THE METER READER

Coordinated by John Peirce

Sunshading geophysical data using fractional order horizontal gradients

G. R. J. COOPER, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa D. R.COWAN, Cowan Geodata Services, Dalkeith, Western Australia

The interpretation of linear features in geophysical imagery

is of considerable importance because they can correspond to dykes, faults, or other geologic discontinuities. One popular tool commonly used for their enhancement is sunshading, which considers the data values as if they were a topographic surface that is illuminated by a light source (or sun) which has a specified azimuth and elevation. The reflectance of the light by the surface is calculated and imaged. Features whose strike direction is orthogonal to the sun azimuth reflect the light strongly and are consequently enhanced, while those lying parallel to the sun direction do not reflect the light and become less apparent as a result. The reflectance algorithm uses the first horizontal gradients of the data calculated in two orthogonal directions (Horn, 1982). Sunshading is a variety of high-pass filtering and so enhances both detail and noise in the data. If the result of sunshading an image is too noisy for easy interpretation, a possible solution is to use horizontal gradients of lower order (i.e. less than one) as input to the reflectance algorithm. Conversely, if the data is smooth enough, then higher order gradients may be used. Fractional order gradients may be easily calculated in the frequency domain (see Cooper and Cowan, 2002 for more details). The advantages of this method are most apparent when the results of three sunshading operations, each using different order horizontal gradients, are combined as red, green, and blue bands respectively to form an RGB color image. Figure 1a shows the gravity data surrounding the Trompsburg gravity high in the Free State province, South Africa. This feature was first noted in 1942, while detailed surveys were performed over it by Buchmann later (Buchmann, 1960). The anomaly may be caused by a granite sill. Figure 1b shows the result of fractional order sunshading the data using horizontal gradients of orders 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75, which are imaged as RGB. Figure 1c shows the same data set sunshaded using gradients of order 0.75, 1.00, and 1.25. The higher frequency content of the latter image (due to the use of higher order gradients) is clear. In each image, features which are smooth in the filter azimuth direction appear red, while those that are rough (i.e. have a higher frequency content) appear blue. Hence the filter gives information about the frequency content of the data in a given direction. For comparison, Figure 1d shows the data sunshaded from the same azimuth and elevation as Figures 1b and 1c using gradients of first order (i.e. the conventional method). Although this image could be displayed in color, the colors would be arbitrary and the image would contain no more information than the gray scale image shown.

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Figure 1. (a) Gravity data over the Trompsberg high, Free State province South Africa. The image is 500 500 km in size, and the gravity values range from -190 mGals (black) to -40 mGals (white). (b) Image of the gravity data from Figure 1a sunshaded from the NE with a sun elevation of 30, using horizontal gradients of order 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75. (c) Image of the gravity data from Figure 1a sunshaded from the NE with a sun elevation of 30, using horizontal gradients of order 0.75, 1.00, and 1.25. (d) Image of the gravity data from Figure 1a sunshaded conventionally from the NE with a sun elevation of 30.

Editors note: The Meter Reader is a regular column in TLE, coordinated by John Peirce, that seeks to highlight new ideas in geophysical fields besides seismicparticularly gravity, magnetics, and electromagnetics. If you have a short contribution on these topics that is written in the relatively informal but informative style of TLE, please submit it to Dean Clark, editor of TLE in Tulsa, or to John Peirce, at GEDCO in Calgary.
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As a second example, Figure 2a shows the total field aeromagnetic data over the Sudbury igneous complex in Canada. The complex is the host to important nickel deposits. Figure 2b shows the data after sunshading using fractional order gradients of order 0.75, 1.00, and 1.25, imaged as RGB. As previously, high frequency features such as the dykes appear as blue, whereas smoother portions of the data are more red in color. The total field data covering the Sudbury Igneous Complex in Figure 2a are dominated by high amplitude positive magnetic anomalies over gabbroic rocks in the North and South Range and a narrow linear magnetic anomaly due to gabbroic rocks intruded into the Whitewater Group. The ENE elongate elliptical anomaly due to the Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC) is superimposed on a broad magnetic low with diameter of approximately 80 km interpreted as preimpact doming of the Levack Gneiss Complex (Prevec et al., in preparation). The RGB fractional sunshading image in Figure 2b provides much more detail on the major magnetic elements and magnetic lineaments. Magnetic expression of the North Range gabbro is complex in detail compared to the simpler linear anomaly trend of the South Range. Important major faults within the Whitewater Group and SIC are clear in the image as well as the Sudbury dyke suite
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Figure 2. (a) Aeromagnetic data over the Sudbury igneous complex in Canada. The image is 160 112 km in size, and the field values vary from -370 nT to 8600 nT. Grayscales are white, positive, black negative. (b) Image of the aeromagnetic data from Figure 2a after fractional order sunshading using horizontal gradients of order 0.75, 1.00, 1.25.

overprint. Figure 3a shows data collected by the Tallytherm airborne nightime thermal scanner system by InfoTerra (UK) on behalf of the Anglo-American Corporation, over the Sterkfontein world heritage site (northwest of Johannesburg) in July 2001. The scanner measured the response in the 814 m wavelength range. The flight height of 2900 ft resulted in a ground resolution of 1.4 m. Fractures and other drainage that channel groundwater appear darker because they are cooler than the surrounding geology. Figure 3b shows the fractional order sunshaded image over the area (from an azimuth 150 east of north and using an elevation of 30 from the horizontal). The detail and the texture visible in this image are a noticeable improvement over the raw data. Conclusions. Sunshading geophysical data using fractional order horizontal gradients provides greater flexibility compared to conventional sunshading and allows RGB images to be produced in which the frequency content information in a given direction appears as color. This is a significant aid to the interpretation of the data. The order of the horizontal gradients used can be selected based on the noise level of the data.
Suggested reading. Exploration of a geophysical anomaly at Trompsburg, Orange Free State, South Africa by Buchmann (Transactions of the Geological Society of South Africa, 1960). The application of fractional calculus to potential field data by
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Figure 3. (a) Airborne thermal scanner image of an area 1.3 1.3 km in size over the Sterkfontein world heritage site northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa. The top of the image faces north. (b) Image of the thermal data from Figure 3a after fractional order sunshading using horizontal gradients of order 0.75, 1.00, 1.25.

Cooper and Cowan (Geophysical Prospecting, submitted 2002). Hill shading and the reflectance map by Horn (Geo-Processing, 1982). Pre-impact doming of the Levack Gneiss Complex, Sudbury area, Canada by Prevec et al. (in preparation). TLE
Acknowledgments: The Council for Geoscience, Pretoria is thanked for permission to use the gravity data in Figure 1. M. Muller and F. Ferraz of the Anglo-American Corporation, Johannesburg, are thanked for the thermal data from Figure 3. Corresponding authors: grcooper@iafrica.com; cowangeo@compuserve.com

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