"Gravity data have many scientific applications, both on the surface of the Earth and in space. The data are used for computing gravitational models, which aid those searching for oil, gas, and minerals. Alone or in combination with other data (such as satellite, astrogeodetic, or geophysical), gravity data are used to calculate deflection of the vertical components, geoidal heights, gravity disturbance components, and datum shifts for orienting local geodetic datums to an Earth-centered world geodetic system. The data are also used for calibrating inertial navigation and guidance systems"--Introduction.

National Environmental Satellite and Data Information Service (NESDIS)

United States