Micro gravity

Method Type:
Gravity
Assigned Problems:
+
Cavity detection
Civil Engineering
+
Density
Civil Engineering
0
Foundations of ancient structures
Buildings and Structures
0
Host sediments, hydogeological settings
Hazardous Waste
0
Landslides
Natural Hazards
0
Location of buried materials
Hazardous Waste
0
Permafrost and ice detection
Natural Hazards
'+' = Technique applicable; '0' = Application possible/limited use.

Principle:
Precise ground-based measurement of relative lateral changes in gravity within a small area to
establish subsurface distributions of densities.
Keywords:
Gravity; micro gravity; high-precision gravity; gravity anomaly; density contrast; subsurface density
model
Prerequisites:
- Target must be characterized by a density contrast
- Requires very accurate elevation measurements (accuracy in the range of 0.02 m)
- Requires topographic, tidal and instrument-drift corrections
- High cultural noise (e.g., vibrations, traffic) may significantly reduce data quality
- Variable surface topography and variable near-surface densities may produce errors that are
difficult to remove
Resolution:
The measured anomaly produced by a target depends on its size, depth and density contrast. A
general rule of thumb says that a body must be almost as big as it is deep to be detectable.
Lateral resolution is a function of station spacing. Vertical resolution is a function of the ability to
accurately estimate density of the geologic units. Typical depths of investigation are a few tens of
meters, often less than 30 m.
Expected Results:
- Measured parameter: gravity anomaly in Gal (1 Gal = 10-8 ms-2 )
- Data analysis: non-uniqueness problem: numerous plausible underground models can be
derived from the same observed data set
- Interpretation: a priori information (size and / or density of target) is required for modelling and
reliable interpretation. Qualitative: Profiles or contour maps for horizontal and vertical
localisation of anomalies. Quantitative: Modelling of size, depth and density of target
Combination with other Methods:
- Required additional information: geological and other geophysical information (e.g., size and/or
density contrast of target with host material)
- Related add-on information: magnetic data
- Independent additional information: georadar, seismic, electrical/electromagnetic data
Operation Expense:
- Crew size: 1 key person

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- Acquisition speed: 60 - 120 measurements per day (gravity survey); elevation measurements /
surveying: 150 - 200 measurements per day
- Processing: 1-2 day per measuring week
- Equipment rental costs: intermediate
Parameters to specify:
- Station spacing (often between 5 and 15 meters, may be 1 - 3 meters in very-high resolution
surveys)
- Line spacing (should not be larger than 2 - 4 times the station spacing; desirable: equal-spaced
grid)
- Reoccupation of base station: of the order of 30 - 90 minutes (corresponds to 8 - 10
measurements between each base-station occupation)
- Reoccupation of at least 20% of all stations; for very-high precision surveys each station should
be reoccupied at least once during the survey
QC Documents:
- Surveying: Documentation of accuracy of coordinates and gravity data (coordinates should be in
the range of 0.02 m) and repeatability
- Plot of instrument drift (documentation of method of drift compensation)
- Field notes (e.g., all activities, effective time schedule, personnel present)
- Reoccupation of base station: every 30 - 90 minutes to control possible instrument drift
Products:
- Raw and processed data
- Data including positioning (date, time, position), and gravity measurements (type of gravimeter,
elevation, different applied corrections, Bouguer gravity anomaly)
- Grids and maps including free-air gravity anomaly, Bouguer gravity anomaly
- Corrected / reduced data (documentation of each correction step; document assumed density
values)
- Profiles and / or maps of residual and regional anomalies
- Interpretation
- Optional: Model of density distribution (documentation of accuracy and uncertainty due to nonuniqueness)
- Optional: Models of the expected anomaly / verify the hypothesized density contrast
- Optional: Test measurements

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