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1.
Mission design,operation and exploitation of the gravity field and steady-state ocean circulation explorer mission 总被引：6，自引：3，他引：3
The European Space Agency’s Gravity field and steady-state ocean circulation explorer mission (GOCE) was launched on 17 March
2009. As the first of the Earth Explorer family of satellites within the Agency’s Living Planet Programme, it is aiming at
a better understanding of the Earth system. The mission objective of GOCE is the determination of the Earth’s gravity field
and geoid with high accuracy and maximum spatial resolution. The geoid, combined with the de facto mean ocean surface derived
from twenty-odd years of satellite radar altimetry, yields the global dynamic ocean topography. It serves ocean circulation
and ocean transport studies and sea level research. GOCE geoid heights allow the conversion of global positioning system (GPS)
heights to high precision heights above sea level. Gravity anomalies and also gravity gradients from GOCE are used for gravity-to-density
inversion and in particular for studies of the Earth’s lithosphere and upper mantle. GOCE is the first-ever satellite to carry
a gravitational gradiometer, and in order to achieve its challenging mission objectives the satellite embarks a number of
world-first technologies. In essence the spacecraft together with its sensors can be regarded as a spaceborne gravimeter.
In this work, we describe the mission and the way it is operated and exploited in order to make available the best-possible
measurements of the Earth gravity field. The main lessons learned from the first 19 months in orbit are also provided, in
as far as they affect the quality of the science data products and therefore are of specific interest for GOCE data users. 相似文献
2.
The determination of local geoid models has traditionally been carried out on land and at sea using gravity anomaly and satellite
altimetry data, while it will be aided by the data expected from satellite missions such as those from the Gravity field and
steady-state ocean circulation explorer (GOCE). To assess the performance of heterogeneous data combination to local geoid
determination, simulated data for the central Mediterranean Sea are analyzed. These data include marine and land gravity anomalies,
altimetric sea surface heights, and GOCE observations processed with the space-wise approach. A spectral analysis of the aforementioned
data shows their complementary character. GOCE data cover long wavelengths and account for the lack of such information from
gravity anomalies. This is exploited for the estimation of local covariance function models, where it is seen that models
computed with GOCE data and gravity anomaly empirical covariance functions perform better than models computed without GOCE
data. The geoid is estimated by different data combinations and the results show that GOCE data improve the solutions for
areas covered poorly with other data types, while also accounting for any long wavelength errors of the adopted reference
model that exist even when the ground gravity data are dense. At sea, the altimetric data provide the dominant geoid information.
However, the geoid accuracy is sensitive to orbit calibration errors and unmodeled sea surface topography (SST) effects. If
such effects are present, the combination of GOCE and gravity anomaly data can improve the geoid accuracy. The present work
also presents results from simulations for the recovery of the stationary SST, which show that the combination of geoid heights
obtained from a spherical harmonic geopotential model derived from GOCE with satellite altimetry data can provide SST models
with some centimeters of error. However, combining data from GOCE with gravity anomalies in a collocation approach can result
in the estimation of a higher resolution geoid, more suitable for high resolution mean dynamic SST modeling. Such simulations
can be performed toward the development and evaluation of SST recovery methods. 相似文献
3.
