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Introduction

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Gravity interpretation is an important endeavour in the quest for understanding the Earth. This is so for several reasons. The shape and mass distribution of the Earth are governed by the central force of gravity counteracted mainly by the molecular and atomic forces against compression and deformation. Ongoing geodynamic processes are driven mainly by thermal disturbances of the equilibrium which gravity tries to achieve, to maintain or to restore. The processes generate density distributions which produce observable gravity signals which are the target of gravity study. Near the surface in the Earth’s crust geological structures resulting from past geodynamic processes are “frozen in” and preserved over long periods, as the gravitationally driven forces inherent in the structures are too weak for the strength of the material to be overcome. Natural resources of all kinds are hidden in the structures. Gravity is an economic tool for exploring and discovering the resources.

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Johannes, W.J., Smilde, P.L. (2009). Introduction. In: Gravity Interpretation. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-85329-9_1

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