The data used in this compilation come from the Canadian Gravity Database (CGDB), which is managed by the Canadian Geodetic Survey (CGS), Surveyor General Branch. CGDB includes more than 755 000 observations, including some 232 000 observations on land. The distribution of the land data represents an average of one gravity point per 40 km². The gravity maps, which are gridded to a 2-km interval with a blanking radius of 20 km, currently include data acquired between 1944 and 2015. CGS and partners continue to supplement the CGDB each year. The surveys are conducted using relative gravimeters that measure the gravity difference between two locations. On the landmass, gravity has been measured primarily using static gravimeters. Although measurements at some offshore locations have been collected using static gravimeters on the ocean floor, most are acquired using dynamic gravimeters aboard moving vessels. The relative nature of the gravimeters require that surveys be tied to base (control) stations with known absolute gravity. The base stations are part of the Canadian Gravity Standardization Network (CGSN), which is tied to the International Gravity Standardization Network 1971 (IGSN71). Today, the traditional base stations are being replaced by new base stations that are measured with an absolute gravimeter having an accuracy of 2µGal (2x10-8 m/s²). All relative gravity measurements are integrated into the IGSN71 datum to create a coherent dataset at the global scale. Normal (theoretical) gravity is calculated using the Geodetic Reference System 1980 (GRS80; https://doi.org/10.1007%2FS001900050278). Bouguer anomalies, which include reductions of the elevation and topographical mass to sea level, are calculated using a vertical gravity gradient of ~0.3086 mGal/m (change slightly with latitude and elevation) and a crustal density of 2670 kg/m³.
- Publisher - Current Organization Name: Natural Resources Canada
- Licence: Open Government Licence - Canada
Data and Resources
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Gravity anomalies, Canada (2 km grid) - EnglishZIPEnglish dataset ZIP
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Gravity anomalies, Canada (2 km grid) - FrenchZIPFrench dataset ZIP
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Free air gravity anomalies, Canada (2 km grid) - EnglishZIPEnglish dataset ZIP
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Free air gravity anomalies, Canada (2 km grid) - FrenchZIPFrench dataset ZIP
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First vertical derivative of gravity anomalies, Canada (2 km grid) - EnglishZIPEnglish dataset ZIP
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Bouguer gravity anomalies, Canada (2 km grid) - FrenchZIPFrench dataset ZIP
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Bouguer gravity anomalies, Canada (2 km grid) - EnglishZIPEnglish dataset ZIP
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Canadian Airborne Geophysical Database (CAGDB) Web service - FrenchWMSFrench web_service WMS
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Canadian Airborne Geophysical Database (CAGDB) Web service - EnglishWMSEnglish web_service WMS
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Gravity anomaly map, Canada (Open File 8081) - EnglishPDFEnglish guide PDF
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Gravity anomaly map, Canada (Open File 8081) - FrenchPDFFrench guide PDF
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Observed gravity map, Canada (Open File 8078) - EnglishPDFEnglish guide PDF
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Observed gravity map, Canada (Open File 8078) - FrenchPDFFrench guide PDF
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Horizontal gradient of gravity anomalies, Canada (2 km grid) - EnglishZIPEnglish dataset ZIP
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Horizontal gradient of gravity anomalies, Canada (2 km grid) - FrenchZIPFrench dataset ZIP
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Isostatic residual of gravity anomalies (2 km grid), Canada - EnglishZIPEnglish dataset ZIP
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Isostatic residual of gravity anomalies (2 km grid), Canada - FrenchZIPFrench dataset ZIP
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Observed gravity, Canada (2 km grid) - EnglishZIPEnglish dataset ZIP
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Observed gravity, Canada (2 km grid) - FrenchZIPFrench dataset ZIP
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Bouguer gravity anomalies description, Canada - FrenchPDFFrench guide PDF
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Bouguer gravity anomalies description, Canada - EnglishPDFEnglish guide PDF
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Free air gravity anomalies description, Canada - EnglishPDFEnglish guide PDF
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Free air gravity anomalies description, Canada - FrenchPDFFrench guide PDF
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Gravity anomalies description, Canada - EnglishPDFEnglish guide PDF
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Gravity anomalies description, Canada - FrenchPDFFrench guide PDF
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Gravity point data file format and formulae description - FrenchPDFFrench guide PDF
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Gravity point data file format and formulae description - EnglishPDFEnglish guide PDF
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Isostatic residual of gravity anomalies description, Canada - EnglishPDFEnglish guide PDF
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Observed gravity description, Canada - EnglishPDFEnglish guide PDF
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Observed gravity description, Canada - FrenchPDFFrench guide PDF
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Observed gravity description, Canada - EnglishWMSEnglish dataset WMS
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Observed gravity description, Canada - FrenchWMSFrench dataset WMS
Contact Information
Electronic Mail Address: nrcan.gsc-geosciencedata-donneesgeoscience-cgc.rncan@canada.ca