Scribd
Upload
10 views15 pages

LECTURE 3_DATA PROCESSING

The document discusses data processing techniques in computational physics and geophysics, emphasizing the importance of handling data effectively for employability. It covers concepts such as Fourier analysis, digital filtering, and the effects of different types of filters on data. Additionally, it highlights the challenges of aliasing and the application of these techniques to gridded data.

Uploaded by

bsc-gly-01-22
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
10 views15 pages

LECTURE 3_DATA PROCESSING

The document discusses data processing techniques in computational physics and geophysics, emphasizing the importance of handling data effectively for employability. It covers concepts such as Fourier analysis, digital filtering, and the effects of different types of filters on data. Additionally, it highlights the challenges of aliasing and the application of these techniques to gridded data.

Uploaded by

bsc-gly-01-22
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 15

PHY414-Computational Physics

/Geophysics

By
Dr. Justice SP Mlatho
Physics Department
Chancellor College
Box 280
Zomba
Lecture 2: Data Processing

1
Data Processing
Chapter 3

•As a science major, you will all eventually have to deal with
data.
•All data has noise
•Devices do not give useful measurements; must convert data
•The better you can handle data, the more employable you will be

2
Wavelength and Fourier Analysis
A Simple Example…
• The granite produces a
negative gravity anomaly
• Variations in the sediment
cover cause noise in the
data
• The noise and the anomaly
have different wavelength
scales
– Fourier analysis
• Separates signals by
wavelength

3
 2 x 
y a sin 
 


General Wave Terms
a

0.5a Amplitude

0
0.5 λ λ 1.5 λ 2λ
Wavelength (λ)
0.5a

-a

• Amplitude (a) =

• Wavelength (λ) =

• Frequency =

• Period =
4
  nx 
y a sin 
 L 
 Harmonic Analysis 1st 5 harmonics
1

0.5

0
0.2 L 0.4 L 0.6 L 0.8 L L
0.5

-1

• Harmonics: multiples of a signal’s half wavelength, L


• Why use harmonics?
– Found in nature and music
• Like a guitar!
– Any wiggly line can be mathematically reproduced by adding
together a series of waves
• Exact match requires ∞ waves

5
Fourier Analysis
Data Separated by Wavelength

• A type of harmonic analysis


where wiggly data are
separated into various
harmonics of differing
amplitude
– Adjusts the amplitudes of
each harmonic
– Can isolate dominant Sum of same harmonics, but with different amplitudes

frequencies/wavelengths in
data and remove unwanted
ones
– Sum of ∞ harmonics
reproduces data exactly
6
What to Remove?

• In this tide data, what type of wavelengths (short or


long) should we remove?
• What causes each? 7
Caveats of Fourier
Analysis
• Requires a complete signal
– Starts and ends at same
value
• Only analyzes wavelengths
that are multiples of the
signal length
• Geologic targets likely have
multiple wavelengths and
may share some
wavelengths with noise.

8
Digital Filtering
• An alternative way to remove unwanted
wavelengths/frequencies: Filtering
• Usually applied to regularly space data
– If data not regular, interpolation can be used
• E.g. A simple 3-point filter :: 1/3 (yn-1 + yn + yn+1)
– Also called
• 3-point running average
• 3-point moving window

Time or Distance 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Value 1 0 5 4 9 4 2 3 1 5
Filtered Value X 2 3 6
• There are also 5-point, 7-point, and n-point filters.
– Some are weighted to remove certain wavelengths 9
Effects of Digital Filters
• Low-pass filter
– Also called
Smoothing filter
– Allows low freq
to “pass through”
• High-pass filter
– Allows high freq
To “pass through”
• Band-pass filter
– Constructed to only let certain
“bands” or frequencies through A subwoofer in
a bandpass box

10
Effects of Digital Filters
• A given filter may
have a very different
effect on data
depending on:
– Wavelength
– Sampling Rate /
Resolution
• A filter can
completely decimate
a signal

11
• If sampling rate (resolution)
approaches wavelength of Aliasing
signal
– May see false patterns
• If sampling rate is less than
signal’s wavelength
– May see false long
wavelength signals
• Aliasing: Discrete (non-
continuous) data can
suggest patterns that are
not real
• Nyquist wavelength = half
the signal’s wavelength.
– This is the minimum sampling
rate to avoid aliasing
Nyquist wavelength the
sampling frequency should
be at least twice the signal
frequency.

12
Gridded Data Processing

• All of the data processing techniques discussed here can


also be applied to gridded or even three-dimensional data
– Can filter directional noise
– Highlights directional features
– Geologists should pay attention in multivariable calculus class! 
• E.g. MAT 311 - CALCUL ANALY GEOM III
– Do not rely on black box computer programs
• E.g. Arc GIS

13
Filtering in 2D :: Gridded Data
• Filters can be created to filter
all types of data
• No technique is perfect
– Great care must be given when
creating a filter or processing
data in general

14
• Read : 2 Geophysical data processing on pages
8 - 20

15

You might also like