CORE BUSINESS
The Geophysics Laboratory focuses on climate, sea level variability and geodynamics. The primary goals include obtaining reliable geodetic measurements of environmental change and assessing the influence of human and natural factors in those changes. To do so, the group has developed a patented differential free-fall gradiometer as part of our activities in scientific metrology, advanced high-accuracy Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) techniques, provided interpretation of time variable gravity from space and improved the modelling of environmental effects on geodetic observations.
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
The gravity instrumentation can be used for metrology. We have the ability to measure the acceleration of gravity to 1-2 microgal (1 microgal = 10-8 m/ sec2). GNSS, for example GPS, can be used to monitor positions of stationary and moving objects with high accuracy on a global scale. We have the ability to apply different GPS processing strategies for absolute and relative positioning, and modelling depending on client requirements to achieve millimetre to centimetre level precision and accuracy.
TECHNICAL MEANS
- Absolute Gravimeter: The portable instrument has the ability to measure the acceleration of gravity to 1-2 microgal (1 microgal = 10-8 m/sec2)
- Relative Gravimeters: The portable Scintrex Relative gravimeter has a precision of about 3 microgal (it is sensitive to height changes of 20 mm)
- Superconducting Gravimeter: Non-portable relative instrument that primarily records changes in gravity due to solid Earth and ocean tides and atmospheric pressure; it is valuable in monitoring short- period changes in gravity
- GNSS Equipment: The GL have a range of state-of-the-art geodetic grade GNSS receivers which have the ability to observe all current GNSS signals.
MAIN CUSTOMERS
NASA, ESA, LSA, Spire Global, ILNAS
MAJOR SPACE PROJECTS
We use satellite imagery data but also satellite gravity, GNSS observations, and altimetry for our research. The Geophysics Laboratory developed GNSS reflectometry to detect changes in soil moisture, snow depth, and sea-level for scientific applications. Recently, GL have developed algorithms for spaceborne GNSS-R for soil moisture and sea-ice studies.
