Indication of the uplift of the Ardenne in long-term gravity variations in Membach (Belgium)

Abstract

We report on the results of 7 yr of collocated gravity observations made with an FG5 absolute (AG) gravimeter and a GWR C-Series superconducting gravimeter (SG) located at the Membach Geophysical Station in eastern Belgium. The SG gravity residuals track changes in gravity periodically observed by the AG, at the microgal level. Further, in the SG residual signal we distinguish a quasi-seasonal term that can be mostly explained by variations in local water storage effects. In the AG time-series we observe a small trend in the gravity of -0.6 ± 0.1 μGal yr-1 perhaps indicating that the Membach Station is being displaced upwards by about 3.0 mm yr-1. An uplift of the region is confirmed by Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements performed 3 km away. We are able to explain the features in the gravity time-series in terms of water storage variability, post-glacial rebound and tectonic activity. © 2004 RAS.