A Multi‐Scale Scratch Analysis Method for Quantitative Interpretation of Regional Gravity Fields

Abstract

This paper presents new systematic methods of regional gravity data processing that combine theories based on multi-scale wavelet analysis, spectral analysis of potential fields, geophysical inversion, and information extraction. We call this data processing system as the multi-scale scratch analysis for delineation of crustal structures, deformation belts and division of continental tectonic units. The multi-scale scratch analysis contains four modules; they are spectral analysis for division of density layers, decomposition of the field by using wavelet transformation and multi-scale analysis, depth estimation and density inversion of decomposed gravity anomalies, and scratch analysis. The basic principles, application techniques and examples for each module are explained. As a complicated and sophisticated process, the multi-discipline research on regional geophysics from geophysical investigation to tectonic results requires combination of new methods and techniques coming from different disciplines, to build a wide and thick theoretic base for supporting the multi-discipline research. The multi-scale scratch analysis combines supporting bases coming from applied mathematics, geophysics, and information science respectively.