Curvature for visualization of seismic geomorphology

We illustrate the use of curvature attributes for defining stratigraphic features of interest on horizons mapped in three-dimensional seismic data. Curvature is a two-dimensional property of a curve that quantifies how much the curve deviates from a straight line. Many different types of curvature may be defined for a surface, and these can be more useful than dip, azimuth or even 'conventional' (i.e. second derivative) curvature analyses for defining subtle structural or stratigraphic features of interest. In our workflow, we drape curvature over rendered three-dimensional surfaces and adjust lighting to highlight stratigraphic and structural features of interest. The examples we present are derived from clastic and carbonate settings of various ages, and include applications of curvature analyses to multibeam bathymetry and digital elevation model data.