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A method for gravity anomaly separation based on preferential continuation and its application

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Abstract

Based on the preferential continuation method proposed by Pawlowski (1995), we propose a method and procedure for gravity anomaly separation with the preferential upward continuation operator in the case that the various sources are uncorrelated with one another and the continuation height is enough large. We also present a method for estimating optimum upward-continuation height, based on analyzing the characteristics of the preferential upward continuation operators of a synthesized gravity anomaly varying with different continuation heights. The method is tested on the raw Bouguer gravity data over an iron deposit. The result shows that the method separates the data into regional anomaly and residual anomaly efficiently and clearly.

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The research is supported jointly by projects of the 863 Program (Grant Nos. 2006AA06Z111, 2006AA06A201-3, and 20060109A1002-0201-03)

Meng Xiaohong obtained her Doctor degree in 1991. Currently she is a professor teaching at China University of Geosciences. Her main research interests include gravity, magnetic, and data processing.

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Meng, X., Guo, L., Chen, Z. et al. A method for gravity anomaly separation based on preferential continuation and its application. Appl. Geophys. 6, 217–225 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-009-0025-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-009-0025-y

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