The effect of initial and prior models on phase tensor inversion of distorted magnetotelluric data

Abstract Magnetotelluric (MT) data are often distorted by near-surface small-scale lateral heterogeneities. Inverting MT may produce artifacts or false anomalies, leading to unreliable interpretation. This problem can be avoided inverting the phase tensor (PT), which is known free of galvanic distortion. However, PT inversion strongly depend on initial prior model, because itself does not contain absolute resistivity information. To obtain a reliable result from set data, proper model crucial. In this study, one-dimensional mean profile estimated average sum-of-squared-elements impedance was chosen as an it proven less sensitive Examples with synthetic showed that using such and viable approach for galvanically data. addition, present paper considers situation, where distortion purely galvanic. A simple study indicated affected inductive distortion, thus, results should interpreted caution. Graphic