Introduction to special section: Geophysical imaging and interpretation of outcrops

Outcrops have long been studied as analogs for rocks in the subsurface that are rich in natural resources, such as hydrocarbons, minerals, and groundwater. Outcrops provide highly detailed and spatially continuous information on, for example, sedimentary facies, including texture, sedimentary structures, and grain types; morphometric properties; structural attributes such as fracture and joint patterns and compaction, diagenetic changes, and petrophysical properties. However, in most cases, this information is 2D or pseudo 3D. This may restrict the reconstruction in a true 3D sense and specific down-dip or along-strike trends may be difficult to quantify.