Thematic map analysis using multiple regression

Thematic maps can be analyzed by multiple regression for (I) forward predic tion where a younger geological structural map is written as a least-square s function of older maps for information on historical perspectives or (2) by backward prediction where an older map is regressed stepwise on a series of younger ones to aid in prospecting. The technique was evaluated by a se ries of structure maps on different geological horizons from the U.S. Midco ntinent (Kansas) where the forward prediction proved more effective than ba ckward. In forward prediction, the first map entered into a multiple regres sion is invariably the immediately underlying one as expected. On the other hand, the first map in a backward prediction is not necessarily related to stratigraphy which limits the utility of the technique for prospecting.