field, in order to account fully for the total surface component of the self-potential field and hence to elicit the greatest amount of information. Two field examples are presented to show the full effectiveness of the proposed method. They refer, respectively, to a near-surface investigation for archaeological purposes and to a very deep investigation in an active volcanic area. |
