Gravity 2

“Relative Gravity”
What do we mean by a relative
value?
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 Units of Gravity
“Gal”

Gal = 1 cm/s2
Milligal = 10-3 gals

What are two variables that influence

the acceleration due to gravity?

2
1. Variation of Gravity with Latitude

2. Variation in
distribution of
rock densities

3
Measuring Relative Gravity

How does it work?

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Measuring Gravity
Hooke’s Law

F = -kx
F = mg
-kx = mg

x = -mg/k

We know m and k

4
Measuring Gravity

Change in gravity
Change in x

g = -kx/m

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 11

Gravity Reading

Meter reading x calibration

factor for particular
instrument

Observed gravity
measurement (gobs)

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 Processing Concept 1
Field G Reading
3
Scaling
1
Feedback Corr. 1
2
Eq. Height Corr. 2

Tidal corr. 3

Drift corr. 4 Field

Base Network corr. 5 4

Absolut G Field Base 5 BMKG BASE

13

Processing Concept 2
Absolute G Height

Normal G Corr. 1
3
Free air Corr. 2
2
Simple Bouguer
B density 2.5* GRS’80
Correction

Topo & Bathymetri 3

DTEM
Correction** 1

Complete G
Bouguer anomaly

*Nettleton (1976) **IAG (1980)

Regional Corr. Modelling

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 Land Gravity Surveying

• Data Acquisition - 2-D profile

• Reductions – Corrections to acquired data
• Modeling – Compare values calculated from a
model to observed data (measurements)

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Understanding a Gravity Anomaly

•What is an anomaly?
•Difference between observed gravity and
International Gravity Formula for
same location or relative to local base
station
•Need to establish a uniform baseline for
all observed values

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8
Recording Gravity

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 Earth Tides

Up to 0.3 mgal per 12 hours

19

Instrument Drift Correction

Should be regular
0.1 to 1 mgal per hour
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 Latitude Correction

22

gf = gravitational acceleration at given latitude (sea level)

go = gravitational acceleration at equator (sea level)
f = latitude
 and  = constants associated with speed of rotation
amount of flattening
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 Provides gravitational
acceleration at a given
latitude (f)

Used for Correction (note m/s2)

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Provides gravitational
acceleration at a given
latitude (f)

Used for Correction (now mgal)

25

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Accuracy of Position (m)
0.1 mgal = 125 m

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Example
@ 51o
0.8 mgal/km

1 g.u. = 0.1 mgal

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Elevation Correction

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Elevation Correction

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Free-air Correction

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Free-air Correction

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 Free-air Correction
Difference Between go and gh

Remember 1 g.u. = 0.1 mgal

32

1 g.u. = 0.1 mgal

for mgal
gF = 0.3086 h

Where h is in meters
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 But it is
not really
free-air?

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Bouguer Correction

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 36

for mgal
gB = 0.04192 h

Where h is in meters
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 Combining the Free-air and Bouguer
Corrections

for mgal

gE = (0.3086 - 0.04192 ) h

Where h is in meters
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Bouguer Anomaly (gB )

gB = gobs- g + gf - gB

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gB = gobs- g + gf - gB – gdrift - gbase

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 Measuring Relative Gravity

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Gravity Corrections..so far

1. Take measurement
2. Instrument calibration (gobs)
3. Drift correction gdrift
4. Latitude correction (g)
5. Free-air (elevation) correction (gf)
6. Bouguer correction (gB )
7. Base station correction gbase

gB = gobs- g + gf - gB – gdrift - gbase

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Bouguer Gravity Example

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Measuring Gravity

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 “Gravity Anomaly”

• Difference between observed gravity and

that obtained from International
Gravity Formula for same location
or relative to local base station

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Terrain Correction

Station
measurement

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 Terrain Correction
Station
measurement

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Hammer Chart For Each Station

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 Terrain
Correction Table

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Modeling Bouguer Anomaly

• Generation of a static model
of distribution of rock
densities that produce
anomaly

• Assumes isostatic equilibrium

• What is isostatic equilibrium?

