Some aspects of interpretation of tensor gradiometry data

Aspects of the interpretation of measured data on the gravity gradient tensor (GGT) are examined. The problem is posed in relation to the great progress achieved in recent years in the development of instrumentation and the method of GGT measurements on mobile carriers. In our opinion, the new methods of measurement and the new data obtained with their help require the development of new methods of interpretation of potential fields. The paper addresses two methods taking advantage of simultaneous measurements of all components of the GGT and anomalies of the gravitaty field V _z. It is shown that the joint analysis of all GGT components can provide independent constraints on the noise level in various components. The method of tensor deconvolution proposed in the paper is a tensor analogue of the Euler method. The method is based on the calculation of invariants and is, therefore, stable with respect to the orientation uncertainties of the measuring system. The method provides means for estimating the structural index and, therefore, is particularly effective in the treatment of fields that contain isometric and/or elongated anomalies. The calculation of invariants and the tensor ratio can also be used for the development of procedures enabling automatic estimation of the axis strike azimuths of elongated anomaly-forming bodies.