scholarly journals Thirty years of precise gravity measurements at Mt. Vesuvius: an approach to detect underground mass movements

2013 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanna Berrino ◽  
Vincenzo d’Errico ◽  
Giuseppe Ricciardi
Keyword(s):  
Ground Deformation ◽  
Reference Station ◽  
Absolute Gravity ◽  
Volcanic Area ◽  
Gravity Station ◽  
Gravity Changes ◽  
Gravity Measurements ◽  
Elevation Changes ◽  
Gravity Network

<p>Since 1982, high precision gravity measurements have been routinely carried out on Mt. Vesuvius. The gravity network consists of selected sites most of them coinciding with, or very close to, leveling benchmarks to remove the effect of the elevation changes from gravity variations. The reference station is located in Napoli, outside the volcanic area. Since 1986, absolute gravity measurements have been periodically made on a station on Mt. Vesuvius, close to a permanent gravity station established in 1987, and at the reference in Napoli. The results of the gravity measurements since 1982 are presented and discussed. Moderate gravity changes on short-time were generally observed. On long-term significant gravity changes occurred and the overall fields displayed well defined patterns. Several periods of evolution may be recognized. Gravity changes revealed by the relative surveys have been confirmed by repeated absolute measurements, which also confirmed the long-term stability of the reference site. The gravity changes over the recognized periods appear correlated with the seismic crises and with changes of the tidal parameters obtained by continuous measurements. The absence of significant ground deformation implies masses redistribution, essentially density changes without significant volume changes, such as fluids migration at the depth of the seismic foci, i.e. at a few kilometers. The fluid migration may occur through pre-existing geological structures, as also suggested by hydrological studies, and/or through new fractures generated by seismic activity. This interpretation is supported by the analyses of the spatial gravity changes overlapping the most significant and recent seismic crises.</p>

scholarly journals Research on absolute gravity variations in geodynamic laboratory in Książ in the period of 2007- 2011

2012 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 169-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Kaczorowski ◽  
Tomasz Olszak ◽  
Janusz Walo ◽  
Marcin Barlik
Keyword(s):  
Extreme Values ◽  
Absolute Gravity ◽  
Absolute Gravimeter ◽  
Gravimetric Measurements ◽  
Gravity Changes ◽  
University Of Technology ◽  
Gravity Measurements ◽  
Water Level Variations ◽  
Gravimetric System ◽  
Absolute Measurements

ABSTRACT In 2006 a gravimetric pavilion was installed inside the Geodynamic Laboratory (LG) in Książ. The pavilion was equipped with two pillars intended to serve relative and absolute gravimetric measurements. Installation of measurement platform for absolute gravity measurements inside gravimetric pavilion of LG made it possible to perform four sessions of absolute gravity measurements: two of them in 2007 (June 10-12 and Nov. 21-22), one in 2008 (Apr. 21-22) and one in 2011 (June 19-21). In 2007 the absolute measurements were performed using two FG5 ballistic gravimeters. In April 2007 the measurements were performed by Dr Makinen from Geodetic Institute of Finnish Academy of Science with application of FG5 No. 221 absolute gravimeter. In June 2007 and in the years 2008 and 2011 such gravimetric measurements were performed by the team from Department of Geodesy and Astronomical Geodesy of Warsaw University of Technology using FG5 No. 230 absolute gravimeter. Elaboration of observation sessions from both gravimeters was performed in the Department of Higher Geodesy following the procedures used in constituting of uniform gravimetric system of geodynamic polygons reference. This constituting of gravimetric system comprised inter alia application of identical models of lithospheric tides (global model by Wenzel, 1997) and ocean tides (Schwiderski, 1980) (reduction of absolute measurements with tidal signals). Observations performed during summer of 2007, autumn of 2007, and spring of 2008 and 2011 indicated existence of small changes of absolute gravity of the order of 1 Gal. Maxima of accelerations appear in the spring period, and minima in the autumn period. This effect is connected with the influence of global hydrological factors the annual amplitude of which is ca 1,5 Gal and achieve extreme values in the spring-autumn interval. Very small value of observed amplitude of gravity changes in the period of extreme variability suggests that the observed gravity changes in LG are caused only by global phenomenon. This proves high degree of „independence” of gravimetric measurement base in LG from the local environmental factors such as ground water level variations, ground humidity, impact of snow cover, etc. At this moment the instrumental environment of absolute measurements obtains particular value, especially in the case of the tiltmeters and relative the gravimeter Lacoste& Romberg (LR-648). The relative gravity measurements as performed simultaneously with absolute gravity measurements enable us to determine the local tidal ephemeredes which makes it possible to replace the global tidal modal with ocean tidal model with the more realistic, locally determined tidal parameters (the local tidal ephemeredes).

