A sloping wedge technique for calculating gravity terrain corrections

Abstract

Gravity terrain corrections account for the upward pull of topographic features which are higher than a gravity station (hills) and the lack of downward pull from open space which is lower than the station (valleys). In areas of rugged topography or in high precision surveys, the magnitude of the terrain corrections can be comparable to the anomalies being sought and the uncertainties in the terrain corrections can limit the accuracy of the survey. Also, calculating the corrections can require more time and effort than gathering the original field data. Even if terrain corrections are not made, it is necessary to show that their omission does not compromise the integrity of the survey.