Recovery of Subsurface Processes Through Time-Lapse Inversion

 

Mathematical geophysics is an inherently interdisciplinary field that blends physics and mathematics with other disciplines such as geology and hydrology to understand the Earth’s processes. This holistic perspective is crucial for addressing sustainability challenges, particularly those concerning the evolution of riparian freshwater lenses which are critical for floodplain ecosystems like those along the River Murray.

In contrast to traditional methods that treat airborne electromagnetic surveys collected at different moments in time independently, a simultaneous time-lapse inversion analyses multiple surveys together. It also allows to incorporate existing knowledge about how the freshwater-saltwater interface should behave. This then results in a more reliable model for the evolution of riparian freshwater lens in time with fewer artefacts and lower uncertainty, which significantly improves our ability to monitor and manage this ecologically important resource.

For a deeper dive, take a look at the open-access paper available here:
https://library.seg.org/doi/10.1190/geo2024-0650.1