Prof. Dr. Michael Becken

Prof. Dr. Michael Becken

Corrensstr. 24
48149 Münster

T: +49 251 83-36137

  • Research Areas

    • Applied Geophysics
    • Electromagnetic Methods
    • Magnetotellurics

  • Education

    Dr. rer. nat. (Geophysics)
    Diplom in Geosciences (Applied Geophysics)

  • Projects

    • Deep electromagnetic exploration ( – )
      Individual Granted Project: DFG - Heisenberg professorship | Project Number: BE 5149/7-1
    • EXIST-Gründerstipendium "ASDRO Solution" ( – )
      Individual Granted Project: BMWK - EXIST Business Start-up Grant | Project Number: 03EGSNW634
    • Die Dynamik der Liposphäre unterhalb des Hangai-Gebirges in der westlichen Mongolei: dreidimensionale magnetotellurische Untersuchungen und vierdimensionale thermomechanische Modellierung ( – )
      Individual Granted Project: DFG - Joint Proposal Submission with Austria and Switzerland (D-A-CH) | Project Number: BE 5149/6-1
    • DESMEX – r4 - wirtschaftsstrategische Rohstoffe, Verbundvorhaben: DESMEX: Elektromagnetische Tiefensondierung für die Lagerstättenerkundung, Teilvorhaben 1: Experimental design eines semi-airborne Explorationssystems, Signalverarbeitung und Datenauswertung ( – )
      participations in bmbf-joint project: Federal Ministry of Education and Research | Project Number: 033R130A
    • PipelineEM – Utilizing impressed cathodic corrosion protection currents to determine the electrical conductivity in the upper few kilometers of the earth ( – )
      Individual Granted Project: DFG - Individual Grants Programme | Project Number: BE 5149/2-1
    • Electromagnetic Imaging using Fields emitted by Railway Lines ( – )
      Individual Granted Project: Shell Global Solutions International BV | Project Number: PT39618
    • Elektrische und elektromagnetische Verfahren zur geophysikalischen Erkundung des tieferen Untergrundes in der Nordschweiz ( – )
      Individual Granted Project: Nationale Genossenschaft für die Lagerung radioaktiver Abfälle | Project Number: 12'543

