Abstract
This conclusive chapter introduces the Earth’s gravity field and the concept of geopotential. The approach follows the potential field techniques presented in Chap. 4. The concepts of geoid and ellipsoid are discussed, along with the methods for processing gravity data. The chapter concludes with the important topic of dynamic topography, which links the geoid to mantle dynamics.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Biancale R, Balmino G, Lemoine JM, Marty JC, Moynot B, Barlier F, Exertier P, Laurain O, Gegout P, Schwintzer P, Reigber C, Bode A, König R, Massmann FH, Raimondo J-C, Schmid R, Yuan Zhu S (2000) A new global Earth’s gravity field model from satellite orbit perturbations: GRIM5‐S1. Geophys Res Lett 27(22):3611–3614
Conder JA, Wiens DA (2007) Rapid mantle flow beneath the Tonga volcanic arc. Earth Planet Sci Lett 264(1):299–307
Dziewonski AM, Hager BH, O’Connell RJ (1977) Large-scale heterogeneities in the lower mantle. J Geophys Res 82(2):239–255
Hager BH (1984) Subducted slabs and the geoid: constraints on mantle rheology and flow. J Geophys Res 89(B7):6003–6015. doi:10.1029/JB089iB07p06003
Hager BH, Richards MA (1989) Long-wavelength variations in Earth’s geoid: physical models and dynamical implications. Phil Trans Roy Soc Lond Series A 328(1599):309–327
Heiskanen WA, Moritz H (1993) Physical geodesy. Institute of Physical Geodesy, Technical University, Graz, Corrected reprint, 364 pp
Lerch FJ, Nerem RS, Putney BH, Felsentreger TL, Sanchez BV, Marshall JA, Klosko SM, Patel GB, Williamson RG, Chinn DS, Chan JC, Rachlin KE, Chandler NL, McCarthy JJ, Luthcke SB, Pavlis NK, Pavlis DE, Robbins JW, Kapoor S (1994) A geopotential model from satellite tracking, altimeter, and surface gravity data: GEM‐T3. J Geophys Res 99(B2):2815–2839. doi:10.1029/93JB02759
Moucha R, Forte AM (2011) Changes in African topography driven by mantle convection. Nat Geosci 4(10):707–712
Pavlis NK, Holmes SA, Kenyon SC, Factor JK (2012) The development and evaluation of the Earth Gravitational Model 2008 (EGM2008). J Geophys Res 117:B04406. doi:10.1029/2011JB008916
Pekeris CL (1935) Thermal convection in the interior of the Earth. Mon Not Roy Astron Soc Geophys 3:343–367
Rapp RH (1997) Use of potential coefficient models for geoid undulation determinations using a spherical harmonic representation of the height anomaly/geoid undulation difference. J Geod 71(5):282–289
Richards MA, Hager BH (1984) Geoid anomalies in a dynamic earth. J Geophys Res 89(B7):5987–6002. doi:10.1029/JB089iB07p05987
Schubert G, Turcotte DL (1972) One-dimensional model of shallow-mantle convection. J Geophys Res 77(5):945–951. doi:10.1029/JB077i005p00945
Schubert G, Yuen DA, Froidevaux C, Fleitout L, Souriau M (1978) Mantle circulation with partial shallow return flow: effects on stresses in oceanic plates and topography of the sea floor. J Geophys Res 83(B2):745–758. doi:10.1029/JB083iB02p00745
Schwintzer P, Reigber C, Bode A, Kang Z, Zhu SY, Massmann F-H, Raimondo JC, Biancale R, Balmino G, Lemoine JM, Moynot B, Marty JC, Barlier F, Boudon Y (1997) Long-wavelength global gravity field models: GRIM4-S4, GRIM4-C4. J Geod 71(4):189–208
Tapley B, Ries J, Bettadpur S, Chambers D, Cheng M, Condi F, Gunter B, Kang Z, Nagel P, Pastor R, Pekker T, Poole S, Wang F (2005) GGM02–an improved Earth gravity field model from GRACE. J Geod 79(8):467–478
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Schettino, A. (2015). Gravity Field of the Earth. In: Quantitative Plate Tectonics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09135-8_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09135-8_14
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-09134-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-09135-8
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)