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MAGNETOTELLURICS             

   Dr. B. P. K.  Patro
            Scientist E-I          
                    

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Research contribution

 I have been actively engaged in R&D activity related to the investigation of the electrical structure of crust and upper mantle using magnetotelluric (MT) method – a geophysical approach based on the properties of electromagnetic induction in the earth. Since the electrical conductivity is a physical parameter, which is sensitive to the existence of fluids and minerals, these studies provide vital information towards understanding problems related to seismotectonics and resource explorations.

Major NW-SE trending crustal conductors have been delineated in the DVP region from my study.  These conductors are interpreted as fault/fracture zone filled with either fluid or mafic intrusive material. My studies have provided lithospheric electrical structure of the DVP in the Dharwar craton that showed several similarities with that of Slave and Superior cratons in Canada. A well defined upper mantle conductor (2000 S) extending over a length of nearly 100 km in the depth range of 80-120 km is delineated in the DVP. Electrical image of the Narmada son Lineament region revealed the presence of the subtrappean Gondwana sedimentary basin and the electrical character of the known tectonic faults.

Three dimensional inversion of the USArray data revealed extensive areas of high conductivity in the lower crust beneath the SE Oregon, Cascade Mountains, contrasting with very resistive crust in the Siletzia and the Columbia Embayment. Significant variations in the upper mantle is also revealed from the inversion with the conductive mantle beneath the Washington backarc, and the resistive subducting oceanic mantle.

Recently I have developed a new 3D inversion scheme to invert the magnetotelluric phase tensor data. This development is very significant, mainly because magnetotelluric phase tensor is not affected by near surface inhomogeneities hence the 3D inversion of the phase tensor will provide cleaner subsurface electrical image
 
Research publications
 

Patro, P. K. and Sarma, S. V. S., Lithospheric electrical imaging of the Deccan trap covered region of western India, Journal of Geophysical Research, 114, B01102, doi:10.1029/2007JB005572, 2009

Patro, P. K. and Harinarayana, T., Deep geoelectric structure of the Sikkim Himalayas (NE India) using magnetotelluric studies, Phys. Earth Planet Inter., 173, 171-176, doi:10.1016/j.pepi.2008.10.011, 2009

Patro, P. K. and Egbert, G. D., Regional conductivity structure of Cascadia: Preliminary results from 3D inversion of USArray transportable array magnetotelluric data, Geophysical Research Letters, 35, L20311, doi:10.1029/2008GL035326, 2008

Harinarayana, T., Patro, B. P. K., Veeraswamy, K., Manoj, C., Naganjaneyulu, K., Murthy, D. N., Virupakshi, G., Regional Geoelectric Structure Beneath Deccan Volcanic Province of The Indian Subcontinent Using Magnetotellurics, Tectonophysics, 445, 66-80, 2007

Patro, B. P. K. and Sarma, S. V. S., Trap thickness and the subtrappean structures related to mode of eruption in the Deccan plateau of India: results from magnetotellurics, Earth Planet Space, 59, 75-81, 2007

Harinarayana, T., Naganjaneyulu, K. and Patro, B. P. K.,  Detection of a collision zone in South Indian Shield region from magnetotelluric studies, Gondwana Research, 10, 48-56, 2006

Patro, B.P.K., Nagarajan, N. and Sarma, S.V.S., Crustal geoelectric structure and the focal depths of major stable continental region (SCR) earthquakes in India, Current Science , 90, 1, 107-113, 2006

Patro, B.P.K., Brasse, H., Sarma, S.V.S. and Harinarayana, T., Electrical structure of the crust below the Deccan Flood Basalts (India), inferred from magnetotelluric soundings, Geophysical Journal International, 163, 931-943, 2005

Patro, B.P.K., Harinarayana, T., Sastry, R. S., Rao, M., Manoj, C., Naganjaneyulu, K.  and Sarma, S.V.S., Electrical imaging of Narmada-Son Lineament Zone, Central India from magnetotellurics, Physics  of  the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 148, 215-232, 2005

Sarma, S. V. S., Patro, B. P. K., Harinarayana, T., Veeraswamy, K., Sastry, R. S., and Sarma, M. V.C., A magnetotelluric (MT) study across the Koyna seismic zone, Western India: Evidence for block structure, Physics  of  the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 142, 23-36, 2004

Patro, B.P.K., Brasse, H., Sarma, S.V.S. and Harinarayana, T., Electrical characterization of the crust in the Deccan Trap region, India., Protokoll ueber das kolloquium elektromagnetisce Tiefenforschung, 20. Kolloquium: Koenigstein, 29.09.-3.10.2003, ISSN 0946-7467, 2003

Harinarayana T., Naganjaneyulu K., Manoj C., Patro, B. P. K., Kareemunnisa Begum S., Murty D.N., Madhusudan Rao, Kumaraswamy V.T.C. and Virupakshi G., Magnetoteluric investigations along Kuppam-Palani Geotransect, South India – 2D Modeling Results, Mem. Geol. Soc. Ind., 50, 107-124, 2003

Harinarayana T., Nagarajan N., Patro, B. P. K., Kareemunisha Begum, S., Manoj C., Lingaiah A. and Sarma, S.V.S., A wideband Magnetotelluric study in the Chamoli earthquake region, Uttaranchal India: Preliminary results, Himalayan Geology, 23(1&2), 153-162, 2002
Fellowships
 

BOYSCAST Fellowship from Department of Science and Technology, Government of India for the year 2003-2004

AGU Berkner Travel Fellowship, American Geophysical Union, Joint Assembly 2006

Postdoctoral Fellowship at Oregon State University, Corvallis, USA, 2007-2008

JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for foreign researcher from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science for the year 2008

 
Memberships
 

Life Member in the Indian Geophysical Union, India.

Life Member in the Association of Exploration Geoscientists, India.

Life Member in the Indian Science Congress Association, India.

Life Member in the Society of Petroleum Geophysicists, India.

Member in the American Geophysical Union, USA.

Associate Member in the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, USA.

Member in the Japan Geoscience Union, Japan.

Member in the European Geoscience Union, Europe.

 
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