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651-4013-00L

Potential Field Theory

VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-07-21 00:35:29

Abstract

The course will guide students in learning about the capabilities and limitations of potential field data, namely gravity and magnetic measurements as collected by industry, in determining geological sources.It will follow a mathematical approach, and students will learn to apply mathematical strategies to generate quantitative answers to geophysical questions.

Objective

The course will guide students in learning about the capabilities and limitations of potential field data, namely gravity and magnetic measurements as collected by industry, in determining geological sources. It will follow a mathematical approach, and students will learn to apply mathematical strategies to generate quantitative answers to geophysical questions.

Content

Part I: Concept of work & energy, conservative fields, the Newtonian potential, Laplace's and Poisson's equation, solutions in Cartesian/spherical geometry, the Geoid, gravity instrumentation, field data processing, depth rules for isolated bodies, Fourier methods. Part II: Magnetic potential, dipole and current loops, distributed magnetization, remanent and induced magnetization, nonuniqueness & ``annihilators'', field data processing, magnetic instrumentation, anomalies from total field data, reduction to the pole, statistical methods. Part III: Applicability to DC electrical methods: resistivity sounding.

Resources

Literature

R. J. Blakeley, Potential Theory in Gravity and Magnetic Applications, Cambridge University Press, 1995.

General Information