Computation of regional gravity anomaly — A novel approach

A new scheme is put forward based on the shape function concept of finite element approximation to compute regional gravity anomaly. The uniqueness of this approach is that excepting eight (or twelve) discrete gravity measurements coinciding with the eight (or twelve) nodes of a quadratic (or cubic) isoparametric element superimposing the map space, often very large, no other observed gravity data are invoked to compute the regional. Tests on two Bouguer gravity fields, an oil prospect and a rift valley confirmed better resolution by this approach. This technique is straight forward, uses simple mathematics to be easily automated and yields repeatable results.