The School of GeoSciences has three Lacoste and Romberg gravity meters. These instruments are one of the School’s “facilities”, meaning that they are a long-term equipment asset and that they can be made available on loan to users across the University, and from outside the University, who have a need to make some gravity measurements. Anyone wishing to use the instruments should contact Hugh.Pumphrey@ed.ac.uk in the first instance.
L and R gravity meters are usually referred to by their serial numbers. The original model G series have a calibrated range that covers the entire world. The model D series have a greater precision but are calibrated over a more limited range. The instruments we have are:
- G-275. This instrument was purchased in 1971 and is as it was when purchased, apart from routine servicing.
- D-145. This instrument was purchased in 1989 and is as it was when purchased, apart from routine servicing. It has both a fine and a coarse dial, combining the merits of the original model G and model D instruments.
- D-154. This instrument was purchased in 1989 and was at the time similar to D-145. It has since been upgraded by ZLS (https://zlscorp.com/) to add a high-precision electronic readout system.
There is further, more informal, information available about the instruments in Hugh Pumphrey’s blog, including the following posts:
- More information on the instruments
- Data from a recent field trip including a video demonstrating how the instruments are used.
- Detection of a nuclear test
- Baseplates
- An unsolved mystery concerning the calibration tables for D-154