scholarly journals Measurement of absolute gravity acceleration in Firenze

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-64
Author(s):  
M. de Angelis ◽  
F. Greco ◽  
A. Pistorio ◽  
N. Poli ◽  
M. Prevedelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Absolute Gravity ◽  
Noise Condition ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Gravity Measurements ◽  
European Laboratory ◽  
The Absolute ◽  
Gravity Network ◽  
Acceleration Of Gravity ◽  
Newtonian Constant ◽  
Gravity Acceleration

Abstract. This paper reports the results from the accurate measurement of the acceleration of gravity g taken at two separate premises in the Polo Scientifico of the University of Firenze (Italy). In these laboratories, two separate experiments aiming at measuring the Newtonian constant and testing the Newtonian law at short distances are in progress. Both experiments require an independent knowledge on the local value of g. The only available datum, pertaining to the italian zero-order gravity network, was taken more than 20 years ago at a distance of more than 60 km from the study site. Gravity measurements were conducted using an FG5 absolute gravimeter, and accompanied by seismic recordings for evaluating the noise condition at the site. The absolute accelerations of gravity at the two laboratories are (980 492 160.6 ± 4.0) μGal and (980 492 048.3 ± 3.0) μGal for the European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS) and Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, respectively. Other than for the two referenced experiments, the data here presented will serve as a benchmark for any future study requiring an accurate knowledge of the absolute value of the acceleration of gravity in the study region.

An integrated approach for understanding long-term volcano dynamics based on absolute gravity and GNSS measurements

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Bonforte ◽  
Filippo Greco ◽  
Daniele Carbone
Keyword(s):  
Gravity Data ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Absolute Gravity ◽  
Gravity Measurements ◽  
Mt Etna ◽  
Elevation Changes ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Gnss Measurements ◽  
Relative Measurements

&lt;p&gt;Here we present the results of repeated Absolute Gravity and GNSS measurements, collected at Mt. Etna (Italy) between 2009 and 2018. We aim at investigating the capabilities of this integrated approach for understanding the dynamics of magmatic sources over time-scales of months to years.&amp;#160;The absolute gravity and GNSS campaign measurements were repeated roughly once a year; in order to improve the time resolution of gravity data, in some stations we performed, besides absolute gravity measurements, also relative measurements at intervals shorter than 1 year.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;After being corrected for the effect of elevation changes, gravity data reveal an increase/decrease cycle, well spatio-temporal correlated with a general pattern of uplift/subsidence, during a period of intense lava fountains from the summit craters.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Our results provide insight into the processes that controlled the transfer of the magma from deeper to shallower levels of the plumbing system of Mt. Etna volcano, in periods preceding/accompanying the eruptive activity during 2009&amp;#8211;2018.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Specifically, we propose that coupled changes in height-corrected gravity and elevation might be induced either by the magma storage/withdrawal below the volcanic pile, or by fluids pressurization/depressurization, or by a combination of both processes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The application of the proposed approach could led to an improved capability to identify processes heralding eruptions.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Performance of three iGrav superconducting gravity meters before and after transport to remote monitoring sites

2020 ◽  
Vol 223 (2) ◽  
pp. 959-972
Author(s):  
Florian Schäfer ◽  
Philippe Jousset ◽  
Andreas Güntner ◽  
Kemal Erbas ◽  
Jacques Hinderer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Geothermal Field ◽  
Absolute Gravity ◽  
Absolute Calibration ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Gravity Measurements ◽  
Superconducting Gravity ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Comparison Measurements

