THE INVERSION AND INTERPRETATION OF GRAVITY ANOMALIES

Abstract

A rearrangement of the formula used for the rapid calculation of the gravitational anomaly caused by a two‐dimensional uneven layer of material (Parker, 1972) leads to an iterative procedure for calculating the shape of the perturbing body given the anomaly. The method readily handles large numbers of model points, and it is found empirically that convergence of the iteration can be assured by application of a low‐pass filter. The nonuniqueness of the inversion can be characterized by two free parameters: the assumed density contrast between the two media, and the level at which the inverted topography is calculated. Additional geophysical knowledge is required to reduce this ambiguity. The inversion of a gravity profile perpendicular to a continental margin to find the location of the Moho is offered as a practical example of this method.