Variations in magnetotelluric response functions caused by Sq currents

TL;DR

This study investigates how variations in the focus latitude of Sq currents influence magnetotelluric responses, revealing that even small shifts can cause significant changes in apparent resistivity and phase, especially during quiet geomagnetic periods.

Contribution

It demonstrates the impact of Sq current focus latitude variations on MT responses and highlights the need to consider geomagnetic activity when interpreting MT data.

Findings

Large shifts in apparent resistivity and phase due to small focus latitude changes

MT responses vary with geomagnetic activity levels

Implications for time-lapse MT studies in mid-latitudes

Abstract

The magnetotelluric (MT) responses of the Earth are biased by spatially heterogeneous source fields. Recently, such biases have been reported even in mid-latitude areas, where localized source currents rarely flow. This study focuses on shifts in the MT responses arising from variations in the focus latitude of the solar quiet (Sq) current. The MT responses at 60 s were calculated by changing the center of the Sq current. Slight variations in the focus latitude cause large shifts in the apparent resistivity and phase. During periods of quiet geomagnetic activity, the center varies within a wide range of 20-45 N, whereas this range narrows when there are disruptions. Even though this study considers only a limited case, the results demonstrate the instability of the impedances in periods of quiet geomagnetic activity and a correlation of the MT responses with the magnitude of the geomagnetic activity. As a consequence, even when a station is located at mid-latitudes, the impedances need to be treated carefully for time-lapse MT soundings, for example, by checking the ionospheric current conditions and their dependence on the geomagnetic activity.