Magnetotelluric Signal-Noise Separation Using IE-LZC and MP

Eliminating noise signals of the magnetotelluric (MT) method is bound to improve the quality of MT data. However, existing de-noising methods are designed for use in whole MT data sets, causing the loss of low-frequency information and severe mutation of the apparent resistivity-phase curve in low-frequency bands. In this paper, we used information entropy (IE), the Lempel–Ziv complexity (LZC), and matching pursuit (MP) to distinguish and suppress MT noise signals. Firstly, we extracted IE and LZC characteristic parameters from each segment of the MT signal in the time-series. Then, the characteristic parameters were input into the FCM clustering to automatically distinguish between the signal and noise. Next, the MP de-noising algorithm was used independently to eliminate MT signal segments that were identified as interference. Finally, the identified useful signal segments were combined with the denoised data segments to reconstruct the signal. The proposed method was validated through clustering analysis based on the signal samples collected at the Qinghai test site and the measured sites, where the results were compared to those obtained using the remote reference method and independent use of the MP method. The findings show that strong interference is purposefully removed, and the apparent resistivity-phase curve is continuous and stable. Moreover, the processed data can accurately reflect the geoelectrical information and improve the level of geological interpretation.