GI3031 Physical Geodesy Syllabus:

GI3031 Physical Geodesy Syllabus – Anna University Regulation 2021

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

 To understand the concepts of gravimetry, gravity field and their statistics.

UNIT I INTRODUCTION

Need to study gravity- historical review- research areas- applications. Potential theory: some vector calculus- attraction and potential- potential of a solid body- Laplace equation – exterior potential fieldPoisson equation – interior potential field- spherical harmonics- boundary-value problems.

UNIT II GRAVITY FIELD OF THE EARTH

Gravitation- gravity- attraction of a point mass- attraction of a point mass- rigid body- gravity and shape of the Earth- level surfaces and plumb lines- natural coordinates- Normal gravity: Superposition principle- ellipsoid as an approximation of the Earth- the level ellipsoid- series expansion of the normal gravity field.

UNIT III GRAVIMETRY

Functional of the gravity field- terrestrial gravimetry – absolute and relative- airborne gravimetryspace borne gravimetry- gradiometry- torsion balance- gravity networks. Gravity field modelling: Linear model of physical geodesy- disturbing potential and gravity- anomalous potential and gravity- gravity reductions- Geoid modelling: The Stokes integral- Koch’s formula- VeningMeinesz formula- Molodensky’s approach- practical aspects.

UNIT IV GRAVITY FIELD AND HEIGHT SYSTEMS

Statistics of the gravity field: The power spectrum- Kaula’s rule of thumb- covariance functions Height systems: Height measurements- physical and geometric heights and their relationship- height systems around the world- Geoid as a vertical reference frame.

UNIT V TEMPORAL VARIATIONS OF THE GRAVITY FIELD

Geophysical effects on gravity- loading theory- tides- hydrological loading- atmospheric loadingocean loading- ice-mass loading- glacial isostatic adjustment.

TOTAL:45 PERIODS
COURSE OUTCOMES:

On completion of the course, the student is expected to
CO1 Understand the physics of gravity and governing equations
CO2 Define gravity and surfaces generated through gravity observations
CO3 Identify methods and techniques for Erath’s gravity field determination
CO4 Acquire knowledge of earth’s gravity field parameters computations
CO5 Understand the factors affecting gravity field and their influence.

REFERENCES

1. Hofmann-Wellenhof- B and Moritz- H (2006). Physical Geodesy. Springer Vienna. Doi: 10.1007/978-3-211-33545-1.
2. Torge- W (2012). Geodesy. 3rd edn. Walter de Gruyter. Berlin. New York.
3. Vanícek- P and Krakiwsky- E (1986). Geodesy: The Concepts. 2nd edn. Elsevier.