Reducing the noise in potential field data using an approximation based on vertical continuation filters

• Published in: Journal of applied geophysics Vol. 241; p. 105841
• Main Authors: Pham, Luan Thanh, Oliveira, Saulo P., Pašteka, Roman, de Souza, Jeferson
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2025
• Subjects: Noise attenuation; Physical filter; Potential fields; Vertical continuation filters; Vertical continuation filters; Potential fields; Noise attenuation; Physical filter
• ISSN: 0926-9851
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jappgeo.2025.105841

Noise attenuation plays an important role in interpreting potential fields. Some classical filters such as Gaussian, moving average and Hanning filters can be used to reduce the noise in data. However, these filters may lead to incorrect depth estimates. In this study, we introduce a new algorithm providing an approximation of potential field data using vertical continuation filters (upward and downward continuation), which provides improved performance in reducing noise as a low pass filter. We also simplify the downward continuation method based on Taylor series expansion, providing a formula for its coefficients. The applicability of the presented algorithm is estimated using synthetic datasets and a real dataset of the Olympic Peninsula (United States). We also estimate the effects due to the smoothing of data on the depth estimates using the Tilt-depth technique. The main advantage of the proposed approach is that it removes noise effectively and allows a more accurate quantitative analysis of potential field data. •A physically consistent noise removal method for potential fields has been introduced.•The algorithm is based on upward and downward continuation filters.•We show a simple formula for the coefficients of Taylor-series downward continuation.•The algorithm provides a more accurate approximation of the potential field.•It removes noise effectively and allows a more accurate quantitative analysis.