Marine gravimetry

Abstract

The first continuous shipboard gravity measurements were made just over 20 years ago on board U.S.S. Compass Island (Worzel, 1958) and, since about 1961, gravity measurements have been routinely made by several institutions as part of marine geophysical surveys. During the 1960's much effort went into developing and refining instruments and into understanding the mechanical and environmental factors affecting them. A major factor in improving the reliability of gravity measurements was the introduction in the late 196O's of satellite navigation systems which meant that accurate positions, speeds, and courses, all necessary to compute the theoretical gravity value and the Eotvos correction, could be obtained.