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Comment on “Stacking marine magnetic anomalies: A critique” by Robert L. Parker
Author(s) -
Blakely Richard J.,
Cox Allan
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl002i005p00185
Subject(s) - stacking , wavelength , magnetic anomaly , noise (video) , anomaly (physics) , geology , waveform , geophysics , physics , optics , condensed matter physics , nuclear magnetic resonance , computer science , voltage , artificial intelligence , quantum mechanics , image (mathematics)
Noise in marine magnetic anomalies becomes significant at wavelengths below about 3 km. Stacking (or averaging) together reasonable numbers of marine profiles in order to enhance two‐dimensional anomalies at the expense of noise does not appreciably reduce this critical wavelength. It is shown, however, that such short wavelengths are of negligible importance to the waveform of the anomaly and that, if the noise is random, stacking substantially improves the anomaly‐to‐noise ratio for longer wavelengths. For non‐random noise, such as two‐dimensional topographic features, it is essential to compare data from widely separated regions to discern actual paleofield changes recorded by the ocean crust.