Propagation loss and apparent conductivity models for through‐the‐earth communication in sedimentary soil

Abstract

Much of the channel modelling found in the literature for through‐the‐earth communication is based on deterministic formulations that consider few homogeneous layers of soil. However, due to the great variation in the properties of the soil, especially of its electrical conductivity, it is very difficult to generalise channel characterisation with such models. Some empirical models are used to identify apparent conductivity at specific sites in order to determine the propagation loss at these sites at any time. However, the use of these models is limited to the few frequencies used in the reference measurements. This study aims to statistically characterise magnetic field attenuation in underground coal mines. The authors use the Monte Carlo method based on electromagnetic simulations, using the finite element method. The simulations allowed empirical modelling, resulting in optimal operating frequency, propagation loss and apparent electrical conductivity statistics, especially for transmissions at the optimal frequency of each channel.

Estimating Geomagnetically Induced Currents in High‐Voltage Power Lines for the Territory of Kazakhstan

“…One of the main parameters in modeling GICs is data on the conductivity of the near‐surface layer of the Earth and the distribution of conductivity in deep layers (J. M. Torta et al., 2012). For many regions of the Earth, detailed maps of the distribution of the conductivity of the surface layer are available (Carreno et al., 2019). However, there are only two sources of ground conductivity data for the territory of Kazakhstan—the World Atlas of Ground Conductivity (International Telecommunication Union, 2015) and the 3D global conductivity model (Alekseev et al., 2015).…”