5.1 Concepts: 

5.1.1 All TDEM/TEM instruments are based on the concept that a time-varying magnetic field generated by a change in the current flowing in a large loop on the ground will cause current to flow in the earth below it (Fig. 3). In the typical TDEM/TEM system, these earth-induced currents are generated by abruptly terminating a steady current flowing in the transmitter loop (2). The currents induced in the earth material move downward and outward with time and, in a horizontally layered earth, the strength of the currents is directly related to the ground conductivity at that depth. These currents decay exponentially. The decay lasts microseconds, except in the cases of a highly conductive ore body or conductive layer when the decay can last up to a second. Hence, many measurements can be made in a short time period allowing the data quality to be improved by stacking.

5.1.2 Most TDEM/TEM systems use a square wave transmitter current with the measurements taken during the off-time (Fig. 2) with the total measurement period of less than a minute. Because the strength of the signal depends on the induced current strength and secondary magnetic field, the depth of site investigation depends on the magnetic moment of the transmitter.

5.1.3 A typical transient response, or receiver voltage measured, for a homogeneous subsurface (half-space) is shown in Fig. 4. The resistivity of the subsurface is obtained from the late stage response. If there are two horizontal layers with different resistivities, the response or receiver output voltage is similar to the curves shown in Fig. 5.

5.4.3.2 Ambient Sources of Noise—Ambient sources of noise include radiated and induced responses from nearby metallic structures, and soil and rock electrochemical effects, including induced polarization. In TDEM/TEM soundings, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is usually good over most of the measurement time range. However, at late times, the transient response from the ground decays extremely rapidly such that, towards the end of the transient, the signal deteriorates completely and the data become extremely noisy.

5.4.3.3 Radiated and Induced Noise—Radiated noise consists of signals generated by radio, radar transmitters, and lightning. The first two are not generally a problem. However, on summer days when there is extensive local thunderstorm activity, the electrical noise from lightning strikes can cause noise problems. It may be necessary to increase the integration (stacking) time or, in severe cases, to discontinue the survey until the storms have passed by or abated.

(1) The most important source of induced noise consists of intense magnetic fields arising from 50/60 Hz power lines. The large signals induced in the receiver from this source (the strength of which falls off more or less linearly with distance from the power line) can overload the receiver if the receiver gain is set too high, causing serious errors. The remedy is to reduce receiver gain to the point that overload does not occur. In some cases, this may result in less accurate measurement of the transient because the available dynamic range of the receiver is not fully utilized. Another alternative is to move the measurement array (particularly the receiver coil) further from the power line. The equipment manufacturer’s documentation may also provide information about which repetition rates or base frequencies (if any) provide the best rejection of the noise arising from power lines.

(2) It was mentioned above that one of the advantages of TDEM/TEM resistivity sounding was that measurement of the transient signal from the ground was made in the absence of the primary transmitter field, since measurement is made after transmitter current turnoff (Fig. 2). Modern transmitters use extremely effective electronic switches to terminate the large transmitter current. Nevertheless very sensitive receivers can still detect small currents that linger in the loop after turn-off. The magnitude of these currents and their time behavior are available from the equipment manufacturer, who can advise the user as to how closely the receiver coil can be placed to the actual transmitter loop wire.

(3) Another source of induced noise, common to ferrite or iron-cored receiver coils, is microphone noise arising from minute movements of the receiver coil in the earth's relatively strong magnetic field. Such movements are usually caused by the wind, and the coil must be shielded from the wind noise, or the measurements made at night when this source of noise is minimal. In extreme cases, it may be necessary to bury the coil.

5.4.3.4 Presence of Nearby Metallic Structures—TDEM/TEM systems are excellent metal detectors. Use of such systems for resistivity sounding demands that measurements are not made in the presence of metal. This requires removal of all metallic objects not part of the survey equipment (metallic chairs, toolboxes, etc.) from the area of the survey instruments. The recommendations of the manufacturer with regard to the location of the receiver case itself with respect to the receiver coil must be followed carefully.

(1) Power lines can often be detected as metallic targets as well as sources of induced noise. In this case, they exhibit an oscillatory response (the response from all other targets, including the earth, decays monotonically to zero without oscillation). Because the frequency of the oscillation is unrelated to the receiver base frequency, the effect of power line metallic response is to render the transient “noisy” (Fig. 7). Because these oscillations arise from response to eddy currents induced in the power line by the TDEM/TEM transmitter, repeating the measurement produces an identical response, which is one way that these oscillators are identified. Another way is to take a measurement with the transmitter turned off. If the noise disappears, it is a good indication that power line response is the problem. The only remedy is to move the transmitter loop further from the power line.

(2) Other metallic responses, such as those from buried metallic trash or pipes can present a problem. If the response is large, another sounding site must be selected. Use of a different geophysical instrument such as a metal detector or ground conductivity meter is helpful to quickly survey the sounding site for buried metal.

