Bouguer Correction in Gravity Surveying

Reference

The Bouguer correction removes the gravitational pull of the rock slab between a gravity station and the datum, isolating the geology beneath.

The equation

BC = 0.04193 ρ h
  • BC is the correction in milligals
  • h is the height above datum in meters
  • ρ is the slab density in grams per cubic centimeter

Worked example

A station 100 meters above datum on rock of density 2.67 needs a Bouguer correction of about 11.2 milligals, subtracted because the slab pulls the meter down toward the datum values.

When to use it

Paired always with the free air correction, which works the opposite way. The chosen density matters: survey over unconsolidated basin fill with 2.67 and you will manufacture an anomaly that is not there.

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