Short Note: Comments About Autokrigeability in Cokriging Based on an Empirical Study

Abstract

Given spatially coregionalized variables, Z1, Z2, . . . , Z M , their condition is one of isotopy if data are available for each variable at every sampling location (Wackernagel, 1995, p. 144). If an undersampling situation exists wherein some information for one or more variables is missing from some sampling locations, then a condition of partial heterotopy exists (Wackernagel, 1995, p. 144). In an isotopic data configuration, a variable is said to be autokrigeable if its cokriging from the set of M coregionalized variables equals its kriging. This concept is examined empirically by using a 1984 Landsat thematic mapper (TM) scene of Walker Lake, Mineral County, Nevada. This scene comprises six isotopic coregionalized variables and one variable that is partially heterotopic with this isotopic group. The focus herein is on autokrigeability as it relates to isotopic and partially heterotopic data.