A new instrument designed for frequency‐domain sounding in the depth range 0–10 m uses short coil spacings of 5 m or less and a frequency range of 300 kHz to 30 MHz. In this frequency range, both conduction currents (controlled by electrical conductivity) and displacement currents (controlled by dielectric permittivity) are important. Several surface electromagnetic survey systems commonly used (generally with frequencies less than 60 kHz) are unsuitable for detailed investigation of the upper 5 m of the earth or, as with ground‐penetrating radar, are most effective in relatively resistive environments. Most computer programs written for interpretation of data acquired with the low‐frequency systems neglect displacement currents, and are thus unsuited for accurate high‐frequency modeling and interpretation. New forward and inverse computer programs are described that include displacement currents in layered‐earth models. The computer programs and this new instrument are used to evaluate the effectiveness ...