The following table lists some of the strengths and weaknesses of Schlumberger and Wenner sounding methods.
| Schlumberger | Wenner | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Advantage | Disadvantage | Advantage | Disadvantage |
| Need to move the two current electrodes only for most readings. This can significantly decrease the time required to acquire a sounding. | All four electrodes, two current and two potential, must be moved to acquire each reading. | ||
| Because the potential electrode spacing is small compared to the current electrode spacing, for large current electrode spacings, very sensitive voltmeters are required. | Potential electrode spacing increases as current electrode spacing increases. Less sensitive voltmeters are required. | ||
| Because the potential electrodes remain in fixed locations, the effects of near-surface lateral variations in resistivity are reduced. | Because all electrodes are moved for each reading, this method can be more susceptible to near-surface, lateral variations in resistivity. These near-surface lateral variations could potentially be misinterpreted in terms of depth variations in resistivity. | ||
| In general, interpretations based on DC soundings will be limited to simple, horizontally layered structures. | In general, interpretations based on DC soundings will be limited to simple, horizontally layered structures. | ||