The mathematical and physical basis of defining the 3-D analytic funct
ion and the corresponding analytic signal is critically examined, and
it is proved that 3-D analytic signals based on (1) scalar and (2) vec
tor additions of the horizontal derivatives of the total magnetic fiel
ds are completely identical. Two sets of simulated gridded data are co
nsidered, and 3-D analytic signals are computed using both scalar and
vector additions and are found to be identical. The equality of scalar
and vector additions of 3-D analytic signals is further demonstrated
with the help of gridded-surface vertical magnetic field data from the
Krishna-Godavari Basin, Andhra Pradesh, India.