  • Publications

    • Sheng, Yue; Jin, Sheng; Comeau, Matthew; Z. Hou; M. Becken; H. Dong; L. Zhang; W. Wei; G. . Ye. . ‘Evidence for partial melting and alkaline-rich fluids in the crust from a 3-D electrical resistivity model in the vicinity of the Coqen region, western Lhasa terrane.’ Earth and Planetary Science Letters 619. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118316.
    • Comeau, Matthew; Becken, Michael; Grayver, Alexander; Käufl, Johannes; Kuvshinov, Alexey. . ‘Images of a continental intraplate volcanic system: from surface to mantle source.’ Earth and Planetary Science Letters 578: 117307. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2021.117307.
    • Jin, Sheng; Sheng, Yue; Comeau, Matthew; Becken, M.; Wei, W.; Ye, G.; Dong, H.; Zhang, L. . ‘Relationship of the crustal structure, rheology, and tectonic dynamics beneath the Lhasa-Gangdese terrane (southern Tibet) based on a 3-D electrical model.’ Journal of Geophysical Research 127, No. 11. doi: 10.1029/2022JB024318.
    • Comeau, Matthew; Becken, Michael; Kuvshinov, Alexey. . ‘Imaging the whole-lithosphere structure of a mineral system — Geophysical signatures of the sources and pathways of ore-forming fluids.’ Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 23, No. 8: e2022GC010379. doi: 10.1029/2022GC010379.
    • Comeau, Matthew J.; Moorkamp, Max; Becken, Michael; Kuvshinov, Alexey. ‘Joint inversion of gravity and electromagnetic data — New constraints on the 3-D structure of the lithosphere beneath Central Mongolia.’ contributed to the EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, . doi: 10.5194/egusphere-egu22-12704.
    • Sheng, Yue; Jin, Sheng; Comeau, Matthew; Becken, Michael; Lei, L.; Zhang, L.; Dong, H.; Wenbo W.; Ye, G. . ‘Controls on the metallogenesis of the Lhasa–Mozugongka district, Gangdese Belt, Tibetan Plateau: Constraints on melt distribution and viscosity from the 3-D electrical structure of the lithosphere.’ Ore Geology Reviews 145: 104881. doi: 10.1016/j.oregeorev.2022.104881.
    • Wang, Tianqi; Ma, Guoqing; Comeau, Matthew; Becken, Michael; Zhou, Z.; Liu, W.; Kang, J.; Han, J. . ‘Evidence for the superposition of tectonic systems in the northern Songliao Block, NE China, revealed by a 3-D electrical resistivity model.’ Journal of Geophysical Research 127, No. 4. doi: 10.1029/2021JB022827.
    • Stein, Claudia; Comeau, Matthew; Becken, Michael; Hansen, Ulrich. . ‘Numerical study on the style of lithospheric delamination.’ Tectonophysics 827: 229276. doi: 10.1016/j.tecto.2022.229276.
    • Matthew J. Comeau; M. Becken; A.V. Kuvshinov; A. Grayver; J. Käufl; E. Batmagnai; S. Tserendug; S. Demberel. . ‘An Asthenospheric Upwelling Beneath Central Mongolia — Implications for Intraplate Surface Uplift and Volcanism.’ Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition) 95: 70–72. doi: 10.1111/1755-6724.14836.
    • Marzouk, H.; Arafa-Hamed, T.; Becken, M.; Abdel Zaher, M.; Comeau, M.J. ‘Electrical properties of the lithosphere in the western desert, Egypt, using magnetotelluric sounding.’ contributed to the EGU General Assembly 2021, Vienna, . doi: 10.5194/egusphere-egu21-13382.
    • Comeau, Matthew; Stein, Claudia; Becken, Michael; Hansen, Ulrich. . ‘Geodynamic Modeling of Lithospheric Removal and Surface Deformation: Application to Intraplate Uplift in Central Mongolia.’ Journal of Geophysical Research 126, No. 5. doi: 10.1029/2020JB021304.
    • Comeau, Matthew; Becken, Michael; Kuvshinov, Alexey; Demberel, S. . ‘Crustal architecture of a metallogenic belt and ophiolite belt: Implications for mineral genesis and emplacement from 3-D electrical resistivity models (Bayankhongor area, Mongolia).’ Earth Planets and Space 73: 82. doi: 10.1186/s40623-021-01400-9.
    • Comeau, Matthew; Becken, Michael; Connolly, James A.D.; Grayver, Alexander; Kuvshinov, Alexey. . ‘Compaction-driven fluid localization as an explanation for lower crustal electrical conductors in an intracontinental setting.’ Geophysical Research Letters 47, No. 19: e2020GL088455. doi: 10.1029/2020GL088455.
    • Käufl, Johannes; Grayver, Alexander; Comeau, Matthew; Kuvshinov, Alexey; Becken, Michael; Kamm, Jochen; Demberel, S. . ‘Magnetotelluric multiscale 3-D inversion reveals crustal and upper mantle structure beneath the Hangai and Gobi-Altai region in Mongolia.’ Geophysical Journal International 221, No. 2. doi: 10.1093/gji/ggaa039.