First GOCE gravity field models derived by three different approaches 总被引：28，自引：10，他引：18
Roland Pail Sean Bruinsma Federica Migliaccio Christoph F?rste Helmut Goiginger Wolf-Dieter Schuh Eduard H?ck Mirko Reguzzoni Jan Martin Brockmann Oleg Abrikosov Martin Veicherts Thomas Fecher Reinhard Mayrhofer Ina Krasbutter Fernando Sans�� Carl Christian Tscherning 《Journal of Geodesy》2011,85(11):819-843
Three gravity field models, parameterized in terms of spherical harmonic coefficients, have been computed from 71 days of GOCE (Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer) orbit and gradiometer data by applying independent gravity field processing methods. These gravity models are one major output of the European Space Agency (ESA) project GOCE High-level Processing Facility (HPF). The processing philosophies and architectures of these three complementary methods are presented and discussed, emphasizing the specific features of the three approaches. The resulting GOCE gravity field models, representing the first models containing the novel measurement type of gravity gradiometry ever computed, are analysed and assessed in detail. Together with the coefficient estimates, full variance-covariance matrices provide error information about the coefficient solutions. A comparison with state-of-the-art GRACE and combined gravity field models reveals the additional contribution of GOCE based on only 71 days of data. Compared with combined gravity field models, large deviations appear in regions where the terrestrial gravity data are known to be of low accuracy. The GOCE performance, assessed against the GRACE-only model ITG-Grace2010s, becomes superior at degree 150, and beyond. GOCE provides significant additional information of the global Earth gravity field, with an accuracy of the 2-month GOCE gravity field models of 10?cm in terms of geoid heights, and 3?mGal in terms of gravity anomalies, globally at a resolution of 100?km (degree/order 200). 相似文献
4.
5.
A global mean dynamic topography and ocean circulation estimation using a preliminary GOCE gravity model 总被引：8，自引：4，他引：4
The Gravity and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) satellite mission measures Earth’s gravity field with an unprecedented
accuracy at short spatial scales. In doing so, it promises to significantly advance our ability to determine the ocean’s general
circulation. In this study, an initial gravity model from GOCE, based on just 2 months of data, is combined with the recent
DTU10MSS mean sea surface to construct a global mean dynamic topography (MDT) model. The GOCE MDT clearly displays the gross
features of the ocean’s steady-state circulation. More significantly, the improved gravity model provided by the GOCE mission
has enhanced the resolution and sharpened the boundaries of those features compared with earlier satellite only solutions.
Calculation of the geostrophic surface currents from the MDT reveals improvements for all of the ocean’s major current systems.
In the North Atlantic, the Gulf Stream is stronger and more clearly defined, as are the Labrador and the Greenland currents.
Furthermore, the finer scale features, such as eddies, meanders and branches of the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Current
system are visible. Similar improvements are seen also in the North Pacific Ocean, where the Kuroshio and its extension are
well represented. In the Southern hemisphere, both the Agulhas and the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence current systems are well
defined, and in the Southern ocean the Antarctic Circumpolar Current appears enhanced. The results of this preliminary analysis,
using an initial GOCE gravity model, clearly demonstrate the potential of the GOCE mission. Already, at this early stage of
the mission, the resolution of the MDT has been improved and the estimated surface current speeds have been increased compared
with a GRACE satellite-only MDT. Future GOCE gravity models are expected to build further upon this early success. 相似文献
6.
One of the aims of the Earth Explorer Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation (GOCE) mission is to provide global
and regional models of the Earth's gravity field and of the geoid with high spatial resolution and accuracy. Using the GOCE
error model, simulation studies were performed in order to estimate the accuracy of datum transfer in different areas of the
Earth. The results showed that with the GOCE error model, the standard deviation of the height anomaly differences is about
one order of magnitude better than the corresponding value with the EGM96 error model. As an example, the accuracy of the
vertical datum transfer from the tide gauge of Amsterdam to New York was estimated equal to 57 cm when the EGM96 error model
was used, while in the case of GOCE error model this accuracy was increased to 6 cm. The geoid undulation difference between
the two places is about 76.5 m. Scaling the GOCE errors to the local gravity variance, the estimated accuracy varied between
3 and 7 cm, depending on the scaling model.
Received: 1 March 2000 / Accepted: 21 February 2001 相似文献
7.
Christian Siemes 《Journal of Geodesy》2018,92(1):33-45
The GOCE gravity gradiometer measured highly accurate gravity gradients along the orbit during GOCE’s mission lifetime from March 17, 2009, to November 11, 2013. These measurements contain unique information on the gravity field at a spatial resolution of 80 km half wavelength, which is not provided to the same accuracy level by any other satellite mission now and in the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, the gravity gradient in cross-track direction is heavily perturbed in the regions around the geomagnetic poles. We show in this paper that the perturbing effect can be modeled accurately as a quadratic function of the non-gravitational acceleration of the satellite in cross-track direction. Most importantly, we can remove the perturbation from the cross-track gravity gradient to a great extent, which significantly improves the accuracy of the latter and offers opportunities for better scientific exploitation of the GOCE gravity gradient data set. 相似文献
8.
