Task 2:

Two long period MT-stations (LMT-sites) are presently continuously running in Iceland on an experimental basis, recording 2 components of the electrical field and 3 components of the magnetic field with a sampling rate of 1 s. One station is in Haukadalur in South Iceland and is linked to the SIL station HAU; the other one is in Húsafell in West Iceland. One of these stations will be rebuilt and installed the SIL station in Skrokkalda. The time series will be transmitted automatically to the SIL center in Reykjavík and made available to the scientific community on a daily basis. (The real-time exchange of field-data via satellite data transfer will be tested). The LMT recordings will in the first phase of the project be supplemented by several short-period data acquisition systems (AMT-sites) at various locations in the vicinity of the observatory, in order to estimate distortions by near-surface conductivity anomalies, and by far remote LMT-sites to serve as a reference. Studies of noise and sensitivity will show the possibilities and limits of the method. Furthermore the frequency analysis of the observed fields will give a detailed image of the conductivity structure and thus provides an important parameter for geodynamic modelling. From the results of the sensitivity study optimal locations for permanent recording sites will be proposed. The frequency analysis will give frequency ranges with the highest possible sensitivity for the target depth in the context with other geophysical investigations. This will have large impact on the choice and design of the optimal observatory instruments.