    • Comeau, Matthew; Becken, Michael; Käufl, Johannes; Grayver, Alexander; Kuvshinov, Alexey; Tserendug, S.; Batmagnai, E.; Demberel, S. . ‘Evidence for terrane boundaries and suture zones across Southern Mongolia detected with a 2-dimensional magnetotelluric transect.’ Earth Planets and Space 72: 5. doi: 10.1186/s40623-020-1131-6.
    • Comeau, Matthew; Käufl, Johannes; Becken, Michael; Kuvshinov, Alexey; Grayver, Alexander; Kamm, Jochen; Demberel, S.; Sukhbaatar, U.; Batmagnai, E.; Tserendug, S.; Nasan-Ochir, T. . ‘Evidence for fluid and melt generation in response to an asthenospheric upwelling beneath the Hangai Dome, Mongolia.’ Earth and Planetary Science Letters 487: 201–209. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2018.02.007.
    • Comeau MJ, Käufl JS, Becken M, Kuvshinov A, Grayver AV, Kamm J, Demberel S, Sukhbaatar U, Batmagnai E. . ‘Evidence for fluid and melt generation in response to an asthenospheric upwelling beneath the Hangai Dome, Mongolia.’ Earth and Planetary Science Letters 487: 201–209. doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2018.02.007.
    • Al-Saadi OS, Schmidt V, Becken M, Fritsch T. . ‘Very-high-resolution electrical resistivity imaging of buried foundations of a Roman villa near Nonnweiler, Germany.’ Archaeological Prospection 2018. doi: 10.1002/arp.1703.
    • Nittinger C, Becken M. . ‘Compressive sensing approach for two-dimensional magnetotelluric inversion using wavelet dictionaries.’ Geophysical Prospecting 66, No. 4: 664–672. doi: 10.1111/1365-2478.12605.
    • Lindau T, Becken M. . ‘Using impressed current cathodic protection systems of pipelines for electromagnetic exploration.’ Geophysics 83, No. 4: B155–B165. doi: 10.1190/geo2017-0651.1.
    • Cherevatova M, Nittinger C, Becken M, Guenther T. . ‘3D Inversion of the Semi-airborne Electromagnetic Data from Schleiz, Germany .’ Contributed to the Second European Airborne Electromagnetics Conference, Malmö. doi: 10.3997/2214-4609.201702151.
    • Nittinger C, Cherevatova M, Becken M, Martin T, Petersen H, Steuer A, Meyer U, Siemon B, Matzander U, Friedrichs B, Mörbe W, Yogeshwar P, Tezkan B, Rochlitz R, Günther T. . ‘A Novel Semi-airborne EM System for Mineral Exploration - First Results from Combined Fluxgate and Induction Coil Data.’ Contributed to the Second European Airborne Electromagnetics Conference, Malmö. doi: 10.3997/2214-4609.201702154.
    • Meyer U, Siemon B, Becken M, Stolz R, Noell U, Frei M, Buchholz P, Steuer A, Costabel S, Martin T, Ibs-von Seht M, Nittinger C. . ‘New Airborne Methods and Procedures for the Exploration of Mineral Resources - An Overview of BGR Activities.’ Contributed to the Near Surface Geoscience 2016 - 22nd European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, Barcelona. doi: 10.3997/2214-4609.201601939.
    • Nittinger CG, Becken M. . ‘Inversion of magnetotelluric data in a sparse model domain.’ Geophysical Journal International 206, No. 2: 1398–1409.
    • Cherevatova M., Smirnov M., Korja T., Pedersen L., Ebbing J., Gradmann S., Becken M. . ‘Electrical conductivity structure of north-west Fennoscandia from three-dimensional inversion of magnetotelluric data.’ Tectonophysics 653, No. null: 20–32. doi: 10.1016/j.tecto.2015.01.008.
    • Becken M., Lindau T. . ‘Utilizing impressed current cathodic protection as the source for electromagnetic exploration.’ Contributed to the 76th EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2014, Amsterdam, nld.
    • Streich R., Becken M., Ritter O. . ‘Robust processing of noisy land-based controlled-source electromagnetic data.’ Geophysics 78, No. 5. doi: 10.1190/GEO2013-0026.1.
    • Kamm J., Becken M., Pedersen L.B. . ‘Inversion of slingram electromagnetic induction data using a born approximation.’ Geophysics 78, No. 4. doi: 10.1190/GEO2012-0484.1.
    • Becken M, Ritter O. . ‘Magnetotelluric Studies at the San Andreas Fault Zone: Implications for the Role of Fluids.’ Surveys in Geophysics 33, No. 1: 65–105. doi: 10.1007/s10712-011-9144-0.
    • Streich R, Becken M, Ritter O. . ‘2.5D controlled-source EM modeling with general 3D source geometries.’ Geophysics 76, No. 6: F387–F393. doi: 10.1190/geo2011-0111.1.
    • Streich R, Becken M, Matzander U, Ritter O. . ‘Strategies for land-based controlled-source electromagnetic surveying in high-noise regions.’ Leading Edge 30, No. 10: 1174–1181. doi: 10.1190/1.3657078.