Evaluation of the first GOCE static gravity field models using terrestrial gravity,vertical deflections and EGM2008 quasigeoid heights 总被引：1，自引：1，他引：0
Recently, four global geopotential models (GGMs) were computed and released based on the first 2 months of data collected
by the Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) dedicated satellite gravity field mission. Given that
GOCE is a technologically complex mission and different processing strategies were applied to real space-collected GOCE data
for the first time, evaluation of the new models is an important aspect. As a first assessment strategy, we use terrestrial
gravity data over Switzerland and Australia and astrogeodetic vertical deflections over Europe and Australia as ground-truth
data sets for GOCE model evaluation. We apply a spectral enhancement method (SEM) to the truncated GOCE GGMs to make their
spectral content more comparable with the terrestrial data. The SEM utilises the high-degree bands of EGM2008 and residual
terrain model data as a data source to widely bridge the spectral gap between the satellite and terrestrial data. Analysis
of root mean square (RMS) errors is carried out as a function of (i) the GOCE GGM expansion degree and (ii) the four different
GOCE GGMs. The RMS curves are also compared against those from EGM2008 and GRACE-based GGMs. As a second assessment strategy,
we compare global grids of GOCE GGM and EGM2008 quasigeoid heights. In connection with EGM2008 error estimates, this allows
location of regions where GOCE is likely to deliver improved knowledge on the Earth’s gravity field. Our ground truth data
sets, together with the EGM2008 quasigeoid comparisons, signal clear improvements in the spectral band ~160–165 to ~180–185
in terms of spherical harmonic degrees for the GOCE-based GGMs, fairly independently of the individual GOCE model used. The
results from both assessments together provide strong evidence that the first 2 months of GOCE observations improve the knowledge
of the Earth’s static gravity field at spatial scales between ~125 and ~110 km, particularly over parts of Asia, Africa, South
America and Antarctica, in comparison with the pre-GOCE-era. 相似文献
9.
GPS-based precise orbit determination of the very low Earth-orbiting gravity mission GOCE 总被引：5，自引：0，他引：5
A prerequisite for the success of future gravity missions like the European Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation
Explorer (GOCE) is a precise orbit determination (POD). A detailed simulation study has been carried out to assess the achievable
orbit accuracy based on satellite-to-satellite tracking (SST) by the US global positioning system (GPS) and in conjunction
the implications for gravity field determination. An orbit accuracy at the few centimeter level seems possible, sufficient
to support the GOCE gravity mission and in particular its gravity gradiometer.
Received: 21 January 2000 / Accepted: 4 July 2000 相似文献
10.
卫星跟踪卫星技术的进展及应用前景 总被引：9，自引：4，他引：5
卫星跟踪卫星技术被认为是 2 1世纪初最有价值和应用前景的高效重力探测技术 ,旨在测定中长波重力场的精细结构及时间相依变化。本文首先简要阐述卫星跟踪卫星技术的发展背景及概况 ,其次介绍目前已经实施和将要实施的卫星跟踪卫星计划 CHAMP和 GRACE的进展情况 ,最后讨论该技术在精化地球重力场和研究相关地学问题中的应用前景。 相似文献
11.
GPS-derived orbits for the GOCE satellite 总被引：5，自引：4，他引：1
Heike Bock Adrian Jäggi Ulrich Meyer Pieter Visser Jose van den IJssel Tom van Helleputte Markus Heinze Urs Hugentobler 《Journal of Geodesy》2011,85(11):807-818
The first ESA (European Space Agency) Earth explorer core mission GOCE (Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer)
was launched on 17 March 2009 into a sun-synchronous dusk–dawn orbit with an exceptionally low initial altitude of about 280 km.
