Gravitational anomaly: definition, meaning, features and interesting facts

In the field of theoretical physics, the gravitational anomaly is an example of a gauge anomaly, one of the effects of quantum mechanics. This is the difference between the observed acceleration of free fall or gravity on the surface and the corresponding value of the predicted model of the planet's gravitational field. As a rule, there are a number of simplifying assumptions, including self-gravitation and rotational movements, through which the Earth takes the form of an ellipsoid.

Anomaly and gravity

The value of the anomaly, as a rule, is much less than the value of gravitation itself, with which the concepts of the total mass of the planet, its rotation and flattening are related. Thus, gravitational anomalies on the Earth are just local variations of the gravitational field. Nevertheless, these phenomena cause genuine geophysical and geological interest and are one of the typical tasks of geophysics.

Causes and features

Gravitational anomaly can occur in different parts of the world, most often in the mountains. Lateral oscillations of gravitational anomalies are associated with anomalous density distributions within the Earth. Measures of gravity help to understand the inner structure of the planet. Scale anomalies of the gravitational field can be detected from space as a side effect of the gravitational missions of satellites.

Gravity recovery and climate

On processes that are subject only to nature, it turns out that the person himself can influence, launching satellites that can detect gravitational changes throughout the Earth. In addition, these changes can be represented in the form of gravitational anomalies of temporal variations. Gravity plays an important role, affecting, among other things, the self-regulation of the planet and its climatic processes.

Directions of the gravitational field

The gravitational field of the Earth is depicted in two main directions: the anomalies of the gravity of the map and the map of the Earth's geoid.

• The gravitational anomaly of the map shows how much the actual gravitational field of the Earth itself differs from the gravitational field of its surface. It emphasizes the difference in gravitational forces on the surface of the Earth. Often this occurs in places of unusual concentration of certain forms of terrain, for example, the presence of mountain ranges or oceanic depressions.
• Geoid is a hypothetical surface of the Earth, which is the average sea level in the absence of winds, currents and most tides. Geoid is a useful surface reference material. It determines the horizontal, and the force of gravity acts perpendicular to them.

Obtaining an exact geoid model turned out to be a very difficult task. Data from several dozen satellites, along with surface measurements, had to be combined to create a model of the gravitational field. The allocation of large-scale features has fully justified itself, which can not be said about the features of a local character, where it is often necessary to accurately describe the time-varying gravitational effects, such as those associated with the hydrological cycle.

Remote sensing and cartography

These methods provide a critical contribution of many scientific models used in oceanography, hydrology, geology and related disciplines. Remote sensing and cartography are used for various purposes and tasks, including:

• Measurement of changes in the mass of polar ice;
• Measuring changes in water resources on land;
• The definition of shallow and deep ocean currents;
• Determination of sea level changes due to temperature fluctuations;
• More detailed understanding of such a mass exchange, as the atmosphere-ocean;
• Description of the forces that generate the geomagnetic field of the Earth;
• Understanding of the inner forces of the planet, the movement of tectonic plates as a result of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions;
• Improving forecasting of natural hazards.

Anomalies attract tourists

We live in an era when almost everyone in the world has instant access to information. Despite the fact that everyone can find out everything that he wants, there is a strangeness in the world, and there are many of them that remain a mystery, one of them is the gravitational anomaly.

There are places on the planet that can surprise, where the natural forces of gravity do not work, where the sense of balance is lost, where the car can roll uphill and so on. Such phenomena are really regarded as wrong from the point of view of human thinking.

Such mysterious places can be found all over the world, though not all of them can be located in the vortexes of paranormal activity, but some definitely can be a good stopping place for tired tourists.

Interpretation of gravitational and magnetic anomalies

Magnetic anomalies are mainly generated by variations of the crystalline basement and magmatic material. Most deposits can be considered as magnetically transparent, that is, having a low susceptibility.

Thus, magnetic data interpretations can be a useful and productive way of investigating the deepest and often most fundamental structures.

Gravitational anomaly on a lake or land can be associated with the contrast of densities of subsurface layers (deep penetrations, faults, river basin boundaries, etc.).

What does "GA" mean?

Gravitational anomaly, "GA" in abbreviated form, is a general term for describing the cases of fixing the not quite usual parameters of the gravitational field. This definition explains the moments that arise in cases of contradiction between the generally accepted mathematical model of the gravitational theory and the other side that does not fit into the general framework of the physical nature of the gravitational interaction.

Practical meaning

The study of characteristics and properties of the Earth's gravitational field plays an important role and finds practical application in many branches of the economy. There is a whole scientific direction - gravimetry, which stands in line with other sciences about the Earth (geology, geodesy, astronautics, oceanography, seismology and others). The subject of its study is the gravitational anomaly, including.

Anomalies of gravity

The changes in gravity, which are associated with such a property of the earth's surface as the density heterogeneity, do not have an obvious regularity and indicate a certain deviation of values from the generally accepted ones, are called anomalies of gravity. As a rule, the difference between normal and abnormal gravity is minimal. However, even minor deviations help to better study the properties of the earth's crust, as well as to search for minerals.

Gravitational anomaly occurs both on the surface of the Earth and in its interior. An important external factor in this case is the relief. As for underground causes, they include the movements of the layers along the vertical and horizontal lines, as well as changes in the density composition of these layers. Such a phenomenon as a gravitational anomaly is of great importance in geology. Gravimetry methods are widely used during the search for deposits of iron ore, oil and gas.

Miracles, and only!

Every year there is more and more information about abnormal places on the planet. This is a place where somehow miraculously disappears the force of gravity, the ball or spilled water starts to rise up the slope or other miracles occur that defy logic.

The most famous are Beit Shemesh in Israel, the Devil's gorge in Jordan, the pass to Ladhaka (India), and gravity anomalies in Russia, near the village of Galashki, Nevyansky district in the Middle Urals, where a stream with an unusual current was discovered.

What is really happening? Are all the abnormal places so? Many of them have something in common, namely:

• In general, such zones are located in a mountainous area.
• Most are in the subtropics.
• A characteristic feature is a relatively small size, if this is a road, then the length of the anomalous section does not exceed, as a rule, 600 m.

What is the focus?

Gravitational anomalies in the system of the Earth and the Moon are scientifically grounded, their interrelation can be observed, for example, with the help of tides.

And as for the numerous places where the forces of attraction work awry? Is all that seems incomprehensible is abnormal? Let's take an example with a mountain road of one anomalous zone. Climbing upward is easier than descending down. So why is it so difficult to descend? This is because the body is very difficult to deceive, unlike the eyes. It's hard to believe, but most of the mysterious natural phenomena are just optical illusions.

Gravitation is one of the most important fundamental forces of the universe, which has repeatedly puzzled scientists since its discovery. Unique properties of gravity and attitude to the mass allows life to exist, and not fly into space. When the object moves higher, it receives gravitational potential energy, and its amount depends on the mass of the object, the height and the force of attraction. In nature, there are also phenomena of distortion of gravitational fields. Anomalies are a rather conventional concept, which can denote a variety of different phenomena. In fact, their manifestation is a physically justified quality of matter or matter.

Gravitational fields can have a significant impact, which can manifest themselves in functional failures of all kinds of techniques. For example, the clock suddenly stops or starts to move in the opposite direction of the arrow, discharges the phones, turns off the photographic equipment and so on. All distortions of time and space need to be perceived more widely, and not only at the level of material manifestations of a reflex nature.