Surface ship gravity meter NIPRORI‐1

Abstract

Abstract This paper deals with a new surface ship gravity meter, NIPRORI‐1, developed for regular use in Antarctic researches. This gravity meter employs a servo accelerometer and a precision gyro‐controlled platform. Gravity measurements using this meter were conducted three times in the Japan Antarctic Research Expeditions from 1979 through 1982. The performance of NIPRORI‐1 was very promising, although some points that should be improved were raised during its use. The area of measurements covered the western Pacific, the Indian Ocean, and the southern (Antarctic) seas over a distance more than 30,000 km. From these measurements valuable data about gravity anomalies at the continental shelves of Antarctica were obtained, particularly those data off the coast of eastern Antarctica near Syowa Station.