Terms of Reference and Objectives

A gravity reference network was established in South America and adjusted by, at that time, the Canadian Geological Survey. Most of the stations of that old network are destroyed. In many countries, new reference network has been established recently like Chile, Paraguay, Argentina, Ecuador. It is necessary and urgent to tie the network together and carry out an adjustment. On the other hand, many gaps of gravity data have been filled in the last few years in different countries. In spite of that, other gaps still exist, in particular in the mountains and forests. This project aims to coordinate efforts of gravity data collections and measurement campaigns in South America.

The main objectives of the project are:
- To re-measure the existing absolute gravity stations and to encourage new measurements.
- To validate fundamental gravity networks from different countries in order to establish a single and common gravity network for South America.
- To adjust national gravity networks and to link them.
- To contribute to the "Geoid in South America Project" by obtaining and maintaining files with gravity data necessary for the geoid computation.
- To encourage and eventually support local organizations in different countries to increase the gravity data coverage.
- To organize and/or encourage the organization of workshops, symposia or seminars on gravity in South America.

The following links to organizations will be established in the project: Bureau Gravimétrique International; SIRGAS.

This Commission Project reports to Sub-Commission 2.4