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Sedimentary basin analysis using airborne gravity data: a case study from the Bohai Bay Basin, China

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Abstract

In this paper, we discuss the application of an airborne gravity survey to sedimentary basin analysis. Using high-precision airborne gravity data constrained by drilling and seismic data from the Bohai Bay Basin in eastern China, we interpreted faults, structural elements, sedimentary thickness, structural styles and local structures (belts) in the central area of the Basin by the wavelet transform method. Subsequently, these data were subtracted from the Bouguer gravity to calculate the residual gravity anomalies. On this basis, the faults were interpreted mainly by linear zones of high gravity gradients and contour distortion, while the sedimentary thicknesses were computed by the Euler deconvolution. The structural styles were identified by the combination of gravity anomalies and the local structures interpreted by the first vertical derivative of the residual gravity. The results showed evidence for seven faults, one sag and ten new local structure belts.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the reviewers Ingo Heyde and Thomas Jahr and the Editor in Chief Prof. Wolf-Christian Dullo for their constructive and useful comments that have improved this paper. Special thanks are expressed to Professor Zhihong Guo of China Aero Geophysical Survey and Remote Sensing Center for Land and Resources, for his scientific contribution in data processing. Our sincere thanks also go to other technical personnel for their participation in data acquisition. This study was supported by the National Important Special Project of Science and Technology of China (Grant No.GZH201200301).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. China Aero Geophysical Survey and Remote Sensing Center for Land and Resources, Beijing, 100083, China

    Wenyong Li, Yanxu Liu, Jianxin Zhou, Xihua Zhou & Bing Li

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  1. Wenyong Li
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  2. Yanxu Liu
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  3. Jianxin Zhou
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  4. Xihua Zhou
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  5. Bing Li
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Correspondence to Wenyong Li.

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Li, W., Liu, Y., Zhou, J. et al. Sedimentary basin analysis using airborne gravity data: a case study from the Bohai Bay Basin, China. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 105, 2241–2252 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-015-1284-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-015-1284-x

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