Past exam of the year 2 of the earth sciences (geology) course of the University of Oxford / 2023 / Paper 1 / 5 / a

A gravity anomaly is measured gravitational acceleration, reduced to a stated reference surface and compared with a reference gravity field. A local geological interpretation further removes or models the regional background. An absolute negative Bouguer gravity anomaly is therefore not itself a local negative geophysical density contrast.

Measure relative gravity with a calibrated gravimeter at stations across the profile, tie it to a base station, repeat base readings to estimate instrumental drift, and measure station coordinates and accurate elevations, for example by GNSS and levelling. Record observation times for tide corrections. Subtract the latitude-dependent reference gravity, correct instrument drift and Earth tides, add the free-air correction for station height, and subtract the attraction of the reference-density Bouguer slab. A terrain correction accounts for relief missing from or exceeding that slab. Use a consistent density such as $2670\mathrm{kg}{\mathrm{m}}^{-3}$ for the topographic correction.^[ref]

The question's reference to the anomaly in panel b is a panel-label slip: the upper plot contains gravity, while the lower plot supplies geometry and elevations. A geological slab thickness is the vertical thickness of the anomalous body, not simply its height above sea level.