L. Bastos et al., On the use of airborne gravimetry in gravity field modelling: Experiences from the AGMASCO project, PHYS CH P A, 25(1), 2000, pp. 1-7
Citations number
15
Categorie Soggetti
Earth Sciences
Journal title
PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY OF THE EARTH PART A-SOLID EARTH AND GEODESY
Important areas of the earth are still not covered by accurate gravity meas
urements. The gravity field may be determined by using different techniques
but airborne gravity surveying is becoming the most powerful tool availabl
e today.
One of the main problems in airborne gravity is the separation of the verti
cal accelerations acting on the airborne platform from the natural gravity
signal. With the advances in DGPS techniques new prospects arise for gravit
y field recovery which are of great importance for geodesy, geophysics ocea
nography and satellite navigation. Furthermore, airborne gravimetric measur
ements depend not only on the determination of the position but also on the
attitude of the aircraft. Inertial systems can provide attitude as well as
information on short-term accelerations, which are more problematic for th
e gravimeter. A proper integration of these systems may allow a further imp
rovement of the whole technique where the quality of both the accelerometer
s and the gyros is the key sensing element. In the scope of the MAST III Pr
oject AGMASCO, an airborne geoid mapping system was successfully implemente
d in different aeroplanes. The characteristics of the aeroplane and the fli
ght parameters play a major role in airborne measurements.
Within AGMASCO the airborne system was applied both in a close and an open
ocean (Skagerrak, Fram Strait and Azores) areas. The system proved to be a
powerful tool in a variety of conditions. The results obtained showed that
an accuracy better than 2mGal over 5 to 6 kilometres can be achieved.
This was proven by comparison of the airborne data with ground truth and sa
tellite data. This accuracy makes the system interesting for use in various
applications including geophysical exploitation.
Different hardware installations were experienced and the methods validated
. Recovery of the gravity values directly from measurements with the Lacost
e & Romberg air/sea gravimeter and from measurements with the inertial sens
ors was analysed. The potential of these sensors to recover gravity and the
experience gained within this project are reported here. (C) 2000 Elsevier
Science Ltd. All rights reserved.