The onboard 12-channel dual-frequency GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver delivers 1 Hz data, which provides the basis
for precise orbit determination (POD) for such a very low orbiting satellite. As part of the European GOCE Gravity Consortium
the Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern and the Department of Earth Observation and Space Systems are responsible
for the orbit determination of the GOCE satellite within the GOCE High-level Processing Facility. Both quick-look (rapid)
and very precise orbit solutions are produced with typical latencies of 1 day and 2 weeks, respectively. This article summarizes
the special characteristics of the GOCE GPS data, presents POD results for about 2 months of data, and shows that both latency
and accuracy requirements are met. Satellite Laser Ranging validation shows that an accuracy of 4 and 7 cm is achieved for
the reduced-dynamic and kinematic Rapid Science Orbit solutions, respectively. The validation of the reduced-dynamic and kinematic
Precise Science Orbit solutions is at a level of about 2 cm. 相似文献
12.
2009年GOCE卫星升空以后,卫星重力梯度数据参与解算的GOCE系列重力场模型已有多家研究机构相继公布。本文分别采用青藏地区的GPS/水准和重力异常实测数据对GOCE重力场模型进行了外部测试,并在重力异常验证过程中引入了一种新的滤波方法,验证结果表明在青藏地区GOCE重力场模型相比其它系列模型的优势在于中波段。同时,探讨了GOCE重力场模型与其他系列模型在青藏地区主要差异值的空间分布以及首次利用统计分析方法找出模型之间主要差异值的阶次分布,得出如下结论：模型之间的较大差异值在空间水平方向上主要分布在喜马拉雅山脉、天山等地形起伏较大的区域,在垂直方向上主要集中在岩石圈。 相似文献
13.
欧空局早期公布的时域法和空域法解算的GOCE模型均采用能量守恒法处理轨道数据, 但恢复的长波重力场信号精度较低, 而且GOCE卫星在两极存在数据空白, 利用其观测数据恢复重力场模型是一个不适定问题, 导致解算的模型带谐项精度较低, 需进行正则化处理。本文分析了基于轨道数据恢复重力场模型的方法用于处理GOCE数据的精度, 对最优正则化方法和参数的选择进行研究。利用GOCE卫星2009-11-01—2010-01-31共92 d的精密轨道数据, 采用不依赖先验信息的能量守恒法、短弧积分法和平均加速度法恢复GOCE重力场模型, 利用Tikhonov正则化技术处理病态问题。结果表明, 平均加速度法恢复模型的精度最高, 能量守恒法的精度最低, 短弧积分法的精度稍差于平均加速度法。未来联合处理轨道和梯度数据时, 建议采用平均加速度法或短弧积分法处理轨道数据, 并且轨道数据可有效恢复120阶次左右的模型。Kaula正则化和SOT处理GOCE病态问题的效果最好, 并且两者对应的最优正则化参数基本一致, 但利用正则化技术不能完全抑制极空白问题的影响, 需要联合GRACE等其他数据才能获得理想的结果。 相似文献
14.
The static gravity field model DGM-1S from GRACE and GOCE data: computation, validation and an analysis of GOCE mission’s added value 总被引：4，自引：2，他引：2
We present a global static model of the Earth’s gravity field entitled DGM-1S based on GRACE and GOCE data. The collection of used data sets includes nearly 7 years of GRACE KBR data and 10 months of GOCE gravity gradient data. The KBR data are transformed with a 3-point differentiation into quantities that are approximately inter-satellite accelerations. Gravity gradients are processed in the instrumental frame. Noise is handled with a frequency-dependent data weighting. DGM-1S is complete to spherical harmonic degree 250 with a Kaula regularization being applied above degree 179. Its performance is compared with a number of other satellite-only GRACE/GOCE models by confronting them with (i) an independent model of the oceanic mean dynamic topography, and (ii) independent KBR and gravity gradient data. The tests reveal a competitive quality for DGM-1S. Importantly, we study added value of GOCE data by comparing the performance of satellite-only GRACE/GOCE models with models produced without GOCE data: either ITG-Grace2010s or EGM2008 depending on which of the two performs better in a given region. The test executed based on independent gravity gradients quantifies this added value as 25–38 % in the continental areas poorly covered with terrestrial gravimetry data (Equatorial Africa, Himalayas, and South America), 7–17 % in those with a good coverage with these data (Australia, North America, and North Eurasia), and 14 % in the oceans. This added value is shown to be almost entirely related to coefficients below degree 200. It is shown that this gain must be entirely attributed to gravity gradients acquired by the mission. The test executed based on an independent model of the mean dynamic topography suggests that problems still seem to exist in satellite-only GRACE/GOCE models over the Pacific ocean, where noticeable deviations between these models and EGM2008 are detected, too. 相似文献
15.
