Tidal deformations and the electrokinetic effect in a two-layer fluid-saturated porous medium

The electrokinetically induced vertical component of the electric field in a multilayer fluid-saturated porous medium caused by tidal deformations of the Earth’s crust is calculated. Petrophysical properties change in a jumplike manner at the boundary between two media. The pore pressure gradient at the boundary abruptly reaches a maximum and then exponentially decays, forming a hydrodynamic skin layer. Due to the electrokinetic effect, the electric field behaves in the same way. Observations of the vertical electric field can be used, in principle, to determine the mechanical properties of the medium experiencing deformation. The magnitudes of the effects lie within a range accessible to measurement.