AGrav: An International Database for Absolute Gravity Measurements

The steadily growing number of absolute gravimeters and absolute gravity measurements all over the world emphasizes the demand of an overview about existing locations, observations, instruments and institutions involved. As a contribution to the International Gravity Field Service (IGFS), a relational database was designed and implemented in a joint development of BKG and BGI and is in operational status now. Two objectives are aimed at: With freely available meta-data and contact details, the database should give an overview about existing stations and observations, serve as a platform for multidisciplinary cooperation and allow the coordination of forthcoming measurements. Among contributing groups or within international projects, an exchange of gravity values and processing details is possible. The database will function as a data inventory, assuring long term availability of the data. Prospectively, the database will be the foundation for a future international gravity reference system and will serve as a pool for geophysical interpretation of absolute gravity observations on a global scale.