Upward continuation
Encyclopedia
Upward continuation is a method used in oil exploration
and geophysics
to estimate the values of a gravitational
or magnetic field
by using measurements at a lower elevation and extrapolating upward, assuming continuity
. This technique is commonly used to merge different measurements to a common level so as to reduce scatter and allow for easier analysis.
Oil exploration
Hydrocarbon exploration is the search by petroleum geologists and geophysicists for hydrocarbon deposits beneath the Earth's surface, such as oil and natural gas...
and geophysics
Geophysics
Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
to estimate the values of a gravitational
Gravitational field
The gravitational field is a model used in physics to explain the existence of gravity. In its original concept, gravity was a force between point masses...
or magnetic field
Magnetic field
A magnetic field is a mathematical description of the magnetic influence of electric currents and magnetic materials. The magnetic field at any given point is specified by both a direction and a magnitude ; as such it is a vector field.Technically, a magnetic field is a pseudo vector;...
by using measurements at a lower elevation and extrapolating upward, assuming continuity
Continuous function
In mathematics, a continuous function is a function for which, intuitively, "small" changes in the input result in "small" changes in the output. Otherwise, a function is said to be "discontinuous". A continuous function with a continuous inverse function is called "bicontinuous".Continuity of...
. This technique is commonly used to merge different measurements to a common level so as to reduce scatter and allow for easier analysis.