THEORITICAL MODEL OF

VARIOGRAM
LESSON 5
 FITTING VARIOGRAM MODELS

• Why do we need a variogram model?

 We need a variogram value for some distance or direction for
which we do not have a sample variogram value.
 FITTING VARIOGRAM MODELS

Fitting variogram models can be difficult

• The accuracy of the observed semivariance is not constant
• The variation may be anisotropic
• The experimental variogram may contain much point-to-point
fluctuation
• Most models are non-linear in one or more parameters
• Both visual inspection and statistical fitting are recommended
 FITTING VARIOGRAM MODELS

Fitting variogram models may be poor

• Chose unsuitable model in the first place
• Give poor estimates of the parameters at the start of the
iteration
• A lot of scatter in the expertimental variogram
• The computer program was faulty
 SEMIVARIOGRAM MODELS

• It is a mathematical expression that results from curve fitting a

function to the experimental variogram.
• Models are used to determine variogram parameters that are
necessary in both estimation (kriging) and conditional
simulation procedures.
• Model variograms can be classified according to the presence
or absance of sill into two groups:
• Models with sill (transition models)
• Models without sill (drift or trend models)
VARIOGRAM MODEL WITH
SILL (BOUNDED MODEL)
 A. NUGGET

Nugget Form

1.2

1
Semivariogram

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Lag
B. SPHERICAL MODEL (MATHERON
MODEL)
 B. SPHERICAL MODEL (MATHERON
MODEL)
•
B. SPHERICAL MODEL (MATHERON
MODEL)
C. EXPONENTIAL MODEL (FORMERY
MODEL)
 C. EXPONENTIAL MODEL (FORMERY
MODEL)
•
C. EXPONENTIAL MODEL (FORMERY
MODEL)

Spherical model fit the data between 15 and 40 m

better than exponential. Only a minority of the
observed points fall below the exponential curve. A
Best exponential fit shortening of the range of influence to compensate for
this result in a marked change in slope at the beginning
of the curve
 D. GAUSSIAN

•
 E. POWER

Power Law Form

70

60
Semivariogram

50
exp = 0.8
40
exp = 1
30 exp = 1.2

20

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

Lag
VARIOGRAM MODEL WITHOUT
SILL (UNBOUNDED MODEL)
 A. LINEAR MODEL

•
 B. LOGARITHMIC MODEL OR DE
WIJSIAN MODEL
•
SINE MODEL
COSINE MODEL
EXAMPLES
 VARIOGRAM MODEL WITH SILL
(BOUNDED MODEL)
Let us again at the experimental curve. There seems to be an
‘intermediate’ sill, reached at about 14 m and a value on the γ-
axis of 1.95 – 0.40 = 1.55 (to allow for nugget effect). We seem
to have a mixture of two spherical type models, one with a
shortish range and one with a range of about 50 m. Let us try
out this tentative model and see how it fits the experimental
semi-variogram. We have a fairly complex model:

C0 = 0.40 (log%)2
a1 = 14 m C1 = 1.55 (log%)2
a2 = 50 m C2 = 0.60 (log%)2
 VARIOGRAM MODEL WITH SILL
(BOUNDED MODEL)
For distance h equal to 2 m (≤14 m)

For distance h between 14 and 50 m

For distance h equal to 40 m For distance h greater than 50 m

VARIOGRAM MODEL WITH SILL
(BOUNDED MODEL)