This paper considers random fields with spectral density having a pole
of fractional order at the origin. This class of models offers a suit
able framework for studying long-range spatial correlation. An approxi
mation to the likelihood function is given for the estimation of model
parameters. The convergence rate of the approximation is obtained and
an iterative method for maximising the approximate likelihood functio
n is indicated. The method is applied to analyse a time series of maxi
mum dairy ozone levels and some texture data.