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Gravity for the Redefinition of the American Vertical Datum (GRAV-D) Data Products

browse graphicCover for the GRAV-D Project Plan.
Within the NOAA National Ocean Service (NOS), the NOAA National Geodetic Survey (NGS) has a federal mandate to provide accurate positioning, including heights, to all federal non-military mapping activities in the USA. In 2007, the NGS embarked on the Gravity for the Redefinition of the American Vertical Datum (GRAV-D) Project, one of the most ambitious projects in the history of the agency. The gravity-based vertical datum resulting from this project is accurate at the 2 cm level where possible for much of the country. Available data include airborne and terrestrial survey information, gravity data, and gravity-based geoids or datums.
  • Cite As: NOAA National Geodetic Survey (2012): Gravity for the Redefinition of the American Vertical Datum (GRAV-D) Data Products. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/cjc9-bh63. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.ngdc:GRAV-D_Collection
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    Contact NCEI for more information about the archived data. Requests for data are subject to NCEI order fulfillment constraints.
Distribution Formats
  • Zip Files
  • Native Formats
Ordering Instructions Ordering Instructions: GRAV-D Data is available at https://geodesy.noaa.gov/GRAV-D/data_products.shtml
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact Gravity Program Contact Information
NOAA National Geodetic Survey
ngs.gravd@noaa.gov
Time Period 2012-01-01 to 2023-12-31
Spatial Reference System Through the collection reference systems have vaired with time and location. Please see survey level metadata for detailed information.
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West:-180.00
East:146.00
South:-14.5
North:72.00
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2012
  • revision: 2013-02
  • revision: 2017-09
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency Irregular
Purpose This undertaking was driven by the fundamental connection between Earth?s gravity field and the very definition of ?height? itself. The specific goal of GRAV-D is therefore to model and monitor Earth?s geoid (a surface of the gravity field, very closely related to global mean sea level) to serve as a zero reference surface for all heights in the nation. Accurate heights are critical to many scientific endeavors, but particularly to understanding and protecting low-lying coastal ecosystems.
Use Limitations
  • Not to be used for navigation. Although these data are of high quality and useful for planning and modeling purposes, they are not suitable for navigation. For navigation, please refer to the NOS nautical chart series.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite As: NOAA National Geodetic Survey (2012): Gravity for the Redefinition of the American Vertical Datum (GRAV-D) Data Products. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/cjc9-bh63. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
  • NOAA National Geodetic Survey
Originators
  • NOAA National Geodetic Survey
Publishers
  • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Solid Earth > Geodetics/Gravity > Gravity
INFOTERRA Keyword Thesaurus
  • INFOTERRA > Subject disciplines > Geophysics > Geophysics
NGDA Portfolio Themes
  • NGDA
  • National Geospatial Data Asset
  • Elevation Theme
Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Place keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Geographic Region > Global Ocean
  • Vertical Location > Sea Floor
Project keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
  • ICSU-WDS > International Council for Science - World Data System
Use Constraints
  • Cite As: NOAA National Geodetic Survey (2012): Gravity for the Redefinition of the American Vertical Datum (GRAV-D) Data Products. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. https://doi.org/10.25921/cjc9-bh63. Accessed [date].
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Access Constraints
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Other Constraints The following citations should be used in all presentations or publications that reference the GRAV-D work. Please replace the DATE tag in the following references with the date you downloaded the data or reports from the NGS website. To reference the general GRAV-D project operations, reference the GRAV-D Project Plan: The GRAV-D Project: Gravity for the Redefinition of the American Vertical Datum (2007). November 14, 2007. Online at: https://geodesy.noaa.gov/GRAV-D/pubs/GRAV-D_v2007_12_19.pdf GRAV-D Team (2017). "GRAV-D General Airborne Gravity Data User Manual." Theresa Damiani, Monica Youngman, and Jeffery Johnson ed. Version 2.1. Available DATE. Online at: https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/GRAV-D/data_products.shtml
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for:dataset
Lineage Statement Data in this database were provided by the NOAA National Geodetic Survey (NGS) and are archived by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
Lineage information for:repository
Processing Steps
  • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 -NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • GRAVIMETERS
Last Modified: 2024-04-26
For questions about the information on this page, please email:ncei.info@noaa.gov