The slightness of gravimetry

Abstract

Precise determination of g, the gravitational acceleration felt near the Earth's surface, is essential in several scientific domains. As geophysical processes are associated with deformations of the solid Earth and mass distribution changes in its climate system, monitoring local variations in gravity provides information on tectonic deformations, past and present ice-mass changes, tides, the dynamics of the oceans and the hydrosphere and the structure of the Earth.