1. A method for identifying related ions in an input data set produced by analyzing a sample comprising: correlating each row of data in an input data set with every other row of data in said input data set producing a correlation matrix, each row representing intensities over time for a particular mass to charge (m/z) range, each element of said correlation matrix including a correlation value and having associated row and column identifiers identifying which rows in said input data set are associated with said correlation value; clustering said correlation matrix identifying at least one group and at least one row of said correlation matrix as being in said at least one group, each group representing covarying chromatograms; selecting at least one time period of interest for each group; and producing a resultant spectrum for each group by sampling chromatograms included in each of said groups at each of said at least one time period of interest of using a form of said input data set.