Abstract
We are using geostatistical and Fourier methods to
characterize the topography in the Basin and Range Province
of the western United States. It is our eventual goal to use
these quantitative methods to corellate the style of
topography generation due to rifting to the thicknesses and
thermal properties of the continental crust and
lithosphere.
The geostatistical method we are using involves
calculating semivariograms of topography in different
directions. We then model each semivariogram to obtain an
estimate of its range. The ranges are then fit with an
ellipse in order to obtain the orientation of the ellipse,
and the magnitudes of the major and minor axes. We plan to
use this method to map these parameters throughout the Basin
and Range. We hope to be able to distinguish topographic
domains within the Province that will be correlable with
other dynamic parameters.
The Fourier method we are using is based on the work of
John Goff and involves calculating the power spectrum of
topography along traverses in different directions. The
power spectra are interpreted in terms of a best fitting
slope and intercept. We expect to map these parameters as a
function of direction and position and hope to use them in
the same way mentioned above for the geostatistical
results.
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