3-D Magnetotelluric Inversion and Application Using the Edge-Based Finite Element With Hexahedral Mesh

Three-dimensional (3-D) inversion technique has become an important and practical approach for magnetotelluric (MT) data interpretation. In this article, we developed a 3-D parallelized MT inversion scheme using the edge-based finite element method and applied the developed method to the newly collected MT data in the Xinjiang Luntai area. The distorted hexahedral element is adopted to incorporate topography into the forward modeling and inversion for complicated scenarios. We use the Gauss-Newton optimization method to minimize the objective functional for MT inversion. The developed algorithm is parallelized using MPI over frequencies and parallel direct solvers when solving the forward and adjoint problems for each frequency. We compare the performance of the least-square QR (LSQR) factorization and preconditioned conjugate gradient (PCG) solvers for the model update within each Gauss-Newton iteration and found that the LSQR solver is more stable. The developed inversion algorithm is validated using several synthetic models. Finally, we applied the inversion algorithm to the subsurface resistivity imaging in the Luntai area. The recovered geoelectric model from full 3-D inversion fits well with the known geological and geophysical information. The recovered model shows a low resistivity layer which may be caused by the salt strata. Besides, the inversion results reveal the movement tectonic in this survey area within a depth of 9 km.

Automated summary

The article presents a 3-D inversion technique for magnetotelluric data interpretation using edge-based finite element method and distorted hexahedral elements. The study developed a parallelized approach with MPI and compared different solvers for model update. The inversion algorithm was validated with synthetic models and successfully applied to subsurface resistivity imaging in the Luntai area, showing a good fit with geological information and revealing tectonic movements.