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Lab 2: Gravity Survey - Data Processing and Report

This document provides instructions for students to complete a gravity survey lab, including processing gravity data and writing a report. It outlines the key corrections to apply to raw gravity measurements, including latitude, free-air, and Bouguer corrections. Students are asked to plot the Bouguer anomaly versus distance, compare it to a reference cross section, and write a report addressing the purpose of the survey, methods, results and analysis, and conclusions about observed anomalies or lack thereof. The report is due February 24th.

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Mohamad Lutfi Ismail
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130 views

Lab 2: Gravity Survey - Data Processing and Report

This document provides instructions for students to complete a gravity survey lab, including processing gravity data and writing a report. It outlines the key corrections to apply to raw gravity measurements, including latitude, free-air, and Bouguer corrections. Students are asked to plot the Bouguer anomaly versus distance, compare it to a reference cross section, and write a report addressing the purpose of the survey, methods, results and analysis, and conclusions about observed anomalies or lack thereof. The report is due February 24th.

Uploaded by

Mohamad Lutfi Ismail
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GEOP 446L ? Exploration Geophysics II ?

Spring 2003

Lab 2: Gravity Survey - Data processing and report


Latitude correction
The latitude correction is usually made by using the International Gravity Formula (Lab
1: Introduction to Gravity) but for surveys which cover less than one degree and which are
not tied into an absolute gravity network, a simpler correction can be made. A local base
station is selected at which to determine the horizontal gravity gradient gL
gL = 0.8108 sin2 mGal per km North
where is the latitude of the local base station in degrees. Note that this value is
subtracted from the measured value for stations north of the base station and added for
stations south of the base station.
Free-air correction
The free-air correction is to account for variations in the distance to the center of the
Earth (or height above the geoid). The correction has a theoretical value of gF A = 0.3086
mGal/m for meters above sea level (or above a reference station).
Bouguer correction
The Bouguer correction accounts for the rock mass between the observation point and
sea level (or a reference station). The correction is determined by
gB = 2Gh = 0.04193h mGal
where is the density of the rock (in g/cm3 ) and h is the elevation in meters. To determine
the density to be used for this survey, use the cross section (Figure 8) and the table of
densities handed out with the lab.
Bouguer anomaly
The Bouguer anomaly is what is left when all of the corrections have been applied (gObs
is the value measured with the gravimeter).
gBA = gObs + gL + gF A gB

Data processing
convert from dial divisions to mGal (0.0839 mGal/div)
determine the instrumental drift and apply the corrections to the observed data (use
the information from Lab 1: Introduction to Gravity)
calculate and apply the corrections to the gravity values measured during the survey
plot the corrected data (which is the Bouguer anomaly) as a function of distance (this
does not have to be in meters, longitude is fine)
compare your resuts with the cross section handed out with the lab (Figure 8)
? Make sure the units in all of your caclulations are correct and remember to label all graphs
and plots with the correct units
Lab Report
The written lab report should include:
purpose of the survey
description of the survey location, survey procedure (type of equipment, location determination, number of stations, measurements at each station), other relevant information
data processing - type corrections applied, etc.
results and analysis - description of the plots, significant features in the data
conclusions - what were the results?
Questions to keep in mind:
Is there a significant anomaly associated with the fault?
How does your plot compare with the gravity anomaly determined from a previous
survey (Figure 8, Lab 2 handout)?
If there is no observable anomaly, what are the possible explanations for this?
What could have been done to improve the survey?

Lab reports due: Monday February 24th (in class)


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