Self-Gradient Compensation of Full-Tensor Airborne Gravity Gradiometer.

Area of Science:

• Geophysics
• Gravimetry
• Aerospace Engineering

Background:

• Airborne gravity gradiometry using a full-tensor airborne gravity gradiometer (FTAGG) is sensitive to carrier attitude and fuel mass.
• These factors introduce self-gradients, which are gravity gradients caused by the surrounding mass distribution of the carrier and its fuel.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a self-gradient compensation model for FTAGG systems.
• To enhance the accuracy of airborne gravity gradiometry by mitigating errors caused by carrier attitude and fuel mass.

Main Methods:

• A self-gradient compensation model was developed, dependent on carrier attitude and time, incorporating parameters for carrier mass distribution.
• Simulations were conducted to analyze the influence of carrier attitude and fuel mass on self-gradient tensor elements.
• Experimental validation of the proposed compensation method was performed.

Main Results:

• Carrier attitude significantly affects multiple self-gradient tensor elements (Γxx, Γxy, Γxz, Γyz, Γzz).
• Fuel mass impacts the Γyz tensor element across various carrier attitudes.
• The developed compensation method demonstrated validity, achieving compensation errors within 0.1 Eötvös units (Eu).

Conclusions:

• The proposed self-gradient compensation model effectively reduces errors in FTAGG.
• This approach provides a crucial reference for improving the precision of aviation gravity gradiometry.
• Accurate compensation of self-gradients is essential for high-fidelity airborne gravity surveys.