| Abstract: | In this paper the locations where ρapp = ρ1 and ? = π/4 and where these parameters reach an extreme value in two-layer magnetotelluric (MT) sounding curves are summarized in an extremely compact form. The key parameters over two-layer models with conductivities σ1, σ2 and upper layer thickness h are the real S and α, where S is the conductivity contrast and α is the distance between the observation site and the conductivity interface, normalized to the half skindepth in the first layer. If the impedance components, various resistivity definitions ( ρRe Z, ρIm Z and ρ|Z|, based on different parts of the complex impedance Z ) and the magnetotelluric phase ? are derived as a function of S and α, then the conditions for the apparent resistivity ρapp and the phase ? are that they either satisfy ρapp = ρ1 and ? = π/4 or attain extreme values which can be given in terms of simple algebraic equations between S and α. All equations are valid for observation sites at any depth 0 ≤ z ≤ h in the first layer. The set of equations, presented in a tabular form, may make it possible to determine a layer boundary from the short period part of the sounding curves, in particular the ρRe Z and the ?MT curves. |