SUMMARY High spatial and temporal resolution of gravity observations allows quantifying and understanding mass changes in volcanoes, geothermal or other complex geosystems. For this purpose, accurate gravity meters are required. However, transport of the gravity meters to remote study areas may affect the instrument's performance. In this work, we analyse the continuous measurements of three iGrav superconducting gravity meters (iGrav006, iGrav015 and iGrav032), before and after transport between different monitoring sites. For 4 months, we performed comparison measurements in a gravimetric observatory (J9, Strasbourg) where the three iGravs were subjected to the same environmental conditions. Subsequently, we transported them to Þeistareykir, a remote geothermal field in North Iceland. We examine the stability of three instrumental parameters: the calibration factors, noise levels and drift behaviour. For determining the calibration factor of each instrument, we used three methods: First, we performed relative calibration using side-by-side measurements with an observatory gravity meter (iOSG023) at J9. Secondly, we performed absolute calibration by comparing iGrav data and absolute gravity measurements (FG5#206) at J9 and Þeistareykir. Thirdly, we also developed an alternative method, based on intercomparison between pairs of iGravs to check the stability of relative calibration before and after transport to Iceland. The results show that observed changes of the relative calibration factors by transport were less than or equal to 0.01 per cent. Instrumental noise levels were similar before and after transport, whereas periods of high environmental noise at the Icelandic site limited the stability of the absolute calibration measurements, with uncertainties above 0.64 per cent (6 nm s–2 V–1). The initial transient drift of the iGravs was monotonically decreasing and seemed to be unaffected by transport when the 4K operating temperatures were maintained. However, it turned out that this cold transport (at 4 K) or sensor preparation procedures before transport may cause a change in the long-term quasi-linear drift rates (e.g. iGrav015 and iGrav032) and they had to be determined again after transport by absolute gravity measurements.

scholarly journals Repeated absolute gravity measurements on a dense network at Campi Flegrei – a reliable tool for volcano monitoring

2020 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 41-54
Author(s):  
Giovanna Berrino ◽  
Giuseppe Ricciardi
Keyword(s):  
Hydrothermal System ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Volcano Monitoring ◽  
Campi Flegrei ◽  
Absolute Gravity ◽  
Absolute Gravimeter ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Gravity Measurements ◽  
Gravity Network ◽  
Absolute Measurements

Abstract. Since 1981, relative gravity measurements have routinely carried out at the Campi Flegrei caldera, a densely populated area. The gravity network also includes two absolute stations periodically measured with a laboratory absolute gravimeter, which does not permit field measurements. At the end of 2014, the Osservatorio Vesuviano, Section of Napoli of the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV-OV), acquired a portable absolute gravimeter that allows field operations on outdoor sites. Therefore, in 2015 a dense absolute gravity network was established in Campi Flegrei. This will permit an advanced approach for volcano monitoring. The net consists of 36 stations, 34 of which located inside the caldera and placed upon or very close to gravity stations belonging to the relative network. Five surveys were carried out on June 2015, on February and November 2017, on October 2018 and on October 2019. The comparison with height changes suggests that significant Δg are partly due to the uplift occurred over the same time intervals and mostly to shallow processes associated to the dynamic of the local hydrothermal system. The comparison with the gradients observed during the last large uplift (1982–1984) and the following subsidence (1985–2003) confirms this observation. These results suggest that the present activity may be due to a transient or pulsating phenomenon as the alternating recharge/discharge of fluids in the surface hydrothermal system. Gravity changes detected by absolute measurements are in good agreement with those obtained by relative ones, and confirms the feasibility of this methodology for volcano monitoring. Finally, they also encourage replacing the relative networks with absolute ones, with all the consequent advantages.

Application of deformation–induced topographic effect in interpretation of 2013–2016 spatiotemporal gravity changes at Laguna del Maule (Chile)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Vajda ◽  
Pavol Zahorec ◽  
Craig A. Miller ◽  
Hélène Le Mével ◽  
Juraj Papčo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Deformation ◽  
Source Parameters ◽  
Gravitational Effect ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Volcanic Field ◽  
Topographic Effect ◽  
Gravity Changes ◽  
Elevation Changes ◽  
Gravity Network ◽  
The Impact

