Wavelet analysis as a tool to characteriseand remove environmental noisefrom self-potential time series

SUMMARY

Multiresolution wavelet analysis of self-potential signals and rainfall levels is performed for extracting fluctuationsin electrical signals, which might be addressed to meteorological variability. In the time-scale domain of the wavelet transform, rain data are used as markers to single out those wavelet coefficients of the electric signal which can be considered relevant to the environmental disturbance. Then these coefficients are filtered outand the signal is recovered by anti-transforming the retained coefficients. Such methodological approach mightbe applied to characterise unwanted environmental noise. It also can be considered as a practical technique toremove noise that can hamper the correct assessment and use of electrical techniques for the monitoring of geophysical phenomena.