Geophysical Applications of Fractional Order Gradients

E-34 GEOPHYSICAL APPLICATIONS OF FRACTIONAL ORDER GRADIENTS 1 Abstract Gradients of magnetic and gravity data are used routinely to sharpen the edges of anomalies or as input to interpretation techniques such as analytic signal analysis or Euler deconvolution. The most commonly used gradients are of 1 st and 2 nd order higher orders being used less frequently due to noise problems. This paper discusses the benefits of a generalised approach using fractional gradients demonstrating their usefulness as an aid to interpretation. Fractional horizontal gradients are suggested as a means of avoiding the instability problems present when magnetic data from low