Error Characteristic Analysis and Error Source Identification of Aeromagnetic Field Gradient Tensor Measurements

Aeromagnetic gradient tensor measurement has become a powerful method in geological surveys, mineral resource exploration, and other applications due to its ability to resist temporal changes of the geomagnetic field and its ability to provide rich information and be highly efficient. Various factors may affect the quality of aeromagnetic gradient tensor measurements, including systematic errors of the measurement system, magnetic interference from the carrying platform, and unexpected environmental impacts. But there are no methods for analyzing and identifying them at present. Therefore, we model an error source identification method based on a transforming deviation matrix, which is constructed according to the generalized Hilbert transform relations among the tensor components and reflects the error characteristics of the measurements. Our method provides a basis for guiding data processing and reducing waste of financial, material, and human resources through timely adjustments of experimental schemes. The correctness and engineering practicality of the method have been verified by simulation and field experiments.