Trend surface analysis involves the recognition and measurement of trends in the properties of areally distributed samples. It is a type of regression analysis in which a relationship is sought between the values of a dependent variable (the property of interest) and two independent variables (geographical parameters). The type of data in which trends can be recognized and measured include the chemical or modal composition of rocks (e.g., % SiO2, % hornblende), the composition of minerals, the specific gravity, or any other measurable property.
A trend surface is a plane or curved surface, defined by a mathematical equation that relates predicted values of the dependent variable to geographical parameters. The type of surface most commonly calculated is a polynomial surface. For example, if x and y represent the geographical parameters (e.g., E-W and N-S coordinates) and z represents the parameter whose variation is being studied (the dependent variable), the expression
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© 1989 Van Nostrand Reinhold
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Hall, A. (1989). Trend surface analysis in petrology . In: Petrology. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-30845-8_245
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