Talbot Algorithm with a Trapezoidal Wave in the 2.5D Airborne Transient Electromagnetic Method in Marine Investigations

Abstract

The airborne transient electromagnetic (TEM) method is widely used in land applications but faces challenges in marine applications due to the strong masking effects of seawater. The accuracy of the inverse Laplace transform algorithm strongly affects the applicability of the 2.5D TEM method in marine research; thus, an appropriate transmitted waveform is required. To resolve these issues, a trapezoidal wave was utilized as the waveform of the current source, owing to the substantial energy contribution of the low-frequency range. Further, the Talbot algorithm was selected for the inverse Laplace transform as it can yield an accurate response with smaller summation terms than the commonly used Gaver–Stehfest (G-S) algorithm. On this basis, a rugged seabed and a subsea tunnel were also investigated. The voltage response is obtained when the flight heights of the loop source change. The results confirmed that the Talbot algorithm with a trapezoidal waveform is more reliable and robust for complex marine geological models and is expected to provide an effective approach for marine explorations.