Matlab tool REGCONT2: effective source depth estimation by means of Tikhonov’s regularized downwards continuation of potential fields

Abstract

Abstract Transformation based on downward continuation of potential fields is an important tool in their interpretation – depths of shallowest important sources can be determined by means of stable downward continuation algorithms. We analyse here selected properties of one from these algorithms (based on Tikhonov’s regularization approach) from the scope of two most important discretization parameters – dimensions of the areal coverage of the interpreted field and the sampling interval size. Estimation of the source depth is based on the analysis of computed LP-norms for various continuation depths. A typical local minimum of these norms disappears at the source depth. We show on several synthetic bodies (sphere, horizontal cylinder, vertical rod) and also real-world data-sets (results from a magnetic survey for unexploded ordnance detection) that there is a need for relatively large surroundings around the interpreted anomalies. Beside of this also the sampling step plays its important role – grids with finer sampling steps give better interpretation results, when using this downward continuation method. From this point of view, this method is more suitable for the interpretation of objects in near surface and mining geophysics (anomalies from cavities, unexploded ordnance objects and ore bodies). Anomalies should be well developed and separable, and densely sampled. When this is not valid, several algorithms of interpolation and extrapolation (grid padding methods) can improve the interpretation properties of studied downward continuation method.