&lt;p&gt;The accurate deformation-induced topographic effect (DITE) should be used to account for the gravitational effect of surface deformation when analyzing residual spatiotemporal (time-lapse) gravity changes in volcano gravimetric or 4D micro-gravimetric studies, in general. Numerical realization of DITE requires the deformation field available in grid form. We compute the accurate DITE correction for gravity changes observed at the Laguna del Maule volcanic field in Chile over three nearly annual periods spanning 2013&amp;#8211;2016 and compare it numerically with the previously used free-air effect (FAE) correction. We assess the impact of replacing the FAE by DITE on the model source parameters of analytic inversion solutions and apply a new inversion approach based on model exploration and growing source bodies. The new inversion results based on the DITE correction shift the position of the mass intrusion upwards by a few hundred meters and lower the total mass of the migrated fluids to roughly a half, compared to the inversion results based on the local-FAE correction. Our new Growth inversion results indicate that vertical dip-slip faults beneath the lake, as well as the Troncoso fault play active roles in hosting migrating liquid. We also show that for the study period, the DITE at Laguna del Maule can be accurately evaluated by the planar Bouguer approximation, which only requires the availability of elevation changes at gravity network benchmarks. We hypothesize that this finding may be generalized to all volcanic areas with flatter or less rugged terrain and may alter interpretations based on the commonly used FAE corrections.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Long-term gravity changes in Chinese mainland from GRACE and ground-based gravity measurements

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 61-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xing Lelin ◽  
Li Hui ◽  
Xuan Songbai ◽  
Kang Kaixuan ◽  
Liu Xiaoling
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Mainland ◽  
Gravity Changes ◽  
Gravity Measurements

Techniques, analysis, and noise in a Salt Lake Valley 4D gravity experiment

Geophysics ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. WA71-WA82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Gettings ◽  
David S. Chapman ◽  
Rick Allis
Keyword(s):  
Salt Lake ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Reference Station ◽  
Salt Lake Valley ◽  
Wasatch Mountains ◽  
Gravity Measurements ◽  
Elevation Changes ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
Irrigation Effects ◽  
East West

Repeated high-precision gravity measurements using an automated gravimeter and analysis of time series of [Formula: see text] samples allowed gravity measurements to be made with an accuracy of [Formula: see text] or better. Nonlinear instrument drift was removed using a new empirical staircase function built from multiple station loops. The new technique was developed between March 1999 and September 2000 in a pilot study conducted in the southern Salt Lake Valley along an east-west profile of eight stations from the Wasatch Mountains to the Jordan River. Gravity changes at eight profile stations were referenced to a set of five stations in the northern Salt Lake Valley, which showed residual signals of [Formula: see text] in amplitude, assuming a reference station near the Great Salt Lake to be stable. Referenced changes showed maximum amplitudes of [Formula: see text] through [Formula: see text] at profile stations, with minima in summer 1999, maxima in winter 1999–2000, and some decrease through summer 2000. Gravity signals were likely a composite of production-induced changes monitored by well-water levels, elevation changes, precipitation-induced vadose-zone changes, and local irrigation effects for which magnitudes were estimated quantitatively.

Geothermal reservoir monitoring with a combination of absolute and relative gravimetry

Geophysics ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. WA37-WA47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mituhiko Sugihara ◽  
Tsuneo Ishido
Keyword(s):  
History Matching ◽  
Observation Interval ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Gravity Measurement ◽  
Absolute Gravity ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Well Production ◽  
Gravity Measurements ◽  
Central Production

Microgravity monitoring is a valuable tool for mapping the redistribution of subsurface mass and for assessing changes in fluid recharge from reservoir boundaries associated with geothermal exploitation. To further the development of a high-precision absolute/relative hybrid gravity-measurement technique, we conducted measurements using an absolute gravimeter in two geothermal fields in Japan. The absolute gravity measurements were performed in the central production areas to directly measure gravity changes caused by fluid withdrawal. We succeeded in measuring long-term trends within an accuracy of a few microgals in the Okuaizu and Ogiri fields, which have been producing electricity for several years. Absolute measurements in the center of the field provide reliable and local reference datum anchor points for more widely distributed relative gravity measurements. In the Ogiri field, we carried out time-lapse hybrid measurements with this combination of absolute and relative gravimetry and delineated the spatial distributions of long- and short-term changes. The long-term changes are relatively small, considering the four-year observation interval. This suggests a near balance between the mass withdrawal rate from wells and mass recharge from peripheral regions. The apparent balance is reproduced fairly well by a preliminary numerical reservoir simulation study. The observed long- and short-term changes are thought to be useful constraints for planned history-matching studies based on refined reservoir models with greater spatial resolution that incorporate detailed well-by-well production histories.

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