Evaluation of the third- and fourth-generation GOCE Earth gravity field models with Australian terrestrial gravity data in spherical harmonics 总被引：1，自引：1，他引：0
In March 2013, the fourth generation of European Space Agency’s (ESA) global gravity field models, DIR4 (Bruinsma et al. in Proceedings of the ESA living planet symposium, 28 June–2 July, Bergen, ESA, Publication SP-686, 2010b) and TIM4 (Migliaccio et al. in Proceedings of the ESA living planet symposium, 28 June–2 July, Bergen, ESA, Publication SP-686, 2010), generated from the Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) gravity observation satellite was released. We evaluate the models using an independent ground truth data set of gravity anomalies over Australia. Combined with Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite gravity, a new gravity model is obtained that is used to perform comparisons with GOCE models in spherical harmonics. Over Australia, the new gravity model proves to have significantly higher accuracy in the degrees below 120 as compared to EGM2008 and seems to be at least comparable to the accuracy of this model between degree 150 and degree 260. Comparisons in terms of residual quasi-geoid heights, gravity disturbances, and radial gravity gradients evaluated on the ellipsoid and at approximate GOCE mean satellite altitude ( $h=250$ km) show both fourth generation models to improve significantly w.r.t. their predecessors. Relatively, we find a root-mean-square improvement of 39 % for the DIR4 and 23 % for TIM4 over the respective third release models at a spatial scale of 100 km (degree 200). In terms of absolute errors, TIM4 is found to perform slightly better in the bands from degree 120 up to degree 160 and DIR4 is found to perform slightly better than TIM4 from degree 170 up to degree 250. Our analyses cannot confirm the DIR4 formal error of 1 cm geoid height (0.35 mGal in terms of gravity) at degree 200. The formal errors of TIM4, with 3.2 cm geoid height (0.9 mGal in terms of gravity) at degree 200, seem to be realistic. Due to combination with GRACE and SLR data, the DIR models, at satellite altitude, clearly show lower RMS values compared to TIM models in the long wavelength part of the spectrum (below degree and order 120). Our study shows different spectral sensitivity of different functionals at ground level and at GOCE satellite altitude and establishes the link among these findings and the Meissl scheme (Rummel and van Gelderen in Manusrcipta Geodaetica 20:379–385, 1995). 相似文献
16.
Regional height systems do not refer to a common equipotential surface, such as the geoid. They are usually referred to the mean sea level at a reference tide gauge. As mean sea level varies (by ±1 to 2 m) from place to place and from continent to continent each tide gauge has an unknown bias with respect to a common reference surface, whose determination is what the height datum problem is concerned with. This paper deals with this problem, in connection to the availability of satellite gravity missions data. Since biased heights enter into the computation of terrestrial gravity anomalies, which in turn are used for geoid determination, the biases enter as secondary or indirect effect also in such a geoid model. In contrast to terrestrial gravity anomalies, gravity and geoid models derived from satellite gravity missions, and in particular GRACE and GOCE, do not suffer from those inconsistencies. Those models can be regarded as unbiased. After a review of the mathematical formulation of the problem, the paper examines two alternative approaches to its solution. The first one compares the gravity potential coefficients in the range of degrees from 100 to 200 of an unbiased gravity field from GOCE with those of the combined model EGM2008, that in this range is affected by the height biases. This first proposal yields a solution too inaccurate to be useful. The second approach compares height anomalies derived from GNSS ellipsoidal heights and biased normal heights, with anomalies derived from an anomalous potential which combines a satellite-only model up to degree 200 and a high-resolution global model above 200. The point is to show that in this last combination the indirect effects of the height biases are negligible. To this aim, an error budget analysis is performed. The biases of the high frequency part are proved to be irrelevant, so that an accuracy of 5 cm per individual GNSS station is found. This seems to be a promising practical method to solve the problem. 相似文献
17.
