Acquisition of Gyro-stabilized BGM-3 Gravimeters for Academic Science and Implementation on UNOLS Vessels

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole MA

Investigators

Abstract

0705964 Fornari This award to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution provides support for the acquisition, calibration and installation of four gyro-stabilized gravimeters on research vessels plus and two additional units to be deployed for geophysical research on vessels of opportunity or other submarine, terrestrial or aerial vehicles. The instruments supported here will expand the number of US academic research ships capable of acquiring high resolution gravity data from three to seven. The installed instruments will be supported by the shipboard technical groups at each institution, with support for the other two provided by the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) under an existing Memorandum of Agreement among NSF, ONR and NAVOCEANO for shared use of gravimeters for ocean sciences research. This new capability will substantially expand the research community's capability to undertake marine gravity research projects. Broader Impacts: These shared-use instruments will be widely available for use on academic research vessels, and two units will also be available for specialized use on other ships of opportunity, submersibles, aircraft or other platforms with proper planning. ***