Probabilistic estimation of model parameters through grid search approaches: applications to geomagnetic anomaly source estimations

Abstract Model parameters, extracted from observed data that inherently contain uncertainties, necessitate estimation as probability distributions. In geophysical problem-solving, especially when dealing with a few model parameters, the conventional approach employing a grid search is widely used to...

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Main Authors: Hiroshi Ichihara, Tatsu Kuwatani, Noriko Tada, Kenji Nagata
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-03-01
Series:Earth, Planets and Space
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-025-02141-9
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author Hiroshi Ichihara
Tatsu Kuwatani
Noriko Tada
Kenji Nagata
author_facet Hiroshi Ichihara
Tatsu Kuwatani
Noriko Tada
Kenji Nagata
author_sort Hiroshi Ichihara
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Model parameters, extracted from observed data that inherently contain uncertainties, necessitate estimation as probability distributions. In geophysical problem-solving, especially when dealing with a few model parameters, the conventional approach employing a grid search is widely used to determine model parameters that explain observed data. However, the metrics of the results derived from the grid search approach are predominantly based on residuals between observed data and the model’s anticipated response, such as the root mean square misfit, which lacks representation as a probability distribution. This study introduces a straightforward technique to transform the distributions of root mean square misfits acquired via grid search into probability distributions, facilitating a statistical evaluation grounded in a Bayesian framework. The outcomes of this methodology are effectively visualized through marginal probability distributions. Employing this method, we investigated synthetic geomagnetic anomaly datasets to evaluate the location and magnitude of magnetic moments of the source. The synthetic tests showed that the method is applicable not only for well-posed problems, but also for ill-posed problems, which are challenging to evaluate solely using root mean square misfits. Subsequently, we applied this methodology to real geomagnetic anomaly data reflecting temporal magnetic fluctuations induced by volcanic activity within the Nishinoshima volcano. The method’s versatility allows its broad application across various geophysical problems, including identification of earthquake epicenters, analysis of gravity anomalies and surface geodetic deformation, and their concurrent analyses. Furthermore, this approach easily utilizes prior grid search outcomes to evaluate the probability of model parameters. Graphical Abstract
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spelling doaj-art-13881f5d415e459ba7e5f5eae2cb03a62025-08-20T01:57:47ZengSpringerOpenEarth, Planets and Space1880-59812025-03-0177111110.1186/s40623-025-02141-9Probabilistic estimation of model parameters through grid search approaches: applications to geomagnetic anomaly source estimationsHiroshi Ichihara0Tatsu Kuwatani1Noriko Tada2Kenji Nagata3Earthquake and Volcano Research Center, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya UniversityResearch Institute for Marine Geodynamics, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and TechnologyResearch Institute for Marine Geodynamics, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and TechnologyNational Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)Abstract Model parameters, extracted from observed data that inherently contain uncertainties, necessitate estimation as probability distributions. In geophysical problem-solving, especially when dealing with a few model parameters, the conventional approach employing a grid search is widely used to determine model parameters that explain observed data. However, the metrics of the results derived from the grid search approach are predominantly based on residuals between observed data and the model’s anticipated response, such as the root mean square misfit, which lacks representation as a probability distribution. This study introduces a straightforward technique to transform the distributions of root mean square misfits acquired via grid search into probability distributions, facilitating a statistical evaluation grounded in a Bayesian framework. The outcomes of this methodology are effectively visualized through marginal probability distributions. Employing this method, we investigated synthetic geomagnetic anomaly datasets to evaluate the location and magnitude of magnetic moments of the source. The synthetic tests showed that the method is applicable not only for well-posed problems, but also for ill-posed problems, which are challenging to evaluate solely using root mean square misfits. Subsequently, we applied this methodology to real geomagnetic anomaly data reflecting temporal magnetic fluctuations induced by volcanic activity within the Nishinoshima volcano. The method’s versatility allows its broad application across various geophysical problems, including identification of earthquake epicenters, analysis of gravity anomalies and surface geodetic deformation, and their concurrent analyses. Furthermore, this approach easily utilizes prior grid search outcomes to evaluate the probability of model parameters. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-025-02141-9Grid searchProbability distributionMagnetic anomalyMarginal distributionBayesian estimation
spellingShingle Hiroshi Ichihara
Tatsu Kuwatani
Noriko Tada
Kenji Nagata
Probabilistic estimation of model parameters through grid search approaches: applications to geomagnetic anomaly source estimations
Earth, Planets and Space
Grid search
Probability distribution
Magnetic anomaly
Marginal distribution
Bayesian estimation
title Probabilistic estimation of model parameters through grid search approaches: applications to geomagnetic anomaly source estimations
title_full Probabilistic estimation of model parameters through grid search approaches: applications to geomagnetic anomaly source estimations
title_fullStr Probabilistic estimation of model parameters through grid search approaches: applications to geomagnetic anomaly source estimations
title_full_unstemmed Probabilistic estimation of model parameters through grid search approaches: applications to geomagnetic anomaly source estimations
title_short Probabilistic estimation of model parameters through grid search approaches: applications to geomagnetic anomaly source estimations
title_sort probabilistic estimation of model parameters through grid search approaches applications to geomagnetic anomaly source estimations
topic Grid search
Probability distribution
Magnetic anomaly
Marginal distribution
Bayesian estimation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-025-02141-9
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AT tatsukuwatani probabilisticestimationofmodelparametersthroughgridsearchapproachesapplicationstogeomagneticanomalysourceestimations
AT norikotada probabilisticestimationofmodelparametersthroughgridsearchapproachesapplicationstogeomagneticanomalysourceestimations
AT kenjinagata probabilisticestimationofmodelparametersthroughgridsearchapproachesapplicationstogeomagneticanomalysourceestimations