A Determination of Height Differences from Gravity and Gravity Gradients.

Abstract

Theoretical, hypothetical, and actual field data relationships, involving gravity and gravity gradients, were studied to determine potentially applicable field procedures for the determination of height differences of horizontally separated ground points. First it was confirmed that height differences by gravimetric methods are directly related to the knowledge of, or capability of determining, the free air gravity anomaly differences between points. It was then determined by a combination of model and real data analysis that horizontal gravity gradients are potentially more useful than vertical gravity gradients as a parameter in support of relative gravity intensity observations. Finally it was concluded that the most promising approach to field tests involving gravity and gravity gradients, would involve a few vertically controlled base stations at the ends of profiles, or surrounding the area to be surveyed, in combination with a 'roving' gravimeter (or gravimeters) operating along the profile or inside the area. Gravity and horizontal gravity gradients would be observed at the base stations and at the roving stations to provide a good estimate of anomaly differences in a sparsely controlled gravity environment. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1971
Accession Number
AD0727681

Entities

People

  • Rolland S. Hardy

Organizations

  • Iowa State University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Data Analysis
  • Environment
  • Field Tests
  • Gravimeters
  • Gravity
  • Gravity Anomalies
  • Intensity
  • Observation

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Fluid Dynamics.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design