Gravimetric survey terrain correction using linear analytical approximation

Various methods for computing the terrain correction in a high‐precision gravity survey are currently available. The present paper suggests a new method that uses linear analytical terrain approximations. In this method, digital terrain models for the near‐station topographic masses are obtained by vectorizing scan images of large‐scaled topographic maps, and the terrain correction computation is carried out using a Fourier series approximation of discrete height values. Distant topography data are represented with the help of digital GTOPO30 and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission cartographic information. We formulate linear analytical approximations of terrain corrections for the whole region using harmonic functions as the basis of our computational algorithm. Stochastic modelling allows effective assessment of the accuracy of terrain correction computation. The Perm Krai case study has shown that our method makes full use of all the terrain data available from topographic maps and digital terrain models and delivers a digital terrain correction computed to a priori precision. Our computer methodology can be successfully applied for the terrain correction computation in different survey areas.