Plotting airborne magnetic data

These images show a large data set aeromagnetics data set plotted using colour contour mapping with
several different colour scales. Click buttons below for various versions of this map. Note that using nonlinear colour scales (as in all but the first image) will obscure the relative amplitudes of individual
anomalies. Therefore the choice of colour scale must be made carefully if
Detailed comparison of anomaly magnitudes is important;
Assessment of unusually large anomalies is required;
Interpretation of subtle variations within a specific small range of values is necessary;
Etc.
However, if the need is for interpretation of structural information or geologic trends over large areas,
then non linear scales may be the right choice.
Linear colour mapping. This is not always ideal for magnetic data because a few strong anomalies
can cause most of the map to appear in one colour zone.
1.

Latitude (vertical) and longitude in tenths of a degree.

"Equal area" colour mapping. Each colour zone is assigned an equal number of data points. This
tends to hide the location and shape of individual anomalies, but helps when structural mapping over
larger distances is desirable.
2.

Latitude (vertical) and longitude in tenths of a degree.

3. An alternative colour mapping with equal area scaling.

Latitude (vertical) and longitude in tenths of a degree.

4.

Colour scale customized specifically for this data set. Custom colour scales may be worth while if detail
in certain areas needs to be visible without suppressing the visual impact of other regions that have
very different anomalous values. In the case shown here, the gray colour between dark and light blue
helps show detail that is not clear on other versions of the map.

Latitude (vertical) and longitude in tenths of a degree.

F. Jones, UBC Earth and Ocean Sciences.