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Minimizing Interpretation Ambiguities Through Joint Inversion of Surface Electrical Data
Author(s) -
Gustafson Edward P.,
McEuen Robert B.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
groundwater monitoring and remediation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1745-6592
pISSN - 1069-3629
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6592.1987.tb00969.x
Subject(s) - inversion (geology) , depth sounding , vertical electrical sounding , geology , uniqueness , geophysics , synthetic data , computer science , algorithm , geodesy , mathematics , seismology , mathematical analysis , geotechnical engineering , groundwater , aquifer , tectonics , oceanography
Joint inversion is an extension of standard least‐squares inversion techniques. With this approach, it is possible to construct a model that is simultaneously consistent with surface observations made using more than one geophysical method. Specifically, discussion focuses on applications to the Schlumberger and audiomagnetotelluric sounding methods, although the technique is not limited to these. The authors have found that the non‐uniqueness problems that often plague the interpretation of electrical sounding data can be substantially reduced if the model is required to be consistent with more than one set of surface measurements. If geological ground truth is available to further constrain the model, the chances of arriving at the true physical property distribution of the subsurface are far better than if a single data set is interpreted. To demonstrate the power of joint inversion, the authors present a study using synthetic data obtained from a three‐layer resistivity model. Finally, two case histories are presented to demonstrate that a much better representation of the true earth can be obtained with joint inversion than with standard interpretation methods.