Computer Graphics in Geophysics

Abstract

It has become increasingly apparent that the large quantities of geophysical data being collected by modern instrumentation must be efficiently stored, processed, and displayed before meaningful interpretation can be undertaken. To meet these needs a man‐machine interactive computing system has been developed to provide the geophysicist with a direct communication link to the digital computer and methods for providing two‐ and three‐dimensional representations of geophysical data on cathode‐ray tubes (CRT). Gravity, magnetic, resistivity, and induced‐polarization responses have been modeled on the interactive system and displayed on a CRT. The interactive modeling processes allow the direct interchange of geophysical variables and data followed by the display of the recomputed models and corresponding theoretical responses. Model parameters can be monitored visually and continuously adjusted for a better solution. In addition, color‐shaded perspective views of three‐dimensional surfaces representing aeromagnetic, gravity, topographic, and correlative data also have been produced. Seismic data processing has been demonstrated for filter synthesis and convolution with interactive communication for program commands and data modification. Processed seismic sections have been displayed on a CRT in two‐dimensional, halftone views.