2000/10/24 by Yan Ming Wang · 1 citation
Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Bathymetry #Geodesy #Geodetic datum #Geological formations and processes #Geology #Geophysics #Geophysics and Gravity Measurements #Gravity anomaly #Lithosphere #Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes #Oceanography #Seismology #Tectonics
paper · doi:10.1080/01490410050210508
crossref issued 2000/10/24 · crossref published 2000/10/24 · crossref published-print 2000/10/24 · openalex publication_date 2000/10/24 · crossref created 2002/07/26 · crossref deposited 2016/12/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · crossref indexed 2026/07/30 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Historically, prediction of ocean floor depth, or bathymetry, has been based on the isostatic modeling and linearized relationships between gravity anomalies and bathymetry. The need for isostatic modeling limits the application of the resulting bathymetry predictions as constraints in geophysical models. An alternative technique making use of the Earth's vertical gravity gradient for predicting bathymetry is explored in this paper. This technique is based on the fact that the observed gravity gradient anomalies result primarily from local mass concentrations on the ocean floor, and that mass compensation by the oceanic crust has an insignificant effect on the gravity gradients, and can be neglected. The resulting bathymetry prediction therefore is independent of isostatic modeling assumptions, allowing it to be used as a constraint on models of lithospheric compensation and for other geodetic and geophysical applications.