Laplacian Operator
The Grids | Calculate | Calculus differential and integral operator, Laplacian Operator, provides a measure of discharge or recharge on a surface. In grid files generated with the Laplacian Operator recharge areas are positive and discharge areas are negative.
Groundwater, heat, and electrical charge are three examples of conservative physical quantities whose local flow rate is proportional to the local gradient. The Laplacian operator, 
, is the mathematical tool that quantifies the net flow into (Laplacian > 0, or areas of recharge) or out of (Laplacian < 0, areas of discharge) a local control volume in such physical situations. The Laplacian operator is defined in multivariable calculus by.
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The Surfer implementation of the Laplacian Operator generates a grid using a standard five-point central difference formula.
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