The change in the acceleration of gravity in space is called gravity gradient in earth measurements . A distinction is made between vertical and horizontal gravity gradients.

The change in the acceleration of gravity with altitude is called the vertical gravity gradient . The latter refers - depending on the calculation model - to the geoid or to the reference area of a land survey or the mean earth ellipsoid . ${\ displaystyle {\ frac {\ mathrm {d} g} {\ mathrm {d} h}}}$${\ displaystyle g}$ ${\ displaystyle h}$

Acceleration of gravity plotted against the distance from the center of the earth;
below the surface of the earth the gravity increases up to the core-mantle boundary

On the one hand, the vertical gradients are important for geological and geophysical investigations. On the other hand, they are required to reduce measured gravity values, because measuring the earth's gravity field only makes sense if the data are then converted to a uniform height. The differences obtained in this way from a regional mean are called gravity anomalies .

The Bouguer gradient (according to Pierre Bouguer ) is a specialty . It is approximately −0.19 mGal / m and results from the open-air gradient if the terrain plate below the measuring point is excluded. This gives the bouguer anomalies , which indicate a possibly deviating rock density in the subsurface. They are used in geophysics and to search for deposits .

Vertical gradients also occur at a greater distance from the earth and can be used to orient a satellite in an orbit ( gravitational stabilization ). This also occurs naturally with any elongated body in orbit.