Magnetotelluric Transfer Functions: Phase Tensor and Tipper Vector above a Simple Anisotropic Three-Dimensional Conductivity Anomaly and Implications for 3D Isotropic Inversion

Abstract

The influence of anisotropic conductivity structures on magnetotelluric transfer functions is not easy to analyse in its entire complexity. In this study, we investigate the spatial and frequency-dependent behaviour of phase tensors and tipper vectors above a 3D anisotropic conductivity anomaly. The anomaly consists of a simple cubic block embedded in a homogeneous half space. Using a 3D FD code, we compare an isotropic, 2 anisotropic models with an anisotropy factor of 10 and one anisotropic model with the anisotropy factor of 100. The results show characteristic differences between the isotropic and anisotropic cases. For the anisotropic anomalies, the tipper vectors are parallel over the entire area despite the 3D geometry of the anomalous body. The size of the tipper vectors depends on the position of the site relative to the anomaly’s boundaries and the direction of the anisotropic strike. Above the anomalous anisotropic body, the main diagonal elements of the phase tensor show the well-known split. Outside the anomaly, the phase tensor principal axis rotates according to the site position in contrast to the constant tipper direction. The 3D inversion of the forward data using an isotropic 3D code (ModEM) yields a very good fit for all cases. Whereas the inversion result matches the isotropic model, wave-like structures with high conductivity contrast occur for the anisotropic models. These structures extend far beyond the extension of the original anomalous body. Thus, the study reveals important indications of the existence of anisotropic conductivity structures for observed magnetotelluric transfer functions.