Changes in Earth’s gravity reveal changes in groundwater storage

Jeffrey R. Kennedy

doi:10.3133/fs20183032

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Changes in Earth’s gravity reveal changes in groundwater storage

Jeffrey R. Kennedy

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Abstract

Changes in the amount of water stored in underground aquifers cause small changes in Earth’s gravitational field. The U.S. Geological Survey’s Southwest Gravity Program has developed methods for measuring terrestrial gravity changes with part-per-billion precision. The measurements allow scientists to map changes in groundwater storage and to improve models that simulate groundwater flow.

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Jeffrey R. Kennedy. 2018-09-11. Changes in Earth’s gravity reveal changes in groundwater storage. https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20183032

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