Global ellipsoid-referenced topographic, bathymetric and stripping corrections to gravity disturbance

Abstract

This paper revisits several aspects of defining and computing the anomalous gravity data for purposes of gravimetric inversion/interpretation. Attention is paid to evaluation of a refined global topographic correction to the gravity disturbance based on the reference ellipsoid (RE) and constant reference density for solid topography onshore and sea water density for liquid topography offshore. The global bathymetric correction is discussed. Two issues associated with compilation and inversion of bathymetrically and topographically corrected gravity disturbances in regions of negative ellipsoidal (geodetic) heights are pointed out: the evaluation of normal gravity and the harmonic continuation of the gravity data. Stripping, the removal of an effect of a known density contrast, is considered also for additional geological elements such as lakes, glaciers, sedimentary basins, isostatic mountain roots, etc. The stripping corrections are discussed in the context of the gravimetric inverse problem.