Three-dimensional interpretation of sparse survey line MT data: Synthetic examples

Abstract

Currently, most of MT (magnetotelluric) data are still collected on sparse survey lines and interpreted using 2D inversion methods because of the field work cost, the work area environment, and so on. However, there are some 2D interpretation limitations of the MT data from 3D geoelectrical structures which always leads to wrong geological interpretations. In this paper, we used the 3D inversion method to interpret the MT sparse lines data. In model testing, the sparse lines data are the MT full information data generated from a test model and processed using the 3D conjugate gradients inversion code. The inversion results show that this inversion method is reasonable and effective. Meanwhile, we prove that for inversion results with different element parameters, the results by joint inversion of both the impedance tensor data and the tipper data are more accurate and closer to the test model.