GEOPHYSICS.

VOL..

15, NO.

5 (MAY

1980).

97LY7h.

I FIG.,

Z TABLES.

Short Note Aeromagnetic survey design

A. 6. Reid*

Aeromagnetic of terrain ings. maps, tinuous The

surveys are flown sampling

with a wide variety and line spacas contour the conto justii y

Y =

the wavenumber, the mean moment value of the magnetic

clearances. results

rates,

K=

are generally that the survey field

presented

per unit depth, difference between the

implying magnetic

grid defines well

h = the elevation

sufficiently

top surfaces of the magnetic and the sensor,

blocks

interpolation. It is possible the to investigate this assumption to by

Ah = the amplitude

of variation

of h,

considering countered. may be

spatial

spectrum

likely

be en( C2(r))

& = the mean value of /7,

= a term dependent of the sources, (S (r)) = a term dependent on the depth extent and on the dimensions

The shortest spatial wavelength correctly of spacing A, given A, identified A.r. by = may by

h,Y, which line of

a regular

samples

be termed

the Nyquist

wavelength

of the upper surfiices of the blocks.

2A.K.

The

term

(C *(,-)) depth

approaches extent.

unity

for

sources

of ap-

Any wavelength length If longer

shorter than h, is aliased into a wavethan A,, (Blackman and Tukey, misled, 1959). the true no signiitrt- chosen a priori the of

considerable proaches Hence. small

and the term (S (r))

unity for sources for the simplified

ofsmallupper

surface area. of

the user

is not to be seriously

case of an assemblage depth extent,

spectrum ficant

of the magnetic at -wavelen@

field must contain shorter~ilnm to determine

Sources of considerable to

equation

power

( i J reduces

A.v. It is thus of importance most appropriate the sensor above value

( E(r)) For Nyquist a given

= 4r21?
survey

exp(

-27;r).
there will

(2)
be a

for h.r

in terms of height

source bodies. POWER SPECTRA

spacing r,\. given

h.r. by

wavenumber

EXPECTATION

rsv = 2~r/h,~

= n=/

AX.
F,
may

Total field survey

Then Spector tion value and Grant (1970) of the power showed spectrum blocks, by that the expectaprofile from an the fraction as of the power aliased determined

(3) be

ensemble north

of magnetized pole.

when

reduced

to the

magnetic

is given

(E(r))

= 4Tr2k2

exp(-2%)

( C2(r))

( S2(r)),

= (1)
Here

exp(-27r&/

A.r).
to be the line spacing

(4) or

rAh < 0.5,

A.r should

be taken

Manuscript received by the Editor February I. 1979; revi\ed manuscript received August 27, 1979. *Department of Physics, University of Zimbabwe, P. 0. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Zimbabwe. 0016.8033/80/0501-0973$03.00. @ 1980 Society of Exploration Geophysicists. All rights reserved 973

974

Reid Gradiometer survey

60 The expectation power spectrum resulting survey or from a

gradiometcr
40 F % 20

(vertical

c ~~ratlicnt)

from using a of mag-

operating gradient

on the results of ;L total lield survey filter may be deduced

by consideration layer of dipolar

the spectrum netization (1975) Mf(u. as

of an equivalent plane.

in the origin

This

is given

by Gunn

\ , h) =

Zrr(jLlr

+ jM1,

~ Nr)

. (j/I, + ,jrnl~- nr) . . m,y(~r,1,) [exp( -Iv)]/

FIG. I. The expected percentage of aliased power F from an aeromagnetic surve?. conducted at mean clearance Gand sample and lge spacing hr, versus the dimensionless parameter h/A.r. F,. = total field survey. E ,, = vertical gradient (gradiometer) sur\ ey. F,,, = total field survey o\,er isolated point dipole. in the notation where j = the complex I., M. N = the direction operator. cosines of this paper rather

(5)
and

than Gunn s,

of the direction

of niagnctiration. in-line centage (4). sample spacing, whichever is larger. The perI, rn. 12 = the dn-action component cosines of the magnetic

of power

aliased,

as predicted

by equation parameter line spacings

measured, of the horizontal

of the surin the mag-

is plotted

against

the dimensionless

II. I = the

components

%/ h.r in Figure in Table The validity variation (hyperbolic) which number tion (4) The I

I and given at suitable

wavenumber

r, and
spectrum distribution of the dipolar

m,(u, 1.)=
rAh (I), < 0.5. restricts exceeds specified the this into for the equation permissible limit, a sinh (I) It is apparent

the wavenumber face origin density plant

requirement of

in /I.

