Gravity measurements, absolute

Abstract

Absolute gravity measurements are much less common than those made with relative gravity meters. However, because of their freedom from drift, made possible through the use of modern atomic length and time standards, absolute g meters are extremely important for monitoring long-term changes associated with crustal deformation and density change and for calibrating relative meters. New advances in atomic physics may result in an absolute gravity meter, which is similar in size to typical relative gravity meters, advancing the use of absolute gravity measurements in geophysics.