Released
Dataset

Superconducting Gravimeter Data from Sutherland - Level 1 (Data Set)

Cite as:

Förste, Christoph; Voigt, Christian; Abe, Maiko; Kroner, Corinna; Neumeyer, Jürgen; Pflug, Hartmut; Fourie, Piet (2016): Superconducting Gravimeter Data from Sutherland - Level 1 (Data Set). GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences. https://doi.org/10.5880/igets.2016.001_1

Status

I   N       R   E   V   I   E   W : Förste, Christoph; Voigt, Christian; Abe, Maiko; Kroner, Corinna; Neumeyer, Jürgen; Pflug, Hartmut; Fourie, Piet (2016): Superconducting Gravimeter Data from Sutherland - Level 1 (Data Set). GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences. https://doi.org/10.5880/igets.2016.001_1

Abstract

An International Geodynamics and Earth Tide Service (IGETS) was established in 2015 by the International Association of Geodesy. IGETS continues the activities of the Global Geodynamics Project (GGP) between 1997 and 2015 to provide support to geodetic and geophysical research activities using superconducting gravimeter (SG) data within the context of an international network. As part of this network, the South African Geodynamic Observatory Sutherland (SAGOS) was established by GFZ during the years 1998 and 2000 based on an Agreement on Cooperative Activities between the National Research Foundation (NRF) and GFZ signed in August 1998. Continuous time-varying gravity and atmospheric pressure data from the SGs at SAGOS are integrated in the IGETS data base hosted by ISDC (Information System and Data Center) at GFZ.

The SAGOS observatory is located at the site of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) approx. 350 km northeast of Cape Town (longitude: 20.81 E, latitude: 32.38 S, height above MSL: 1755 m). The operation and maintenance of the SAGOS instrumentation is jointly done by staff of SAAO and GFZ. The shortest distance to the South Atlantic coastline is approx. 200 km. The area is located in a tectonically quiet zone far away from the African rift. Geologically, the setting is a huge dolerite plateau with a several kilometres thick layer of dolerite. This bedrock allows a good coupling of the SG pillars to the ground. The environment is a remote area with no industry and low seismicity. The climate at this place is determined by the border between summer and winter rainfall zones so that temperature fluctuations are not too rough. The observatory is built into the ground to protect it against environmental effects like strong winds and temperature changes. All rooms are thermally insulated. An air-conditioning system controls the temperature inside the measurement chamber, which is equipped with three concrete pillars embedded into the dolerite bedrock. Two of the pillars are constructed for SGs or other geophysical instruments. The third pillar is dedicated for absolute gravimeters for the calibration of the SGs. In the vicinity of the observatory four further pillars were set up for various other geodetic antennas and instrumentation.

SAGOS is a high precision geodynamic observatory comprising space techniques and ground instruments. Presently, the observatory is equipped with two SGs manufactured by GWR Instruments (SG D037 and SG 052). The time series of gravity and barometric pressure from the dual sensor gravimeter SG D037 starts in March 2000 and is interrupted from August 2008 to December 2009 due to an upgrade of the electronics package. The time series of SG 052 begins in September 2008 without interruption. Both SGs are active and the time series are kept up to date regularly with a time delay of a few months. The time sampling of the raw gravity and barometric pressure data of IGETS Level 1 is 1 minute. Starting in January 2016, raw data with a time sampling of 1 second is provided additionally. For a detailed description of the IGETS data base and the provided files see Voigt et al. (2016) [Scientific Technical Report to be added].

In addition, SAGOS is equipped with auxiliary data supporting the interpretation of the SG measurements, which is, however, not provided in the IGETS data base due to complexity. These are a local network of hydrological and meteorological sensors as well as a permanent GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) station as a core station of the International GNSS Service (IGS) with the ID SUTM.

Authors

  • Förste, Christoph;GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
  • Voigt, Christian;GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
  • Abe, Maiko;GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
  • Kroner, Corinna;PTB Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Braunschweig, Germany
  • Neumeyer, Jürgen;GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany (retired)
  • Pflug, Hartmut;GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
  • Fourie, Piet;South African Astronomical Observatory, Sutherland, South Africa

Contact

  • Voigt, Christian (Research Scientist) ; GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany;

Keywords

Superconducting gravimetry, Earth tides, Geodynamics, IGETS, International Geodynamics and Earth Tide Service, geophysics, geodesy, hydrology

GCMD Science Keywords

Location

Please, click on markers, line or bounding boxes to see related details in popup.
To explore to full geographic extent of the map please click and drag the map.

    Files

        The dataset is not available for public download. Please fill in the form to contact the authors.

        Full Name*
        Affiliation*
        eMail*
        Purpose of use of the data*
        * - required

        License: CC BY 4.0

        Dataset Description

        Documented by