A Geodetic Approach to Gravity Reduction for Geophysics

The currently adopted approach to reduce observed gravity data for geophysical purposes includes several approximations. These were originally used to reduce computational effort, but have remained standard practice even though the required computing power is now readily available. In contrast, mo...

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Main Authors: Featherstone, Will, Dentith, M.
Other Authors: ?
Format: Journal Article
Published: Pergamon 1997
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/35661
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author Featherstone, Will
Dentith, M.
author2 ?
author_facet ?
Featherstone, Will
Dentith, M.
author_sort Featherstone, Will
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The currently adopted approach to reduce observed gravity data for geophysical purposes includes several approximations. These were originally used to reduce computational effort, but have remained standard practice even though the required computing power is now readily available. In contrast, more precise gravity reductions are routinely employed in physical geodesy. The difference between simple Bouguer gravity anomalies derived using the geophysical and geodetic approaches can reach several tens of μms-2. The geodetic reductions include a more accurate calculation of normal gravity as a function of latitude, and a free air correction that accounts for the non-sphericity of the figure of the Earth. Also important, especially given the advent of Global Positioning System coordination of gravity surveys, is the need to ensure that the correct vertical and horizontal coordinate systems are used for the gravity reduction procedure. Errors associated with the use of non-geocentric horizontal coordinates and ellipsoidal heights are significant when compared with the accuracy of an individual gravity measurement. A generalised gravity reduction program and a coordinate transformation program are presented which can be employed to reduce geophysical data in a geodetic manner.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-356612017-09-13T15:52:27Z A Geodetic Approach to Gravity Reduction for Geophysics Featherstone, Will Dentith, M. ? coordinate transformations data processing geodesy geophysics gravity The currently adopted approach to reduce observed gravity data for geophysical purposes includes several approximations. These were originally used to reduce computational effort, but have remained standard practice even though the required computing power is now readily available. In contrast, more precise gravity reductions are routinely employed in physical geodesy. The difference between simple Bouguer gravity anomalies derived using the geophysical and geodetic approaches can reach several tens of μms-2. The geodetic reductions include a more accurate calculation of normal gravity as a function of latitude, and a free air correction that accounts for the non-sphericity of the figure of the Earth. Also important, especially given the advent of Global Positioning System coordination of gravity surveys, is the need to ensure that the correct vertical and horizontal coordinate systems are used for the gravity reduction procedure. Errors associated with the use of non-geocentric horizontal coordinates and ellipsoidal heights are significant when compared with the accuracy of an individual gravity measurement. A generalised gravity reduction program and a coordinate transformation program are presented which can be employed to reduce geophysical data in a geodetic manner. 1997 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/35661 10.1016/S0098-3004(97)00092-7 Pergamon fulltext
spellingShingle coordinate transformations
data processing
geodesy
geophysics
gravity
Featherstone, Will
Dentith, M.
A Geodetic Approach to Gravity Reduction for Geophysics
title A Geodetic Approach to Gravity Reduction for Geophysics
title_full A Geodetic Approach to Gravity Reduction for Geophysics
title_fullStr A Geodetic Approach to Gravity Reduction for Geophysics
title_full_unstemmed A Geodetic Approach to Gravity Reduction for Geophysics
title_short A Geodetic Approach to Gravity Reduction for Geophysics
title_sort geodetic approach to gravity reduction for geophysics
topic coordinate transformations
data processing
geodesy
geophysics
gravity
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/35661