It' t-Ah

netization.

factor

is introduced of increasing

equation

has the effect power

the hiph-wavein equaaliasing.

that I . the horizontal is closely

wavenumber

given wavethat

so that the estimate

expressed

by (u + I,~) ~, number magnetic ,jr.

related to the vertical

is an underestimate ( Cy(r))

of the expected are

This

is a consequence of the vertical

of the fact

terms

and (S(r))

monotonically values

fields in free xpacc obey Laplace s gradient respect

equation. may now be to h. This and (2)

opposing

functions

of r, both with asymptotic

The spectrum deduced introduces thus a factor to give (E(r)) Hence,

of unity; in general, Thus, taken vided the fraction

their effects on F.r tend to cancel. expressed by equation (1) may be pro-

by differentiation an extra factor

with

I- Into the spectrum side of equation

as representative

of the expected

aliasing,

1. ) into the right-hand

h does not vary widely.

= 4i~~P? power

exp(-2hu). fraction may

(6) be deduced. (3),

Table 1. Aliasedpower.

the aliased

by the same nleans as that used to obtain equation

h/Al

FT
Percent

F,
Percent

F\,

to be F, = [2(7rh/ AX)2 + 2rh/ AX + l]

.
(7)

.exp(-2~hlA.r). The variation of F,; with h/A.r over

0.15 0.5

21 4.3

I
2 4

0.19
3 x 10-J

79 39 5 .03 4x 10-T

the pertinent I.

range is given

in Table

I and in the graph of Figure

Individual anomalies
& = mean height of sensor above magnetic sources. A.r = sample or flight line spacing. FT. F,,and F ,, = atlased power fraction cxoected l r om surveys bf total field. vertical gradient. and total field over point dipole, .. 3 respecuveiy.

It may be
of individual power blocks

considered total field from

desirable anomalies.

to calculate

models the

In this case. of

spectrum

;Ln ensemble

magnetized

is of little interest.

r2n upper limit on the wave-

Aeromagnetic
numbers of interest may be deduced by obtaimng surface, appro-

Survey Design
maps involving high-pass tiltering.

975
such as restdual. maps. The aliased NOI in-

the spectrum the sharpest starting dipolar

of a point dipole likely point magnetic is equation

at the earth s anomaly. (5). An

downward power could dividual crucial

continued,

or gradient results

in such maps would such survey anomalies

be intolerably be used

high.

priate is a

The point dipole which Dirac is

in modeling

magnetization

distribution (2-D)

because

high-wavenumber would

detail.

equivalent function that rn,(h. pression

to a two-dimensional with its uniform

delta so ex-

in such an application.

be aliased.

wavenumber

spectrum, The

1,) may may

be regarded

as constant. easily

Gradiometer
Table dient) line I

survey
shows that a pradiometer at the above be (vertical suggested graflight

be evaluated point dipole

quite

for the case pole, for

of a vertical which IS Mf(lr, L =

at the magnetic N = n =

survey spacing

conducted (2h) percent lower

M = I = m = 0 and

I. The result

would

intolerably power would

aliased. in the

Thirty-nine t , h) = 2rrm,(u, t,)r exp(-hr), unexpected

of the total wavenumbers

appearing distort

map to the point of being misleading. This is well

unrecognizable illustrated by

and highly Hood et al survey and flight contoured and every

and the power E(r) where portion

spectrum =

becomes exp(

4n-2m~r2

-2hr),
Hence,

( 1979)
(8)
the proas before. flown line using fourth be

who show the results of a frddiometer over a test area at a terram clearance was then lines,

M,~ is taken of aliased

to be constant. power F,,

spacing

of

IS0

m which alternate

is calculated

all the data, flight line.

flight

The resulting

expression

is identical

to that obtained columns I are power

Only

the first of the three maps can This is not line surprising spacings and

for FC; in equation of Table common. fraction

(7) so that the F,, and F ,

considered

meaningful. aliasings = I), 300 are

I and the curves Here

in the graph of Figure for the aliased

since of 600 IS0

the expected m (/;/AX

at flight m (/;/A.!5, 39, and

the expression

= 0.5). 79

is exact because about

it does not depend

upon any popu-

m (h/A.r

= 0.25) (Table I ).

percent,

assumptions lation.

the nature

of a statistical

respectively Thus, spacing

grddiometer equal results

surveys should be flown total field

at a line surveys, residual

to 7;. Similarly, will be processed should

SURVEY

DESIGN

whose

to produce

or gradient

maps.

be flown

at this spacing. be performed low-pass to

Total field survey

The between magnetic cover, and/or over terrain naturally However, parameter the /I is the and the mean upper height difference of the

Downward 0.5

continuation

could safely digital

A, but no lower

without

tiltering

sensor

surfaces

before

the continuation.

sources.

