Processing of Aero Gamma-Ray Spectrometry data as 2D inverse problem

Abstract

Standard processing of AGRS data is based on the well defined one-dimensional theoretical and empirical facts from gamma-ray physics and experience. In many cases it is quite satisfactory approach giving good new information for geology. However there are situations when 1D conditions are violated at least in one of essential parameter ? flight altitudes, rugged topography, abrupt changes in source contents, even aircraft speed (because processing is mostly in time). These deviations might lead to wrong results. Here different approach to processing is suggested, which has some attractive features: it explicitly uses 2D model of topography and ground sources and implements the processing of AGRS data as solution of 2D inverse problem which seems pretty natural for processing the data acquired along the flight lines; it does not uses powerful smoothing of data, it shows spatial resolution ? and does not lose the details arbitrary. Eventually it clearly shows that inverse problem of AGRS has no unique solution, that is silently implied by standard processing.