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 Regional and Residual Anomalies

• Another method to remove effects on Bouguer

anomaly by large-scale crust features

• Nature of a particular study may be a matter of

scale

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Residual Anomaly = Bouguer Anomaly - Regional Trend

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 Modeling
• Non-unique – forward model
• Several degrees of freedom
(structure, density)

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Modeling

• Constraints may not

allow “perfect”
match
• Start with a simple,
constrained model
• Increase sophistication
as modeling
proceeds
• Some examples

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 Symmetry

66

Depth Dependence
of Source

(Wavelength of
Anomaly &
Magnitude)

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 Density
Contrast

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Multiple
Sources
Superimposed

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 Non-uniqueness

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Gravity Model Line CC’

40 field
gravity anomaly (mgal)

30 calculated
20
10
0
-10
-20
-30
-40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
C Bayat distance (km) C’
0

2 GD-32
4
depth (km)

10
89 GD-32

-65
89 GD
C’ 12

F. Wonosari (2.0 gr/cc) Sedimen Kuarter (1.59 gr/cc)

A B
B' F. Oyo (2.21 gr/cc) Batuan Terobosan (2.78 gr/cc)
A'

F. Nglanggran – Neogen3 (2.5 gr/cc) Sedimen Neogen (2.5 gr/cc)

C F.Semilir – Neogen2 (2.54 gr/cc) Sedimen Paleogen (2.63 gr/cc)

F.KeboButak- Neogen1 (2.1 gr/cc) Pre-Tersier (2.75 gr/cc)
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Modeling Gravity Anomalies

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Modeling Bouguer Anomaly

• Generation of a static model
of distribution of rock
densities that produce
anomaly

• Assumes isostatic equilibrium

• What is isostatic equilibrium?

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 What is Isostatic Equilibrium?
• Crust floats on Mantle
(hydrodynamic equilibrium)

• Surface elevation is function of

underlying mass (thickness and density
of crust)

• Surface elevation is compensated by

mass below it

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Crustal Model

•Assumes Isostatic Equilibrium

•Surface Elevations Related to Crustal Structure
•Isostatic Compensation
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 What is Isostasy?
• Crust floats on Mantle
(hydrodynamic equilibrium)

• Surface elevation is function of

underlying mass (thickness and density
of crust)

• Surface elevation is compensated by

mass below it

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Models of Isostasy
Isostatic Equilibrium - Compensation
Airy Pratt

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Airy Model

Mass Excess

Mass Deficit

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Pratt

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Weight of Column of Overlying Rock is
the Same at S1, S2, and S3

S1 S2 S3

h1 w hw

h2 2 1 3 h3
Mantle

Mantle
w< 1 < 2< 3
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Isostatic Correction
• Lateral variations in rock density in crust
produce gravity anomalies

• Mainly interested in density variations in

upper to middle crust

• However, lower crust also has an

influence

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 Objective
Isostatic Correction
• Aim is to remove effects on bouguer
gravity anomaly associated with large-
scale changes in crust

• Thereby isolating density effects in upper

crust

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Method - Isostatic Correction

• Produce crustal model assuming either
Airy or Pratt model of isostasy (usually
Airy)

• For example, assuming isostatic equilibrium,

use elevation differences to produce
this model

• Produce model by using assumed thickness

and density of crust

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 Isostatic Correction
• Subtract gravity value associated with
isostatic model of crust from Bouguer
anomaly (single crustal density)

• Isostatic anomaly – isolates density variations in

upper crust

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Isostatic Anomaly
• Besides density distribution, will tell if fully
compensated (0) – in isostatic equilibrium

• If positive (+) over land, then undercompensated

• If negative (-) over land, then overcompensated (-)

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 Isostatic Correction Summary

• Account for large-scale differences in crustal

structure (particularly lower crust)

• Produce model by determining thickness and density

of crust

• Subtract gravity field associated with

isostatic model of crust from Bouguer anomaly

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