Where terrain

there

is thick

sedimentary

it represents water exposed layer

clearance However, it

plus sediment for surveys is simply aliased the

Individual
The

anomalies
of individual the anomalies is crucially end of the

thickness.

modeling upon

igneous The upon

basement, tolerable the purpose

dependent spectrum the

high-wavenumber

clearance. depends if any

power

because most of the information shape of the source The beins spectra

concerning modeled is

of the survey. as contouring power should value spacing con-

detailed

interpolation then

such

concentrated

in this

region.

discussed end by frequency ensures

is to be performed, not exceed, of 0.5

the aliased giving

here are all tapered the exponential inherent

at the high-wavenumber term so that the

say, 5 percent, Thus,

a minimum the sample

decay

for %/A.r.

neither

folding

in the aliasing power

phenomenon appears

nor the line ditions make

spacing it clear power example, showed

should

exceed

2/r unless

that most of the aliased wavenumber region where end, making

at the highin the very

that a low

proportion

of shortwould of the

it unreliable is essential. if there

wavelength occur. for

is to be expected. if the magnetic

This fabric

reliability only

Thus.

reliable

modeling aliasing.

IS possible Reference and flight 2. Naudy

is no appreciable

countryside lines were restriction somewhat, features

a pronounced perpendicular

strike

and flight The

to Table

I shows that this occurs less than or equal

arranged on flight at the

to that strike.

for sample to one-half one-quarter His choice

line spacings

line spacing could then be relaxed expense of definition of short

( I97

) used

a sample spacing of modeling. exceeds as may the be

z in a discussion of sample

of automated clearly above and.

or structures

such as faults with other strikes, could not, in general, to calculate derived

density

The results of such a survey be used with any confidence

minimum expected,

criterion his results

suggested

are reliable.

976 Table 2. Maximum flight line spacings. Survey t>tpe

Total field Total field Vertical gradient Total lield Intended use contour map Computation of gradient, etc., mapa Gradient contour map Modeling of single anomalic\ 27; 7; h hi2

Reid
resolution even local surveys might be flown tiith at 150 m or down to

lower, of

defining meters.

features Closer with

scales

hundreds easily

definition surveys

could for

most which

be achieved between valid.

ground

the relations are equally

line spacing

and sensor height

The high-resolution the Geological sheets 31 F/cl-h Survey

aeromagnetic of Canada but does

survey (1977) not

flown by over map the

meets. suggested.

exceed.

design criteria qurveys flown and thus the

Unfortunately,

tnany other

A.r = mau.imum Right !ine or sample spa&& II= mean height OF \ensor above magnetic wurccs

rPilr_ntly dn not~pnsseqs this resolution shallow. short-wavelength aliased. anomalies

may well

be intolerably

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS CONCLUSIONS It has been shown that a priori calculation

expected marizes should leading aliasing the is a simple flight matter. line Table spacings The maximum of the 2 sumwhich if miscan

I would
valuable Holroyd their

like

to thank

Dr.

P.

L.

McFadden and M.

for T.

discussions

and Dr.

P. J. Hood

and P. H. McGrath in reprint helpful referees. form.

for permission

to quote like to

paper

would

also from

be used results

in various

types

of survey

acknowledge anonymous

suggestions

several

are to be avoided. somewhat

criterion

occasionally fabric

be relaxed

if the

magnetic strike.

REFERENCES
Blackman. R. B.. and Tukey, J. W.. 1959, The measuretnent of power spectra: New York. Dover Publications. Geological Survey of Canada, 1977, Geophysical series (high-rcwlution aeromagnetic total field), maps 20, 2lSG-20,222G of \heet\ il F/ la-h: Ottawa, Dept. of Energy, Mines and Rewurces. Gunn. P. .I., 1975, Linear transformations of gravity and magnetic fields: Geophys. Prosp., v. 23, p. 300-312. Hood, P. J.. Holroyd. M. T.. and McGrath, P. H.. 1979, Magnetic methods applied to ba\e metal exploration, in Geophysics and geochemhitry m the search for metallic ores: Proc. Expl. 77 \ymp.. Ottawa, October, Geol. Surv. Can., Econ. Geol. rep. 31. Naudy, H., 197 I. Automatic dcterminatmn of depth on aeromagnetic profiles Geophy\ica, v. 36. p. 717-722. Spector. A., and Grant, F. S.. 1970. Statistical models for interpreting aeromagnetic data: Geophysics. v. 35. p. 293-302.

of the countryside

has a pronounced is mainly

Since the effect ofaliasing number

at the high-wavecan always upward sensible advanta2 because at

end of the spectrum, by low-pass but In-line that

the situation

be improved continuation). choice geously collection minimal purpose conducted priate defined of x.

filtering

(preferably avoided by

it is better sample

spacing

could

be half of extra

suggested

in Table

this cost.

extra

information

is possible

The choice of flying height itself depends of the survey. at a height line Regional of 500 surveys

upon the might be

or 1000

m with approwould be

flight and

spacing.

Broad

t eatures suppressed.

local

features

High-