Faculty of Science, University of Porto International Association of Geodesy  
 










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2. Airborne and Satellite gravimetry instrumentation

co-chairs:      R. Forsberg (rf@kms.dk)
                L. Bastos (lcbastos@fc.up.pt)
Program Description:

Recent years have seen tremendous growth in airborne gravimetry systems, from the survey of the Arctic Ocean to tests with various types of new instrumentation. Airborne gradiometry, though having a long history of over 30 years of technological development, has yet to see the same level of operation as airborne gravimetry. But the promise of new sensors, particularly based on the light-pulse, cold-atom interferometer, as well as the recognition that gradiometry will significantly improve our ability to map the fine structure, including temporal variations, of the regional gravity field have invigorated technological efforts and innovations in this direction. This is true not only for airborne systems, but satellite systems, as well, where the GOCE mission is the prime example. This session solicits contributions in the areas of accelerometer and gradiometer technology, the new cold-atom interferometer sensors, INS/GPS airborne systems, results of gravity surveys, gradiometer surveys, absolute moving-base systems, future satellite systems (laser satellite-to-satellite tracking), and new airborne platforms (atmospheric science platforms, unmanned air vehicles). The focus is primarily toward gravity modeling, but related applications, such as in-flight gravity compensation of inertial navigation systems, are also to be considered.