A Multi-Scale Scratch Analysis Method for Quantitative Interpretation of Regional Gravity Fields

This paper presents new systematic methods of regional gravity data processing that combine theories based on multi‐scale wavelet analysis, spectral analysis of potential fields, geophysical inversion, and information extraction. We call this data processing system as the multi‐scale scratch analysis for delineation of crustal structures, deformation belts and division of continental tectonic units. The multi‐scale scratch analysis contains four modules; they are spectral analysis for division of density layers, decomposition of the field by using wavelet transformation and multi‐scale analysis, depth estimation and density inversion of decomposed gravity anomalies, and scratch analysis. The basic principles, application techniques and examples for each module are explained. As a complicated and sophisticated process, the multi‐discipline research on regional geophysics from geophysical investigation to tectonic results requires combination of new methods and techniques coming from different disciplines, to build a wide and thick theoretic base for supporting the multi‐discipline research. The multi‐scale scratch analysis combines supporting bases coming from applied mathematics, geophysics, and information science respectively.