5.4.3.5 Geologic Sources of Noise—Geologic noise arises from the presence of unsuspected geological structures or materials, which cause variations in terrain resistivity. A rare effect that can occur in clayey soils, is induced polarization. Rapid termination of the transmitter current and thus primary magnetic field can charge up small electrical capacitors at soil particle interfaces. These capacitors subsequently discharge, producing current flow similar to that shown in Fig. 3, but reversed in direction. The net effect is to reduce the amplitude of the transient response (thus increasing the apparent resistivity) or, in severe situations, to cause the transient response to become negative over some portion of the measurement time range. Because these sources of reverse current are most significant in the vicinity of the transmitter loop, using the offset configuration (described in 6.7.1.1) usually reduces the induced polarization effect.

5.5 Summary—During the course of designing and carrying out a TDEM/TEM survey, the sources of ambient, geologic and cultural noise must be considered and the time of occurrence and location noted. The form of the interference is not always predictable, as it not only depends upon the type of noise and the magnitude of the noise but upon the distance from the source of noise and possibly the time of day.

5.6 Alternate Methods—In some cases, the factors discussed above may prevent the effective use of the TDEM/TEM method, and other surface geophysical methods such as conventional direct current (DC) resistivity sounding (Guide D6431), frequency domain electromagnetic surveying (Guide D6639) or non-geophysical methods may be required to investigate subsurface conditions.

1.1 Purpose and Application: 

1.1.1 This guide is one in a series of documents that describe geophysical site investigation methods.

1.1.2 This guide summarizes the equipment, field procedures, and interpretation methods for the assessment of subsurface materials and their pore fluids using the Time Domain Electromagnetic (TDEM) method. This method is also known as the Transient Electromagnetic (TEM) Method, and in this guide is referred to as the TDEM/TEM method. Time Domain and Transient refer to the measurement of a time-varying induced electromagnetic field.

1.1.3 The TDEM/TEM method is applicable to the subsurface site investigation for a wide range of conditions. TDEM/TEM methods measure variations in the electrical resistivity (or the reciprocal, the electrical conductivity) of the subsurface soil or rock caused by both lateral and vertical variations in various physical properties of the soil or rock. By measuring both lateral and vertical changes in resistivity, variations in subsurface conditions can be determined.

1.1.4 Electromagnetic measurements of resistivity as described in this guide are applied in geologic studies, geotechnical studies, hydrologic site investigations, and for mapping subsurface conditions at waste disposal sites (1).2 Resistivity measurements can be used to map geologic changes such as lithology, geological structure, fractures, stratigraphy, and depth to bedrock. In addition, measurement of resistivity can be applied to hydrologic site investigations such as the depth to water table, depth to aquitard, presence of coastal or inland groundwater salinity, and for the direct exploration for groundwater.

1.1.5 This standard does not address the use of TDEM/TEM method for use as metal detectors or their use in unexploded ordnance (UXO) detection and characterization. While many of the principles apply the data acquisition and interpretation differ from those set forth in this standard guide.

1.1.6 General references for the use of the method are McNeill (2), Kearey and Brooks (3), and Telford et al (4) Telford et al (4), Society of Exploration Geophysicists of Japan (5), and Reynolds (6).

1.2 Limitations: 

1.2.1 This guide provides an overview of the TDEM/TEM method. It does not provide or address the details of the theory, field procedures, or interpretation of the data. Numerous references are included for that purpose and are considered an essential part of this guide. It is recommended that the user of the TDEM/TEM method be familiar with the references cited and with the ASTM standards D420, D653, D5088, D5608, D5730, D5753, D6235, D6429 and D6431.

1.2.2 This guide is limited to TDEM/TEM measurements made on land. The TDEM/TEM method can be adapted for a number of special uses on land, water, ice, within a borehole, and airborne. Special TDEM/TEM configurations are used for metal and unexploded ordnance detection. These TDEM/TEM methods are not discussed in this guide.

1.2.3 The approaches suggested in this guide for the TDEM/TEM method are commonly used, widely accepted, and proven. However, other approaches or modifications to the TDEM/TEM method that are technically sound may be substituted.

1.2.4 This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This document cannot replace education, experience, and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project's many unique aspects. The word standard in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.

1.3 Precautions: 

1.3.1 It is the responsibility of the user of this guide to follow any precautions in the equipment manufacturer's recommendations and to establish appropriate health and safety practices.

1.3.2 If the method is used at sites with hazardous materials, operations, or equipment, it is the responsibility of the user of this guide to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of any regulations prior to use.

1.3.3 This guide does not purport to address all of the safety concerns that may be associated with the use of the TDEM/TEM method. It must be emphasized that potentially lethal voltages exist at the output terminals of many TDEM/TEM transmitters, and also across the transmitter loop, which is sometimes uninsulated. It is the responsibility of the user of this equipment to assess potential environmental safety hazards resulting from the use of the selected equipment, establish appropriate safety practices and to determine the applicability of regulations prior to use.

1.3.4 Units—The values stated in SI units are regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to inch-pound units, which are provided for information only and are not considered standard. Reporting of test results in units other than SI shall not be regarded as nonconformance with this guide.

1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.