Potential method

This article describes the term in geophysics. Potential method still stands for the MODI method .

As a potential method of a branch of the measuring is Geophysics referred to, the object of research a potential field is. These include the earth's gravitational field , the earth's magnetic field and electrical fields . In contrast to earthquake waves, it is more or less static phenomena.

The measurement is usually carried out passively, that is, no fields are generated, but the effect of the existing fields on a measuring apparatus is determined.

Slight temporal or spatial fluctuations in the potentials allow conclusions to be drawn about the structure or processes in the earth or in the surrounding atmosphere.

The potential processes include

• the gravimetry
• the geoelectrics
• the geomagnetics
• the geoelectromagnetics
• the geothermal