Seismoelectric responses to an explosive source in a fluid above a fluid‐saturated porous medium

Abstract

AbstractWe numerically compute seismoelectric wavefields generated at a fluid/porous medium interface by an explosive source in the fluid. Our numerical experiments show that electromagnetic (EM) signals accompanying the P, S, and interface waves can be observed at receivers located in the fluid regions near the interface. Such accompanying EM signals are produced by the inhomogeneous EM waves that are generated by the seismic waves at the interface and their amplitudes decrease with the distance from interface. Under the excitation of an explosive source whose strength is within the capability of industry air guns, electric and magnetic fields that accompany the Scholte wave are on the order of 1 μV/m and 0.01 nT, respectively. This means that the EM signals arising from the electrokinetic effect at an ocean bottom are detectable and suggest that it is possible to measure the EM signals during marine seismic explorations to study the properties of the seafloor material. EM signals that accompany the P, S, and interface waves are also observed in the porous medium region near the interface. Component analysis shows that they contain contributions from multiple modes of waves, among which the slow compressional wave contributes significantly to the vertical electric field, leading to a much stronger vertical electric field than the horizontal electric field during the passage of a seismic wave along the interface.