New iGrav superconducting gravimeter: accuracy, drift and first results

A GWR iGrav superconducting gravimeter has been installed in the Larzac karstic area (Southern France near the Mediterranean Sea, elevation 800m, karst thickness 200m). Continuous sub-μGal gravity measurements are needed to study water storage and transfer in the non-saturated zone of the karstic area. The GWR iGrav is a new generation of superconducting gravimeter of reduced size (Dewar 15L) with simplified installation. At first, the specifications of the iGrav site will be presented, then the drift behaviour and the data processing. The drift quickly decreases to less than 0.1 μGal per day and only a few offsets are observed in the data. In order to look at the stability of the iGrav over a wide time period, a FG5 gravimeter is used for bi-monthly absolute gravity measurements and for frequent calibrations. As a result of the installation, the iGrav allows sub-μGal gravity monitoring only a few weeks after the beginning of the installation. After having discussed the instrumental and data processing points of view, preliminary results on the local karstic water storage will be presented and interpreted by combining different geophysical data. Continuous gravity data allow to study processes at different timescale such as summer evapotranspiration or high precipitating event characteristic of the Mediterranean autumn.