Airborne gravity gradiometry

[Truncated] A thorough understanding of the properties of the gravity gradient tensor in its application to airborne surveying for prospecting has been developed. This has yielded a rich harvest of techniques for use in interpreting gravity gradient survey information, the value of which have been demonstrated in a series of simulations of gradient surveys over detailed three dimensional geological models. The understanding of the tensor properties leads to guidelines important in the development of the new gravity gradiometer instrumentation.
The gravity gradient is a second rank tensor containing the second spatial derivatives of the gravity potential. It is consequently closely related to the second order associated Legendre functions and is a considerably more subtle and complex physical object than the gravity acceleration vector. Before developing an interpretation methodology for gradiometry, it is necessary to examine the special properties of the gradient tensor and to understand the special implications resulting from its nature and also to understand how information is contained within the tensor. If gradiometry is to become a tool for the exploration geoscientist then the information in the gradient must be readily extractable and interpretable.