Magnetotelluric monitoring

SIGMA-GEO offers continuous monitoring observations of the Earth's magnetotelluric field in order to control the stress-strain state of rocks to depths of 70,000 meters and predict seismic activation.

Solutions

Every year, on average, more than 30,000 people die due to earthquakes around the world, which makes the relevance of seismic prediction obvious. At the moment, world science does not have a way to accurately determine the time, place and magnitude of impending earthquakes, but a prediction of seismic activation is possible by analyzing the behavior of the Earth’s physical fields in particular the natural electromagnetic (magnetotelluric) field. Also monitoring observations are necessary for predicting space weather and other solar-terrestrial relations, anomalies of which cause an imbalance in the operation of electronic equipment and human life.

Solutions

To control the magnetotelluric field in a seismically active region, it is proposed to carry out monitoring - continuous recording of three components of electrotelluric (Ex, Ey, Ez) and three components of geomagnetic (Hx, Hy, Hz) fields.


The main objectives facing the implemented modification of magnetotelluric monitoring are:

  • Identification of medium-term precursors of earthquakes - changes in electrical conductivity in the range of depths of the crustal conductive layer, in which activation of the fluid dynamic system is potentially possible due to an increase in rock pressure in the process of preparing for an earthquake;
  • dentification of short-term precursors of earthquakes - changes in the behavior of the vertical component of the electrotelluric field, which can be sensitive to the occurrence of peak voltage in the form of piezoelectric, electrokinetic and other effects.

Practical example: a change in the stress-strain state of rocks in the pre- and post-seismogenic period, manifested by a change in apparent resistance at a depth of 10,000 m at test sites:
А – «Kuyada» (Olkhon district) during the period from 25.10.2020 to 31.12.2022; 
B – «Kurma» (Irkutsk district) during the period from14.09.2020 to 28.09.2020.

  

The effect of using monitoring magnetotelluric observations

  • Monitoring the magnetotelluric field in the study area;
  • Prediction of seismic activation and assessment of the variability of geoelectric characteristics of the sounded space to depths of 70,000 m.;
  • Assessment of the stress-strain state of rocks;
  • Study and prediction of space weather and other lithospheric-ionospheric communication.

SIGMA-GEO experience 

  • Employees' experience in this area exceeds 3 years.

Geography of work