Abstract
Free air gravity maps can be generated using satellite radar altimetry for all offshore areas between 828 S and 828 N. Such maps are especially useful for regional structural mapping as all structural features yielding density contrasts will contribute to the gravity field at both regional and local scales. However, the gravity maps will often be dominated by major regional features which can overshadow relatively minor local features, e.g. small basins, basement highs and fault zones. Nevertheless, these minor features are describable provided that the shorter wave length gravity anomalies can be enhanced. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that satellite gravity data, carefully processed by image enhancement techniques, may be used as a suitable basis for fast regional structural mapping. The Barents Sea, which contains a number of structural features of different ages, styles and trends provides an example. The well-known south-western part was used to investigate the limitation of the method, while the data in the poorly investigated eastern areas were used to search for previously unrecognized structures. The first part of the paper focuses on data quality and image enhancement techniques. In the second part, the processed gravity image is evaluated by comparing it with a structural map of the Barents Sea (Johansen et al. 1993). Finally, a previously unknown, large, SE±NW trend observed in the eastern Barents Sea is further investigated with the aid of regional gravity modelling.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have