A MatLab Script to Perform Gravity Terrain Corrections Using DEM-EU Digital Elevation Model in a Teaching Lab

The use of traditional or modified Hammer techniques in the calculation of gravity terrain corrections can be time consuming and troublesome when teaching Gravity methods to students. The availability of digital tools, GIS and easy to use script techniques provide an opportunity to develop alternative easier and faster methods to teach gravity terrains corrections calculation. Of course these techniques can be generally used.

The aim of this article is to share the Matlab script developed in the Teaching-Learning process at University of Aveiro. To demonstrate this, an investigation was carried out in Sever do Vouga, and the results from these techniques are compared with those from the use of Hammer methods. Comparison and correlation between the terrain corrections calculated using a Matlab script and through the Hammer method are presented and discussed. An acceptable linear regression was found between the two methods in the rough topographic Sever do Vouga area, 0.90 correlation coefficient and a negative median value of -0.08 mgal, showing that the Matlab script gave results slightly lower than those from the modified Hammer method. Thus, the GIS/Matlab methodology can be successfully explored in the Teaching-Learning environment as well as in wider applications.