Non-conventional geoelectric arrays — Results of the OTKA project K49604

Szalai, S. and Varga, M. and Novák, A. and Szarka, L. (2009) Non-conventional geoelectric arrays — Results of the OTKA project K49604. Acta Geodaetica et Geophysica Hungarica, 44 (4). pp. 369-384. ISSN 1217-8977

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Abstract

In frames of a Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA) project (No. K49604), we systematically investigated all published surface geoelectric arrays, since a part of them are out of use, even completely forgotten. Even in case of these latter ones we were optimistic in their potential renaissance, due to the rapid advance in geophysical knowledge and technical development. Therefore at first we collected all surface geophysical arrays, ever used in geophysical exploration. We presented all of them in a standard way, and we classified them. This collection proved to be the basis of still on-going inter-comparisons. We revealed the original motivation of their design, as well. Then we produced parameter sensitivity maps for all possible arrays, by using a new analytical approach. Parameter sensitivity maps for non-linear and focussed arrays had never been presented before. Through examples (mainly for null-arrays, one of the focal points of our project) we presented, how these maps can be applied. Then another characterizing parameter, the depth of investigation was studied. The so-called depth of investigation characteristics (DIC) was computed for all the 30 arrays, where it exists, both in terms of Roy and Apparao (1971) and Edwards (1977). We carried out various comparisons, and revealed a complex relation among vertical resolution, depth of investigation and noise. We showed how the depth of investigation is constrained by the noise level. Therefore the maximal (theoretical) depths of investigation for 6 arrays were studied at various noise levels. Besides some further theoretical studies, our further work will concentrate on measurements. The general characterization of so many geoelectric arrays provides a better knowledge about them, and it will be hopefully useful also for other teams to select always the optimal arrays in their field problem. It should be mentioned, that this paper does not contain mathematical details. If the reader would like to reproduce the results demonstrated on the figures, the referred previous publications of the authors should be studied.

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