The document discusses Earth's gravitational field and how it is determined by the mass distribution within Earth. Gravity field measurements detect excesses or deficiencies of mass between the measurement point and Earth's center. Gravity "highs" indicate excess mass while "lows" indicate deficiencies. Isostatic disequilibrium, like from glacial loading and unloading, can produce gravitational anomalies.
The document discusses Earth's gravitational field and how it is determined by the mass distribution within Earth. Gravity field measurements detect excesses or deficiencies of mass between the measurement point and Earth's center. Gravity "highs" indicate excess mass while "lows" indicate deficiencies. Isostatic disequilibrium, like from glacial loading and unloading, can produce gravitational anomalies.
The document discusses Earth's gravitational field and how it is determined by the mass distribution within Earth. Gravity field measurements detect excesses or deficiencies of mass between the measurement point and Earth's center. Gravity "highs" indicate excess mass while "lows" indicate deficiencies. Isostatic disequilibrium, like from glacial loading and unloading, can produce gravitational anomalies.
• Earth’s gravitational field strength at any given point is
determined by the mass present from the point of measurement to the center of the earth
• Strength is determined by the Newton’s Law of Gravitational
Attraction:
• F = G(m1)(m2)/r2
• -a = G(ME)/r2 (re-arranging and adding a reference mass)
• Therefore gravity field is :
• Inversely proportional to the distance2 from the center of
the earth Gravity Field Measurements
• Gravity field measurements detect the amount of mass from
the point of measurement down to the center of the Earth • Gravity “Highs” indicate an excess of mass from the measurement point down to the center of the Earth • Gravity “Lows” indicate a deficiency in mass from measurement point down to the center of the Earth • Isostatic disequilibrium will produce gravity anomolies Isostatic Equilibrium • Concept that lithospheric plates “float” on a plastic asthensphere • Loading of the lithosphere will cause it to be depressed into the asthenosphere (i.e. Glaciation, Hot Spot Volcanoes • Unloading of the lithosphere will cause it to rebound (i.e. Melting of Glaciers, Erosion)