Using Dispersion to Measure Ground Conductivity

Abstract

Several methods of remotely measuring ground conductivity are known, which depend on measuring the amplitude and phase of a received signal, relative to its transmitter. All of these methods require the separate transmission of a phase reference signal, with attendant difficulties. David Gibson proposes that by transmitting a suitably constructed signal, a phase measurement may be made without the need for a separate reference. This is achieved by making use of the phenomenon of dispersion, in which the phase velocity of a wave depends on its frequency. A related technique that makes relative measurements of signal amplitude is also described.