Stratigraphic Thickness True Vs Apparent Calculator
For a bed cropped out over width w perpendicular to strike on horizontal ground: true thickness t = w sin(delta) and vertical (apparent) thickness t_v = w tan(delta), with dip delta in degrees.
Description
For a bed cropped out over width w perpendicular to strike on horizontal ground: true thickness t = w sin(delta) and vertical (apparent) thickness t_v = w tan(delta), with dip delta in degrees.
Stratigraphic Thickness True Vs Apparent Calculator: For a bed cropped out over width w perpendicular to strike on horizontal ground: true thickness t = w sin(delta) and vertical (apparent) thickness t_v = w tan(delta), with dip delta in degrees.
When to use Stratigraphic Thickness True Vs Apparent
Use this geological calculation for a transparent first-pass interpretation of measured rock, soil, fluid, well, stratigraphic, isotopic, geophysical, or seismic data under an explicitly selected model.
- Outcrop width
- Outcrop map width measured horizontally, perpendicular to strike, in meters.
- True dip
- True dip of the beds in degrees, strictly between 0 and 90.
How Stratigraphic Thickness True Vs Apparent works
For a bed cropped out over width w perpendicular to strike on horizontal ground: true thickness t = w sin(delta) and vertical (apparent) thickness t_v = w tan(delta), with dip delta in degrees. The tool evaluates the supplied inputs together and returns the named outputs below; it does not infer omitted operating conditions or change the units shown.1
- True thickness
- True stratigraphic thickness in meters.
- Vertical thickness
- Vertical apparent thickness in meters.
Limitations and assumptions
- Geological models are scale-, site-, method-, and calibration-dependent. Heterogeneity, anisotropy, sampling, diagenesis, pressure-temperature history, instrument response, boundary conditions, and empirical-correlation range can dominate the result.
- Use finite inputs in the displayed units and preserve more precision than the final presentation requires. Independently verify safety-critical, financial, compliance, or production decisions.
Alternative or Complementary approaches
Compare independent measurements and models, retain units and analytical metadata, propagate uncertainty, and validate interpretations against logs, cores, maps, laboratory data, or field observations.
References
-
Geology — Wikipedia contributors
Similar or alternative tools
- Apparent Dip Calculator
Apparent dip seen on a vertical section: tan(delta_apparent) = tan(delta_true) * cos(theta), where theta is the angle between the section and the dip direction.
- True Thickness From Apparent Calculator
Convert an apparent thickness measured on a vertical traverse to true bed thickness: t_true = t_apparent * cos(theta), where theta is the angle between the traverse and the dip direction.
- Isopach Thickness Calculator
True stratigraphic thickness (isopach) measured perpendicular to bedding from a vertical thickness: t = T * cos(dip).