Simulation study of a follow-on gravity mission to GRACE 总被引：9，自引：3，他引：6
The gravity recovery and climate experiment (GRACE) has been providing monthly estimates of the Earth’s time-variable gravity
field since its launch in March 2002. The GRACE gravity estimates are used to study temporal mass variations on global and
regional scales, which are largely caused by a redistribution of water mass in the Earth system. The accuracy of the GRACE
gravity fields are primarily limited by the satellite-to-satellite range-rate measurement noise, accelerometer errors, attitude
errors, orbit errors, and temporal aliasing caused by un-modeled high-frequency variations in the gravity signal. Recent work
by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Boulder, CO has resulted in the successful development of an interferometric laser
ranging system to specifically address the limitations of the K-band microwave ranging system that provides the satellite-to-satellite
measurements for the GRACE mission. Full numerical simulations are performed for several possible configurations of a GRACE
Follow-On (GFO) mission to determine if a future satellite gravity recovery mission equipped with a laser ranging system will
provide better estimates of time-variable gravity, thus benefiting many areas of Earth systems research. The laser ranging
system improves the range-rate measurement precision to ~0.6 nm/s as compared to ~0.2 μm/s for the GRACE K-band microwave
ranging instrument. Four different mission scenarios are simulated to investigate the effect of the better instrument at two
different altitudes. The first pair of simulated missions is flown at GRACE altitude (~480 km) assuming on-board accelerometers
with the same noise characteristics as those currently used for GRACE. The second pair of missions is flown at an altitude
of ~250 km which requires a drag-free system to prevent satellite re-entry. In addition to allowing a lower satellite altitude,
the drag-free system also reduces the errors associated with the accelerometer. All simulated mission scenarios assume a two
satellite co-orbiting pair similar to GRACE in a near-polar, near-circular orbit. A method for local time variable gravity
recovery through mass concentration blocks (mascons) is used to form simulated gravity estimates for Greenland and the Amazon
region for three GFO configurations and GRACE. Simulation results show that the increased precision of the laser does not
improve gravity estimation when flown with on-board accelerometers at the same altitude and spacecraft separation as GRACE,
even when time-varying background models are not included. This study also shows that only modest improvement is realized
for the best-case scenario (laser, low-altitude, drag-free) as compared to GRACE due to temporal aliasing errors. These errors
are caused by high-frequency variations in the hydrology signal and imperfections in the atmospheric, oceanographic, and tidal
models which are used to remove unwanted signal. This work concludes that applying the updated technologies alone will not
immediately advance the accuracy of the gravity estimates. If the scientific objectives of a GFO mission require more accurate
gravity estimates, then future work should focus on improvements in the geophysical models, and ways in which the mission
design or data processing could reduce the effects of temporal aliasing. 相似文献
18.
利用GOCE卫星轨道反演地球重力场模型 总被引：1，自引：1，他引：0
根据积分方程法反演地球重力场的数学模型,利用GOCE卫星2009-11-02～2010-01-02共61d的精密轨道数据反演了几组地球重力场模型。结果表明,GOCE卫星轨道能有效提取地球重力场的长波信息,弥补了GOCE卫星重力梯度带宽的限制,在106阶次的大地水准面误差为±9.6cm,该阶次精度优于EIGEN-CHAMP03S及GRACE卫星两个月轨道反演地球重力场的精度,但由于两极空白,反演的带谐位系数精度偏低。联合GOCE及GRACE卫星轨道反演的模型在106阶次的大地水准面误差为±6.9cm,弥补了GOCE卫星轨道的缺陷。 相似文献
19.
