Gravity change observed in a local gravity network and its implication to seasonal precipitation in Dali county, Yunnan province, China

This study investigates data-processing methods and examines the precipitation effect on gravity measurements at the Dali gravity network, established in 2005. High-quality gravity data were collected during four measurement campaigns. To use the gravity data validly, some geophysical corrections must be considered carefully. We first discuss data-processing methods using weighted least- squares adjustment with the constraint of the absolute gravity datum. Results indicate that the gravity precision can be improved if all absolute gravity data are used as constraints and if calibration functions of relative gravi- meters are modeled within the observation function. Using this data-processing scheme, the mean point gravity pre- cision is better than 12 μgal. After determining the best data-processing scheme, we then process the gravity data obtained in the four measurement campaigns, and obtain gravity changes in three time periods. Results show that the gravity has a remarkable change of more than 50 pgal in the first time period from Apr-May of 2005 to Aug-Sept of 2007. To interpret the large gravity change, a mean water mass change （0.6 m in height） is assumed in the ETOPO1 topographic model. Calculations of the precipitation effect on gravity show that it can reach the same order of the observed gravity change. It is regarded as a main source of the remarkable gravity change in the Dali gravity network, suggesting that the precipitation effect on gravity mea- surements must be considered carefully.

Analysis of datum-instability effect on calculated results of data from Longmen Mountain regional gravity network

A statistical correlation method is used to study the effect of instability of the calculation datum （ used in traditional method of indirect adjustment） on calculated gravity results, using data recorded by Longmen Mountain regional gravity network during 1996 -2007. The result shows that when this effect is corrected, anomalous gravity changes before the 2008 Wenchuan Ms8. 0 earthquake become obvious and characteristically distinctive. Thus the datum-stability problem must be considered when processing and analyzing data recorded by a regional gravity network.

A new and high-precision gravity base network in the south of the Tibetan Plateau

A new gravity base network in the south of the Tibetan Plateau was established with a FG5X absolute gravimeter and three CG-6 gravimeters.The gravity base network consists of 10 absolute gravity points and 17 relative gravity points.Processing of the absolute data,pre-processing of the relative data and gravity network adjustment model are briefly described.Based a constrained weighted least squares,the combined adjustment of absolute and relative gravity measurements results in the gravity values with a precision of about±4.1μGal.

The gravity field and gravity data reduction across the continental area of Nigeria

This research presents the variation of the gravity field and associated gravity field components over the continental area of Nigeria to provide data for geoscience research,geodetic and engineering works,aerodynamic studies and deep crustal inferences.Accurate positions and elevations were observed at 58 of the 59 base stations of the Primary Gravity Network of Nigeria(PGNN),whose absolute gravity values had been accurately determined.The absolute gravity values were plotted against their respective positions to reveal the distribution pattern and strength of the gravity field within the study area.Theoretical gravity values at each base station were generated using the Somigliana's equation.The free-air gravity and free-air anomaly gravity values were generated with respect to the World Geodetic System 1984(WGS84)ellipsoid using GPS-derived elevation data.Then,the perturbing potential,free-air gravity with respect to the geoid,and the indirect effects were evaluated.The average of the indirect effects was used to adjust the WGS84 gravity formula to produce a gravity formula that better approximates the geoid across the continental area of Nigeria,compatible with the heights measured relative to the geoid,which can serve as a reference for establishing a vertical height control.The Bouguer gravity and Bouguer gravity anomalies across Nigeria revealed a“trans-southern gravity high strip”interpreted to be associated with mantle upwelling.Two new major mega-lineaments related to mantle upwelling were mapped.A batholith province trending NWeSE was delineated,occurring from north central Nigeria to the north western region and containing closures of“Bouguer gravity lows”interpreted as batholiths.A separate closure of“Bouguer gravity low”was detected at Azare,north eastern Nigeria,which may be due to the presence of intrusive granitic body.It is recommended that the mantle structure beneath“the trans-southern gravity high strip”,“delineated batholith province”and“isolated gravity closures”around the northeast of Nigeria should be studied from seismic shear wave splitting analysis for better understanding of the deep lithospheric structures and moho relief.

Temporal variation of gravity-field in North China before and after the 2011 Japan Mw9. 0 earthquake

By using absolute and relative-gravity data recorded by the gravity network in North China, we obtained some large-scale and high-spatial-resolution images of gravity variation in this area for the first time. By analyzing these images, we found that the gravity in Liaodong peninsula area showed an obvious increase of 80 × 10^-8ms^-2 during about one- and-half year before the 2011 Japan Mwg. 0 earthquake, and a rapid decrease after the earthquake. This gravity variation is similar to that observed previously for the 1976 Tangshan 1147.8 earthquake.

Gravity anomaly before the Leshan M5.0 earthquake?

The North-South Seismic Belt was analyzed using gravity observation data from 2011 to 2015, and the nontidal analysis results show that there was a nonlinear gravity change at both the Chengdu and Guza seismostations one month before the Leshan M5.0 earthquake.

Dynamic Variations of the Gravity Field before and after the M5. 1 Wen’an Earthquake in Hebei Province

In order to explore the abnormal variations before and after the Wen＇an MS. 1 earthquake on July 4, 2006, the gravity data observed by the Wenba Gravity Observation Network before and after the earthquake was analyzed. The relationships between gravity change and vertical displacement and shallow groundwater level were discussed, and elevation correction of the gravity was preliminarily performed. The results show that there were abnormal gravity changes before the MS. ! earthquake, which appeared as gravity rising in the whole observation network, especially in the south part. A high gradient of gravity variation appeared around the epicenter before the MS. 1 earthquake, especially during the short period between October 2005 to April 2006. The boundary of the positive and negative gravity variations gradually deflected and began to recover from October 2007.

Gravity variation before the Akto Ms6.7 earthquake, Xinjiang

The relationship between gravity variation and the Akto Ms6.7 earthquake on November 11, 2016, was studied by use of mobile gravity observation data from the China continental structural environmental monitoring network. The result revealed that before the Akto earthquake, a high positive gravity variation was observed in the Pamir tectonic knots region （within a maximum magnitude of approximately ＋80 microgal）, which was consistent with the existing knowledge of gravity abnormality and the locations of strong earthquakes. In view of the recent strong seismic activities in the Pamir tectonic knots region, as well as the strong upward crust movement and compressive strain, it is believed that gravity change in the Pamir tectonic knots region reflects the recent strong seismic activities and crust movement.