Accurate Approximation of Vertical Gravity Gradient Within the Earth’s External Gravity Field

Author(s):  
Dongming Zhao ◽  
Shanshan Li ◽  
Huan Bao ◽  
Qingbin Wang
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orlando Álvarez ◽  
Stefanie Pechuan Canet ◽  
Mario Gimenez ◽  
Andrés Folguera

During the last two decades, space geodesy allowed mapping accurately rupture areas, slip distribution, and seismic coupling by obtaining refined inversion models and greatly improving the study of great megathrust earthquakes. A better understanding of these phenomena involving large areas of hundreds of square kilometers came from the last gravity satellite mission that allowed detecting mass transfer through the Earth interior. In this work, we performed direct modeling of satellite GOCE (Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer) derived gravity gradients up to degree/order N = 200 of the harmonic expansion and then corrected this by the effect of topography. Cutting off the model up to this degree/order allows inferring mass heterogeneities located at an approximate depth of 31 km, just along the plate interface where most (but not all) significant slip occurs. Then, we compared the vertical gravity gradient to well-constrained coseismic slip models for three of the last major earthquakes along the Sunda interface. We analyzed seismic rupture behavior for recent and for historical earthquakes along this subduction margin and the relationship of the degree of interseismic coupling using the gravity signal. From this, we found that strong slip patches occurred along minima gravity gradient lobes and that the maximum vertical displacements were related quantitatively to the gravity-derived signal. The degree of interseismic coupling also presents a good correspondence to the vertical gravity gradient, showing an inverse relationship, with low degrees of coupling over regions of relatively higher density. This along-strike segmentation of the gravity signal agrees with the along-strike seismic segmentation observed from recent and historical earthquakes. The thermally controlled down-dip ending of the locked fault zone along central Sumatra also presented an inverse relationship with the density structure along the forearc inferred using our modeling. From this work, we inferred different mass heterogeneities related to persistent tectonic features along the megathrust and along the marine forearc, which may control strain accumulation and release along the megathrust. Combining these data with geodetical and seismological data could possibly delimit and monitor areas with a higher potential seismic hazard around the world.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Seoane ◽  
Guillaume Ramillien ◽  
José Darrozes ◽  
Frédéric Frappart ◽  
Didier Rouxel ◽  
...  

<p>The AGOSTA project initially proposed by our team and lately funded by CNES TOSCA consists of developing efficient approaches to restore seafloor shape (or bathymetry), as well as lithospheric parameters such as the crust and elastic thicknesses, by combining different types of observations including gravity gradient data. As it is based on the second derivatives of the potential versus the space coordinates, gravity gradiometry provides more information inside the Earth system at short wavelengths. The GOCE mission has measured the gravity gradient components of the static field globally and give the possibility to detect more details on the structure of the lithosphere at spatial resolutions less than 200 km. We propose to analyze these satellite-measured gravity tensor components to map the undersea relief more precisely than using geoid or vertical gravity previously considered for this purpose. Inversion of vertical gravity gradient data derived from the radar altimetry technique also offers the possibility to reach greater resolutions (at least 50 km) than the GOCE mission one. The seafloor topography estimates are tested in areas well-covered by independent data for validation, such as around the Great Meteor guyot [29°57′10.6″N, 28°35′31.3″W] and New England seamount chain [37°24′N 60°00′W, 120° 10' 30.4" W] in the Atlantic Ocean as well as the Acapulco seamount [13° 36' 15.4" N, 120° 10' 30.4" W] in the Central Pacific.</p>


Geophysics ◽  
1966 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 816-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas A. Elkins

The recent interest in borehole gravimeters and vertical gravity gradient meters makes it worthwhile to analyze the simple case of the vertical gravity gradient on the axis of a hollow cylinder, simulating a borehole. From the viewpoint of potential theory the results are interesting because of the discontinuities which may occur when a vertical gradient profile crosses a sudden change in density. Formulas for the vertical gradient effect are given for observations above, inside, and below a hollow cylinder and a solid cylinder. The special case of an infinitely large outer radius for the cylinders is also considered, leading to formulas for the vertical gradient effect inside a borehole on its axis and inside a horizontal slab. Some remarks are made on the influence of the shape of a buried vertical gradient meter on the correction factor for changing the meter reading to density.


Geophysics ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Arkani‐Hamed ◽  
W. E. S. Urquhart

Magnetic anomalies of North America are reduced to the pole using a generalized technique which takes into account the variations in the directions of the core field and the magnetization of the crust over North America. The reduced‐to‐the‐pole magnetic anomalies show good correlations with a number of regional tectonic features, such as the Mid‐Continental rift and the collision zones along plate boundaries, which are also apparent in the vertical gravity gradient map of North America. The magnetic anomalies do not, however, show consistent correlation with the vertical gravity gradients, suggesting that magnetic and gravity anomalies do not necessarily arise from common sources.


Geophysics ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 872-873
Author(s):  
Stephen Thyssen‐Bornemisza

In his paper, Fajklewicz discusses the improvement of vertical gravity gradient measurements arising from a very stable tower apparently not affected by wind gust vibration and climatic changes. Further, the lower plate where the gravity meter is resting can be changed in position to avoid possible disturbances from surface and near‐surface variation, and new methods for correcting and interpreting observed gradients over the vertical interval of about 3 m are presented. Some 1000 field stations were observed, including research work and industrial application.


Geophysics ◽  
1966 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 260-263
Author(s):  
Stephen Thyssen‐Bornemisza

Recently it could be shown (Thyssen‐Bornemisza, 1965) that a vertical lithologic unit cylinder generates a relatively strong anomalous free‐air vertical gravity gradient F′ along the cylinder axis. The following simple example may serve as a demonstration. A small vertical cylinder made of gold or tungsten, where radius r and length L are identical, would generate the anomalous average gradient F′∼3,223 Eötvös units over the interval h=r=L going from the cylinders top surface upward. Suppose r=l=1 cm, then an average gradient exceeding the earth’s normal free‐air vertical gradient F is present over the interval h=1 cm.


Geophysics ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 919-925 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles A. Ager ◽  
Jacques O. Liard

Two vertical gravity gradient (VGG) surveys were completed by the authors during 1977 in British Columbia, Canada. The VGG method utilizes a LaCoste and Romberg model D gravity meter in conjunction with a small gradient tripod. The VGG method is practical under most field conditions using a 2 person crew and yields results precise to ±20 E or better. The VGG work indicates that the “free‐air” effect ranges between 2600–2800 E for southwestern British Columbia, which is somewhat lower than the theoretical value of 3086 E. The usefulness of the method in mining exploration is doubtful, especially in hilly or mountainous terrain where VGG values are shown to be very terrain sensitive. However, the importance of knowing the regional VGG variations is emphasized by the work over the Hat Creek coal deposit, British Columbia.


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