Reply to Comment on: ‘The quest for a consistent signal in ground and GRACE gravity time series’

in Geophysical Journal International (2014), 199(3), 1818-1822

Accurate Determination of the Earth Tidal Parameters at the BIPM to Support the Watt Balance Project

in Rizos, C.; Willis, P. (Eds.) Earth on the Edge: Science for a Sustanaible Planet (2014)

Stability comparison of two absolute gravimeters: optical versus atomic interferometers

in Metrologia (2014), 51(5), 15-17

We report the direct comparison between the stabilities of two mobile absolute gravimeters of different technology: the LNE-SYRTE Cold Atom Gravimeter (CAG) and FG5X#216 of the Université du Luxembourg ... [more ▼]

We report the direct comparison between the stabilities of two mobile absolute gravimeters of different technology: the LNE-SYRTE Cold Atom Gravimeter (CAG) and FG5X#216 of the Université du Luxembourg. These instruments rely on two different principles of operation: atomic and optical interferometry. The comparison took place in the Walferdange Underground Laboratory for Geodynamics in Luxembourg, at the beginning of the last International Comparison of Absolute Gravimeters, ICAG-2013. We analyse a 2h10 duration common measurement, and find that the CAG shows better immunity with respect to changes in the level of vibration noise, as well as a slightly better short term stability. [less ▲]

The Decade of the Geopotential - techniques to observe the gravity field from space

Scientific Conference (2013, October)

On the gravimetric contribution to watt balance experiments

in Metrologia (2013), 50(5), 452

It has been recommended that the relative standard uncertainty of the numerical value of the Planck constant required for the redefinition of the kilogram should not exceed 2 × 10 −8 . To reach this goal ... [more ▼]

It has been recommended that the relative standard uncertainty of the numerical value of the Planck constant required for the redefinition of the kilogram should not exceed 2 × 10 −8 . To reach this goal using experiments based on a watt balance, the free-fall acceleration ( g ) traceable to the SI, at a given point and a given time, needs to be known with a sufficiently small uncertainty well below 2 × 10 −8 . Reducing the uncertainty in g allows the other uncertainties related to the watt balance to be increased. Instead of a simultaneous operation of an absolute gravimeter with a watt balance, we propose an alternative approach and demonstrate that a standard uncertainty below 5 µGal (relative uncertainty of 5 × 10 −9 ) is reachable under the conditions at BIPM. Further decreasing the uncertainty could significantly increase commitments in terms of personnel and equipment and would not significantly improve the uncertainty targeted for the BIPM watt balance experiment. A 5 µGal uncertainty might also satisfy the needs of other watt balance experiments underway or planned. In our approach we combine the following information: (1) the Key Comparison Reference Values obtained from the CCM.G-K1, a key comparison carried out in the frame of the International Comparison of Absolute Gravimeters in 2009 (ICAG2009); (2) the accurate gravity network established using the qualified absolute and relative gravimeters; (3) temporal gravity variations based on observed Earth-tide parameters and modelled effects of polar motion and atmospheric mass redistribution; (4) uncertainty estimates that account for non-modelled effects; (5) the option to carry out absolute gravity measurements once every one or two years with two or more gravimeters for monitoring the stability of the gravity field at the BIPM. [less ▲]

The European Comparison of Absolute Gravimeters 2011 (ECAG-2011) in Walferdange, Luxembourg: results and recommendations

in Metrologia (2013), 50(3), 257

We present the results of the third European Comparison of Absolute Gravimeters held in Walferdange, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, in November 2011. Twenty-two gravimeters from both metrological and non ... [more ▼]

We present the results of the third European Comparison of Absolute Gravimeters held in Walferdange, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, in November 2011. Twenty-two gravimeters from both metrological and non-metrological institutes are compared. For the first time, corrections for the laser beam diffraction and the self-attraction of the gravimeters are implemented. The gravity observations are also corrected for geophysical gravity changes that occurred during the comparison using the observations of a superconducting gravimeter. We show that these corrections improve the degree of equivalence between the gravimeters. We present the results for two different combinations of data. In the first one, we use only the observations from the metrological institutes. In the second solution, we include all the data from both metrological and non-metrological institutes. Those solutions are then compared with the official result of the comparison published previously and based on the observations of the metrological institutes and the gravity differences at the different sites as measured by non-metrological institutes. Overall, the absolute gravity meters agree with one another with a standard deviation of3.1 µ Gal. Finally, the results of this comparison are linked to previous ones. We conclude with some important recommendations for future comparisons. [less ▲]

Absolute Gravity Measurements at the Conrad Observatorium in Austria in June 2012

Report (2012)

Relative Gravity Measurement Campaign during the 8th International Comparison of Absolute Gravimeters (2009)

in Metrologia (2012), 49(1), 95

The 8th International Comparison of Absolute Gravimeters (ICAG-2009) and the associated Relative Gravity Campaign (RGC2009) took place at the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) between July ... [more ▼]

The 8th International Comparison of Absolute Gravimeters (ICAG-2009) and the associated Relative Gravity Campaign (RGC2009) took place at the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) between July and October 2009. Altogether 24 institutes with 22 absolute gravimeters and 9 relative gravimeters participated in the ICAG/RGC campaign. Accurate absolute and relative gravity measurements as well as precision levelling measurements were performed on the micro-gravity 3D-grid at the BIPM. The 2009 comparison was the first to be organized as a Comité International des Poids et Mesures (CIPM) metrological Key Comparison under the CIPM MRA (Mutual Recognition Arrangement), which means that the result will be officially recognized by the governmental organizations responsible. As a consequence, the relative gravimeters employed were carefully selected and the measurement schedules were rigorously enforced compared with earlier campaigns. Thus the quality of the RGC2009 and the determination of the BIPM local gravity network were improved. After 30 years and eight successive ICAGs, the BIPM has decided to transfer its role to the national metrological institutes, although the CIPM will continue to organize the key comparison as ICAGs. The background to the RGC2009, and the organization, data processing and final results of the gravity and vertical gravity gradients, are presented in this paper. This report is more detailed than previous final reports of the RGCs. [less ▲]

Updating the Precise Gravity Network at the BIPM

in Geodesy for Planet Earth (2012)

Results of the first North American comparison of absolute gravimeters, NACAG-2010

in Journal of Geodesy (2012), 86