    • Streich R, Becken M. . ‘Sensitivity of controlled-source electromagnetic fields in planarly layered media.’ Geophysical Journal International 187, No. 2: 705–728. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2011.05203.x.
    • Streich R, Becken M. . ‘Electromagnetic fields generated by finite-length wire sources: Comparison with point dipole solutions.’ Geophysical Prospecting 59, No. 2: 361–374. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2478.2010.00926.x.
    • Streich R, Becken M, Ritter O. . ‘Electromagnetic characterization of CO2 sequestration sites - Feasibility studies and first field results from Ketzin.’ Society of Petroleum Engineers - 73rd European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers Conference and Exhibition 2011 - Incorporating SPE EUROPEC 2011 1: 247–251.
    • Becken M, Ritter O, Bedrosian PA, Weckmann U. . ‘Correlation between deep fluids, tremor and creep along the central San Andreas fault.’ Nature 480, No. 7375: 87–90. doi: 10.1038/nature10609.
    • Streich R, Schwarzbach C, Becken M, Spitzer K. . ‘Controlled-source electromagnetic modelling studies - Utility of auxiliary potentials for low-frequency stabilization.’ Society of Petroleum Engineers - 72nd European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers Conference and Exhibition 2010 - Incorporating SPE EUROPEC 2010 1: 322–326.
    • Becken M, Streich R. . ‘1D sensitivity of land-based CSEM to thin resistive layers.’ SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 29, No. 1: 884–888. doi: 10.1190/1.3513920.
    • Streich R, Becken M, Ritter O. . ‘Imaging of CO2 storage sites, geothermal reservoirs, and gas shales using controlled-source magnetotellurics: Modeling studies.’ Chemie der Erde / Geochemistry 70, No. SUPPL. 3: 63–75. doi: 10.1016/j.chemer.2010.05.004.
    • Weber M, Abu-Ayyash K, Abueladas A, Agnon A, Alasonati-Tašárová Z, Al-Zubi H, Babeyko A, Bartov Y, Bauer K, Becken M, Bedrosian PA, Ben-Avraham Z, Bock G, Bohnhoff M, Bribach J, Dulski P, Ebbing J, El-Kelani R, Förster A, Förster H-J, Frieslander U, Garfunkel Z, Goetze HJ, Haak V, Haberland C, Hassouneh M, Helwig S, Hofstetter A, Hoffmann-Rotrie A, Jäckel KH, Janssen C, Jaser D, Kesten D, Khatib M, Kind R, Koch O, Koulakov I, Laske G, Maercklin N, Masarweh R, Masri A, Matar A, Mechie J, Meqbel N, Plessen B, Möller P, Mohsen A, Oberhänsli R, Oreshin S, Petrunin A, Qabbani I, Rabba I, Ritter O, Romer RL, Rümpker G, Rybakov M, Ryberg T, Saul J, Scherbaum F, Schmidt S, Schulze A, Sobolev SV, Stiller M, Stromeyer D, Tarawneh K, Trela C, Weckmann U, Wetzel U, Wylegalla K. . ‘Anatomy of the dead sea transform from lithospheric to microscopic scale.’ Reviews of Geophysics 47, No. 2. doi: 10.1029/2008RG000264.
    • Becken M, Ritter O, Burkhardt H. . ‘Mode separation of magnetotelluric responses in three-dimensional environments.’ Geophysical Journal International 172, No. 1: 67–86. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2007.03612.x.
    • Becken M, Ritter O, Park SK, Bedrosian PA, Weckmann U, Weber M. . ‘A deep crustal fluid channel into the San Andreas Fault system near Parkfield, California.’ Geophysical Journal International 173, No. 2: 718–732. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2008.03754.x.
    • Hölz S, Polag D, Becken M, Fiedler-Volmer R, Zhang HC, Hartmann K, Burkhardt H. . ‘Electromagnetic and geoelectric investigation of the Gurinai Structure, Inner Mongolia, NW China.’ Tectonophysics 445, No. 1-2: 26–48. doi: 10.1016/j.tecto.2007.06.008.
    • Becken M, Hölz S, Fiedler-Volmer R, Hartmann K, Wünnemann B, Burkhardt H. . ‘Electrical resistivity image of the Jingsutu Graben at the NE margin of the Ejina Basin (NW China) and implications for the basin development.’ Geophysical Research Letters 34, No. 9. doi: 10.1029/2007GL029412.
    • Pedersen LB, Becken M. . ‘Equivalent images derived from very-low frequency (VLF) profile data.’ Geophysics 70, No. 3: G43–G50. doi: 10.1190/1.1925742.
    • Becken M, Burkhardt H. . ‘An ellipticity criterion in magnetotelluric tensor analysis.’ Geophysical Journal International 159, No. 1: 69–82. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2004.02376.x.
    • Becken M, Pedersen LB. . ‘Transformation of VLF anomaly maps into apparent resistivity and phase.’ Geophysics 68, No. 2: 497–505. doi: 10.1190/1.1567218.