Abstract: This study aims to demonstrate the effects of the electric-source short-offset transient electromagnetic method(SOTEM) for water hazard prevention and control in coal mines under complex topographical conditions.To this end,the detection capabilities of the H_x and E_x components were simulated and analyzed using the SOTEM method,along with field tests in a coal mine in northern Guizhou.During the tests,four profiles were arranged and the SOTEMSoft software was used for inversion, with the inversion results verified by drilling.The results show that during measurement along the equatorial direction,the H_z component exhibited a high capability to detect low-resistivity anomalies.In contrast,the E_x component exhibited a comparable capability in detecting both low-resistivity(along the equatorial direction) and high-resistivity anomalies(along the axial direction).The SOTEM technique can accurately locate the most severe water hazard areas in coal mines under complex topographical conditions.The feasibility and accuracy of the SOTEM method for water hazard prevention and control were validated through the application in coal mines in northern Guizhou.