scope:

The electromagnetic properties of the earth play an important role in the design and implementation of radio communications systems, geophysical prospecting instruments, and subsurface mapping techniques. Measurement techniques include dc resistivity, surface impedance, propagation studies, wave tilt methods, probe impedance methods, mutual impedance methods, transient methods, time domain reflectometry, ground probing radar, laboratory-based techniques, and free-space reflection measurements. The separation distance between the probes and the wavelength of the radiation both affect the volume of earth material measured. This guide provides a summary of current measurement techniques and, where appropriate, inversion methods for determining the conductivity and the relative permittivity of the volume under investigation.