O. Baur H. Bock E. Höck A. Jäggi S. Krauss T. Mayer-Gürr T. Reubelt C. Siemes N. Zehentner 《Journal of Geodesy》2014,88(10):959-973
Several techniques have been proposed to exploit GNSS-derived kinematic orbit information for the determination of long-wavelength gravity field features. These methods include the (i) celestial mechanics approach, (ii) short-arc approach, (iii) point-wise acceleration approach, (iv) averaged acceleration approach, and (v) energy balance approach. Although there is a general consensus that—except for energy balance—these methods theoretically provide equivalent results, real data gravity field solutions from kinematic orbit analysis have never been evaluated against each other within a consistent data processing environment. This contribution strives to close this gap. Target consistency criteria for our study are the input data sets, period of investigation, spherical harmonic resolution, a priori gravity field information, etc. We compare GOCE gravity field estimates based on the aforementioned approaches as computed at the Graz University of Technology, the University of Bern, the University of Stuttgart/Austrian Academy of Sciences, and by RHEA Systems for the European Space Agency. The involved research groups complied with most of the consistency criterions. Deviations only occur where technical unfeasibility exists. Performance measures include formal errors, differences with respect to a state-of-the-art GRACE gravity field, (cumulative) geoid height differences, and SLR residuals from precise orbit determination of geodetic satellites. We found that for the approaches (i) to (iv), the cumulative geoid height differences at spherical harmonic degree 100 differ by only \({\approx }10~\%\) ; in the absence of the polar data gap, SLR residuals agree by \({\approx }96~\%\) . From our investigations, we conclude that real data analysis results are in agreement with the theoretical considerations concerning the (relative) performance of the different approaches. 相似文献
20.
Since its launch in 2002, the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission has been providing measurements of the
time-varying Earth gravity field. The GRACE mission architecture includes two satellites in near-circular, near-polar orbits
separated in the along-track direction by approximately 220 km (e.g. collinear). A microwave ranging instrument measures changes
in the distance between the spacecraft, while accelerometers on each spacecraft are used to measure changes in distance due
to non-gravitational forces. The fact that the satellites are in near-polar orbits coupled with the fact that the inter-satellite
range measurements are directed in the along-track direction, contributes to longitudinal striping in the estimated gravity
fields. This paper examines four candidate mission architectures for a future gravity recovery satellite mission to assess
their potential in measuring the gravity field more accurately than GRACE. All satellites were assumed to have an improved
measurement system, with an inter-satellite laser ranging instrument and a drag-free system for removal of non-gravitational
accelerations. Four formations were studied: a two-satellite collinear pair similar to GRACE; a four-satellite architecture
with two collinear pairs; a two-satellite cartwheel formation; and a four-satellite cartwheel formation. A cartwheel formation
consists of satellites performing in-plane, relative elliptical motion about their geometric center, so that inter-satellite
measurements are, at times, directed radially (e.g. parallel to the direction towards the center of the Earth) rather than
along-track. Radial measurements, unlike along-track measurements, have equal sensitivity to mass distribution in all directions
along the Earth’s surface and can lead to higher spatial resolution in the derived gravity field. The ability of each architecture
to recover the gravity field was evaluated using numerical simulations performed with JPL’s GIPSY-OASIS software package.
Thirty days of data were used to estimate gravity fields complete to degree and order 60. Evaluations were done for 250 and
400 km nominal orbit altitudes. The sensitivity of the recovered gravity field to under-sampled effects was assessed using
simulated errors in atmospheric/ocean dealiasing (AOD) models. Results showed the gravity field errors associated with the
four-satellite cartwheel formation were approximately one order of magnitude lower than the collinear satellite pair when
only measurement system errors were included. When short-period AOD model errors were introduced, the gravity field errors
for each formation were approximately the same. The cartwheel formations eliminated most of the longitudinal striping seen
in the gravity field errors. A covariance analysis showed the error spectrum of the cartwheel formations to be lower and more
isotropic than that of the collinear formations. 相似文献