1

st
& 2
nd
Order Derivatives
Let the potential be:
2 1
2
2 1
1 3
) , ( ) , , ( dk dk e e
y ik x ik z k
k k A z y x U
+
1
]
1

then the gravity is:
2 1
2
2 1 3
1 3
) , ( ) , , ( dk dk e e
y ik x ik z k
k k A k
z
U
z y x g
+
1
]
1

Note that the term within the square brackets [ ] is the Amplitude Spectrum, which is dependent on k
1
and k
2
(since the wave-numbers are related by:
2
2
2
1 3
k k k + ). The Radially Averaged Spectrum is
obtained by averaging the amplitude (or energy) spectrum along a circle in the (k
1
, k
2
) plane with
radius k
3
.
From the above, we see that the amplitude spectrum of g is the amplitude spectrum of the potential
multiplied by the wave-number k
3
. For small values of k
3
(long wavelengths)
,
the product suppresses the
amplitude spectrum of the potential. However, the product amplifies the high wave-number (short
wavelength) components. Thus, 1) g is more sensitive to near surface mass anomalies while the
potential sees farther away. 2) Since noise has short wavelengths, they get amplified in the
Derivative Filters. Therefore, data need to be Low Pass filtered before applying the Derivative Filters.
Derivative Filters are used to : 1) remove regional trends and amplify local anomalies 2)locate the edge
of anomalies so that the size of the anomaly (geologic structure/target) can be estimated. In the next
few pages, one can see that a peak-trough couple in the second derivative (horizontal or vertical) is
associated with the edges of a horizontal/dipping thin sheet. This is true for both gravity and
magnetics. For a buried sphere, the derivatives are less useful. 3) First derivatives are used in Euler
Deconvolution.
Relation between 2
nd
order horizontal & vertical derivatives :
2 1
2
2 1 1
1 3
) , ( dk dk e e
y ik x ik z k
k k A ik
x
U +
1
]
1

2 1
2
2 1
2
2
1 3
2
1
) , ( dk dk e e
y ik x ik z k
k k A k
x
U +
1
]
1

2 1
2
2 1
2
2
1 3
2
2
) , ( dk dk e e
y ik x ik z k
k k A k
y
U +
1
]
1

So,
( )
2 1
2
2 1
2
2
2
2
1 3
2
2
2
1
) , ( dk dk e e
y ik x ik z k
k k A k k
y
U
x
U +
1
]
1

Using
2
2
2
1 3
k k k +
, this
becomes
2
2
2 1
2
2 1
2
2
2
2
1 3
2
3
) , (
z
U y ik x ik z k
k k A k
y
U
x
U
dk dk e e

+
1
]
1

, which is Laplace
Equation. Similarly,
) , , ( ) , ( ) , , (
2
2
2 1
2
2 1
2
2
2
2
1 3
3
3
z y x g
z
y ik x ik z k
k k A k z y x g
y x
dk dk e e

+
1
]
1

,
_

-1.2
-1.0
-0.8
-0.6
-0.4
-0.2
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
N
o
r
m
a
l
i
z
e
d

R
e
s
p
o
n
s
e
-1000 0 1000 2000
x (m)
Gravity due to Horizontal Thin Sheet
2nd Vert Derivative
1st Vert Derivative
Gravity Z=100 m
-1.2
-1.0
-0.8
-0.6
-0.4
-0.2
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
N
o
r
m
a
l
i
z
e
d

R
e
s
p
o
n
s
e
-1000 0 1000 2000
x (m)
2nd Horiz Derivative
1st Horiz Derivative
Gravity Z=100 m
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
-1000 -500 0 500 1000 1500 2000
Depth=100
Depth=50
Depth=500
Horiz. Sheet of Finite Extent
Effect of depth
Locating the edge with 1st & 2nd grad
-1.5
-1.0
-0.5
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
-800 -300 200 700 1200 1700
Sheet of Finite Extent, Dip=30
Norm gravity
Norm 1st horiz grad
Norm 2nd horiz grad
Norm gravity
Norm 1st horiz grad
Norm 2nd horiz grad
-1.5
-1.0
-0.5
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
-800 -300 200 700 1200 1700
distance from the left edge (m)
N
o
r
m
a
l
i
z
e
d

R
e
s
p
o
n
s
e
N
o
r
m
a
l
i
z
e
d

R
e
s
p
o
n
s
e
distance from the left edge (m)
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
N
o
r
m
a
l
i
z
e
d

R
e
s
p
o
n
s
e
-1000 0 1000 2000
x(m)
Horizontal Magnetic Thin Sheet at North Pole
buried at 100 meters depth
Vertical Derivatives
Norm 2nd Vert Derv
Norm 1st Vert Derv
Norm Total Field
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
N
o
r
m
a
l
i
z
e
d

R
e
s
p
o
n
s
e
-1000 0 1000 2000
x(m)
Norm 2nd Horz Derv
Norm 1st Horz Derv
Norm Total Field
Horizontal Derivatives
-0.5
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
N
o
r
m
a
l
i
z
e
d

R
e
s
p
o
n
s
e
0 100 200 300 400 500
x(m)
Depth of sphere = 100 m,
Radius of sphere = 100 m.
2nd Z-Derv of Gravity
2nd X-Derv of Gravity
1st X-Derv of Gravity
1st Z-Derv of Gravity
Gravity
Geopotential