Multichannel geophysical recorder for monitoring processes in the earth's crust and geophysical exploration

In connection with the intensive development of new territories and the increasing anthropogenic load on the environment, necessary to create new environmentally friendly means and methods for controlling dangerous geological processes becomes. This paper shows the possibilities of the Earth's natural pulsed electromagnetic field (PEEMF) method for solving a wide range of problems in engineering geology, geophysics, and fundamental research in the field of Earth sciences and the prospects for its further development.

The concept of the natural pulsed electromagnetic field of the Earth (ENEMF) was introduced by Alexsander A. Vorobyov at the end of the 60s of the last century. He also put forward the hypothesis that impulses can arise in the earth's crust as a result of the processes of converting tectonic energy into electromagnetic energy [1]. It was expected that an increased intensity of the flow of electromagnetic pulses would be observed on the immediately before  and at the time of strong earthquakes, first due to the accumulation of energy, and then the destruction of rocks in the epicentral regions of the source of the event. And exactly the first studies were done on the possibilities of the ENPEMF method for controlling processes in the earth's crust  in the Tomsk scientific school [2].

New possibilities in the progress of the method appeared with the development of a series of multichannel geophysical recorders certified as a measuring instrument [3]. The ability to fine-tune the amplification paths of the measuring channels and link each measurement to the current time made  the method of geophysical surveys using a network of recorders, some of which record background values possible to develop.

In our papers [4, 5], a new method for separating spatio-temporal variations of ENPEMF is substantiated and proposed, which is suitable both for predicting exogenous and endogenous processes in the monitoring mode and for mapping structural heterogeneities in the earth's crust when solving problems of engineering geology and geophysics. As noted earlier, the ENPEMF method is based on the registration of signals that depend on the properties of the emitting material and the effects on it. The proposed method of monitoring and exploration combines the positive aspects of electrical and seismic methods. This significantly reduces the complexity, cost and timing of geophysical work.

A positive result of the work was obtained in the Caucasus, the Urals, Siberia, Kamchatka, Finland and Vietnam. At present, the ENPEMF method is included in the Program for Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Research of the Natural Environment of the Arctic Tundras of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, implemented on the basis of the research station "Ostrov Bely". It is expected the solution of rised of tasks will allow not only to create a new series of equipment for research in the Far North but adapt the ENPEMF method for geocryological surveys. A comprehensive study of atmospheric-lithospheric relationships, latitudinal features of the formation of the Earth's electromagnetic fields and regional effects will open up new possibilities for the ENPEMF method for solving a wide range of problems in the field of Earth sciences.

The work was carried out within the framework of the state task of IMCES SB RAS.