Estimating subsurface water mass changes with ground-based gravimetry
Abstract
Gravitational force is proportional to the mass of an attracting body; therefore, changes in subsurface mass can be detected using gravimetry. In the near subsurface, mass variations are primarily driven by changes in water storage, meaning that gravity measurements provide direct information on variations in water mass. Traditionally, groundwater and soil water dynamics are monitored using point-scale instruments that require direct installation into the subsurface. In contrast, gravimetry is a non-invasive method that integrates signals over a larger spatial extent. Recent advancements in gravimeter technology have significantly improved measurement accuracy and long-term stability under field conditions, thereby expanding their potential for hydrological applications. This review summarizes recent developments in gravimetric instrumentation and provides essential background on gravimeters used for ground-based measurements and their application in hydrology, aiming to facilitate their broader use. In addition, it presents an overview of studies in hydrology and hydrogeology that have successfully applied gravimetry to quantify subsurface water storage changes, estimate hydrological parameters, and constrain numerical models. A perspective on future advancement in gravimetry and resulting potential applications is given.
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BibTeX
@misc{schmidt2026estimating,
title = {{Estimating subsurface water mass changes with ground-based gravimetry}},
author = {Isabelle Schmidt and Jackson Ang'ong'a and Peter Bauer-Gottwein and Stephan Costabel and Christian Freier and Bastian Leykauf and Tina Lundgren and Miguel Martinez-Dorantes and Achim Peters and Ernst Rasel and Enrico Vogt and Gregor Willkommen and Vladimir Schkolnik},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2609.05557},
eprint = {2609.05557},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.05557},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Estimating subsurface water mass changes with ground-based gravimetry
AU - Isabelle Schmidt
AU - Jackson Ang'ong'a
AU - Peter Bauer-Gottwein
AU - Stephan Costabel
AU - Christian Freier
AU - Bastian Leykauf
AU - Tina Lundgren
AU - Miguel Martinez-Dorantes
AU - Achim Peters
AU - Ernst Rasel
AU - Enrico Vogt
AU - Gregor Willkommen
AU - Vladimir Schkolnik
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/03
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2609.05557
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.05557
AB - Gravitational force is proportional to the mass of an attracting body; therefore, changes in subsurface mass can be detected using gravimetry. In the near subsurface, mass variations are primarily driven by changes in water storage, meaning that gravity measurements provide direct information on variations in water mass. Traditionally, groundwater and soil water dynamics are monitored using point-scale instruments that require direct installation into the subsurface. In contrast, gravimetry is a non-invasive method that integrates signals over a larger spatial extent. Recent advancements in gravimeter technology have significantly improved measurement accuracy and long-term stability under field conditions, thereby expanding their potential for hydrological applications. This review summarizes recent developments in gravimetric instrumentation and provides essential background on gravimeters used for ground-based measurements and their application in hydrology, aiming to facilitate their broader use. In addition, it presents an overview of studies in hydrology and hydrogeology that have successfully applied gravimetry to quantify subsurface water storage changes, estimate hydrological parameters, and constrain numerical models. A perspective on future advancement in gravimetry and resulting potential applications is given.
ER -