• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.33-40
• /
• 2009

In field surveys using the dipole-dipole electrical resistivity method, we often encounter negative apparent resistivity. The term 'negative apparent resistivity' refers to apparent resistivity values with the opposite sign to surrounding data in a pseudosection. Because these negative apparent resistivity values have been regarded as measurement errors, we have discarded the negative apparent resistivity data. Some people have even used negative apparent resistivity data in an inversion process, by taking absolute values of the data. Our field experiments lead us to believe that the main cause for negative apparent resistivity is neither measurement errors nor the influence of self potentials. Furthermore, we also believe that it is not caused by the effects of induced polarization. One possible cause for negative apparent resistivity is the subsurface geological structure. In this study, we provide some numerical examples showing that negative apparent resistivity can arise from geological structures. In numerical examples, we simulate field data using a 3D numerical modelling algorithm, and then extract 2D sections. Our numerical experiments demonstrate that the negative apparent resistivity can be caused by geological structures modelled by U-shaped and crescent-shaped conductive models. Negative apparent resistivity usually occurs when potentials increase with distance from the current electrodes. By plotting the voltage-electrode position curves, we could confirm that when the voltage curves intersect each other, negative apparent resistivity appears. These numerical examples suggest that when we observe negative apparent resistivity in field surveys, we should consider the possibility that the negative apparent resistivity has been caused by geological structure.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.108-117
• /
• 2002

We have introduced a new approach to obtain the conductivity information of subsurface using Cagniard impedance over two-dimensional (2-D) model in the presence of horizontal magnetic dipole source with the frequency range of $1\;kHz\~1\;MHz$. Firstly, we designed the method to calculate the apparent resistivity from the ratio between horizontal electric and magnetic fields, Cagniard impedance, considering the source effects when the plane wave assumption is failed in finite source EM problem, and applied it to several numerical models such as homogeneous half-space or layered-earth model. It successfully provided subsurface information even though it is still rough, while the one with plane wave assumption is hard to give useful information. Next, through analyzing Cagniard impedance and apparent resistivity considering source effect over 2-D models containing conductive- or resistive-block, we showed that the possibility of obtaining conductivities of background media and anomaly using this approach. In addition, the apparent resistivity considering source effect and phase pseudosections constructed from Cagniard impedance over the isolated conductive- and resistive block model well demonstrated outlines of anomalies and conductivity distribution even though there were some distortions came from sidelobes caused by 2-D body.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.155-164
• /
• 2003

The validity and efficiency of the roll-along technique widely used in 2-D electrical resistivity survey are analyzed in case of the dipole-dipole and the Wenner-Schlumberger arrays by numerical modelling. The shallow anomalous resistivity bodies are successfully inverted both in the dipole-dipole and in the Wenner-Schlumberger arrays because the shallow data of pseudosection are not omitted by the roll-along technique. However, the deep anomalous resistivity bodies can not be well resolved due to the skip of observed data which is more significant in the Wenner-Schlumberger array having relatively poor horizontal coverage of obtaining data. Carrying out electrical survey adopting the dipole-dipole array, the skip of data is insignificant because it is unfeasible to expand the electrodes to the maximum electrode separation coefficient($n_max$) owing to low S/N ratio. In case of the Wenner-Schlumberger array, however, because it is generally feasible to expand the electrodes $n_max$ to the owing to high S/N ratio, it is highly possible that skip of data from the roll-along technique causes significant distortion of inversion results. Therefore, adopting the Wenner-Schlumberger array having deeper median depth(Edwards, 1977) than do the dipole-dipole array on condition of the same unit electrode spacing( ($a$) ) and $n_max$, it is recommended to determine $a$ based on not $n_max$but $n_prob$free from the skip of observing data and forward electrodes with keeping overlap interval 3/4 of the survey line length in order to reduce the distortion of resistivity structure and perform resistivity survey efficiently. These results are confirmed by numerical modelling.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.39 no.4 s.179
• /
• pp.473-483
• /
• 2006

Although application of electrical methods in Korea began with observation of self potentials before World War II, the methods were developed slowly by the beginning of 1980's when a major burst of development activity took place. DC resistivity methods are applied in Korea more to geotechnical problems rather than to environmental ones unlike other developed countries. As with every other branch of technology, the evolving speed of the silicon chip and of streaming data to hard disk has revolutionized data collection and noise reduction processing. The last two decades saw major advances in data collection, processing, and interpretation of electrical data. Development of smooth-model two-dimensional (2D) resistivity inversion is one of the most visible changes to geophysical interpretation of the last 40 years and is now routinely applied to apparent resistivity data. The ability to represent resistivities in section rather than pseudosection view has revolutionized interpretation. Although calculation of sensitivities for general electromagnetic problems require numerous forward modelings, DC resistivity methods can enjoy computational efficiencies if sources and receivers occupy the same position, and previously intractable 3D inversion is now becoming available.