Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Watts, A. B.

Publications and source records attributed to Watts, A. B..

11 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1985

Gravity, geoid and the oceanic lithosphere

Plate tectonics and its contribution to progress in studies of the Earth's gravitational field is discussed. In acquisition, the development of forced feedback accelerometers, satellite navigation, and satellite radar altimetry significantly improved the accuracy and coverage of gravity data over the oceans. In interpretation, gravity and geoid anomalies are used to determine information on the thermal and mechanical properties of the oceanic lithosphere and the forces that drive plate motions.

Watts, A. B.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Evidence from satellite altimetry for small-scale convection in the mantle

Small scale convection can be defined as that part of the mantle circulation in which upwellings and downwellings can occur beneath the lithosphere within the interiors of plates, in contrast to the large scale flow associated with plate motions where upwellings and downwellings occur at ridges and trenches. The two scales of convection will interact so that the form of the small scale convection will depend on how it arises within the large scale flow. Observations based on GEOS-3 and SEASAT altimetry suggest that small scale convection occurs in at least two different ways.

Parsons, B.↗
NASA NTRS1985

The relationship between gravity and bathymetry in the Pacific Ocean

The study of the earth's gravitational field has provided one of the principal methods for the determination of the structure of the outer layers of the earth. A project has been undertaken which involves the systematic examination of the relationship between the earth's gravity field and topography in each of the earth's major ocean basins. The first part of the project was concerned with the compilation, reduction, and analysis of the available surface-ship gravity and bathymetry and satellite-derived geoid data in the oceans of the earth. The present paper has the objective to summarize the principal results which have been obtained so far in the Pacific Ocean.

Watts, A. B.↗
NASA NTRS1982

On isostasy at Atlantic-type continental margins

The concept of isostasy describes the manner in which topographic features on the earth's surface are compensated at depth. The present investigation is concerned with the isostatic mechanism at Atlantic-type continental margins. Particular attention is given to the question whether the flexure model of isostasy, which has successfully been used at other geological features in oceans, is applicable at margins. Cross-spectral techniques are used to analyze the relationship between free air gravity and topography at Atlantic-type continental margins. The relatively old eastern North America is found to be associated with the highest value of the effective elastic thickness in the range 10-20 km, while the relatively young Coral Sea/Lord Howe rise is associated with the lowest value of less than 5 km. The differences in estimates of effective elastic thickness between margins can be explained by a simple model in which the flexural strength of the basement increases with age.

Karner, G. D.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Long wavelength gravity and topography anomalies

It is shown that gravity and topography anomalies on the earth's surface may provide new information about deep processes occurring in the earth, such as those associated with mantle convection. Two main reasons are cited for this. The first is the steady improvement that has occurred in the resolution of the long wavelength gravity field, particularly in the wavelength range of a few hundred to a few thousand km, mainly due to increased coverage of terrestrial gravity measurements and the development of radar altimeters in orbiting satellites. The second reason is the large number of numerical and laboratory experiments of convection in the earth, including some with deformable upper and lower boundaries and temperature-dependent viscosity. The oceans are thought to hold the most promise for determining long wavelength gravity and topography anomalies, since their evolution has been relatively simple in comparison with that of the continents. It is also shown that good correlation between long wavelength gravity and topography anomalies exists over some portions of the ocean floor

Watts, A. B.↗
NASA NTRS1979

On geoid heights derived from GEOS 3 altimeter data along the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain

The geoid heights derived from preliminary GEOS 3 satellite radar altimeter data over the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain are examined. Two objectives are pursued: (1) to evaluate the contribution of the topography of the seamount chain and its compensation to the marine geoid; and (2) to determine whether geoid heights derived from GEOS 3 altimeter data can be used to provide information on isostasy at geological features such as the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain which formed as relatively young loads on the oceanic lithosphere. Short-wavelength geoid highs of 5-12 m over the crest of the seamount chain and geoid lows over flanking regions are observed. The geological undulations can be explained by a simple model in which the seamount-chain load is supported by a strong rigid lithospheric plate. The elastic thickness estimates agree with values based on surface ship gravity and bathymetry observations, and provide further support to the hypothesis that the elastic thickness acquired at a surface load depends on the temperature gradient of the lithosphere at the time of loading.

Watts, A. B.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Subsidence and eustasy at the continental margin of eastern North America

Biostratigraphic data from the COST B-2 well off New York and four deep commercial wells off Nova Scotia have been used to remove the effect of sediment loading at the Atlantic-type continental margin off the East Coast of North America. The resulting subsidence contains terms due to both 'tectonic' and 'eustatic' effects. By assuming the tectonic subsidence is thermal in origin these effects can be separated. The 'eustatic' effects have been isolated by least squares fitting an exponential curve to the subsidence data. The resulting sea-level curve shows a maximum rise in sea level during the Late Cretaceous era which probably does not exceed 150 m. The tectonic subsidence has been interpreted in terms of a simple thermal model for the cooling lithosphere. Based on this model the thermal thickness of the lithosphere and the total amount of crustal thinning are estimated. These estimates which are consistent with surface ship gravity and GEOS-3 altimeter measurements are used to define the structural elements which control the tectonic evolution of the margin.

Watts, A. B.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Analysis and geological interpretation of gravity data from GEOS-3 altimeter

A number of detailed gravimetric geoids of portions of the world's oceans from marine gravity measurements were constructed. The geoids were constructed by computing 1 x 1 deg or 10 x 10 deg averages of free-air anomaly data and subtracting these values from currently used satellite derived Earth models. The resulting difference gravity anomalies are then integrated over a sphere using a simplified form of Stoke's equation to obtain a difference geoid. This difference geoid is added to the satellite derived model to obtain a 1 x 1 deg or 10 x 10 deg total gravimetric geoid. The geoid undulations are studied by comparison of the altimeter measurements with the morphology of the ocean floor. Utilizing a combination of altimetry data, gravity and seismic reflection data, geophysical models of the earth can be constructed.

Talwani, M.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Present status of marine gravity

The technique of measuring gravity at sea was greatly improved by the development of spring-type surface-ship gravimeters which can be operated in a wide variety of sea conditions. A brief review of the most recent developments in marine gravity is presented. The extent of marine gravity data coverage is illustrated in a compilation map of the world's free-air gravity anomaly maps of the world's oceans. A brief discussion of some of the main results in the interpretation of marine gravity is given. Some comments made on recent determinations of the gravity field in oceanic regions using satellite radar altimeters are also presented.

Watts, A. B.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Gravimetric geoid in the Northwest Pacific Ocean

A total of 3708 1 x 1 deg free-air gravity anomaly averages have been used to construct a new 1 x 1 deg gravimetric geoid of the Northwest Pacific Ocean. The 1 x 1 deg averages are based on a compilation of 147,000 surface ship and pendulum gravity measurements. Difference geoid undulations range from a maximum of +19 m over the Hawaiian ridge to a minimum of -31 m over the junction of the Kuril and Aleutian trenches. The Hawaiian swell is associated with a geoidal high of up to +15 m with wavelengths of about 2200 km and the topographic rises seaward of deep-sea trenches are associated with geoidal highs of up to 4 m with wavelengths of about 220-900 km. The agreement between the gravimetric geoid and Skylab-4 and Geos-3 altimeter data is close for wavelengths greater than about 300 km but poor for shorter wavelengths.

Watts, A. B.↗