Skip to main content
Log in

Singularity free formulations of the geodetic boundary value problem in gravity-space

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Geodesy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The idea of transforming the geodetic boundary value problem into a boundary value problem with a fixed boundary dates back to the 1970s of the last century. This transformation was found by F. Sanso and was named as gravity-space transformation. Unfortunately, the advantage of having a fixed boundary for the transformed problem was counterbalanced by the theoretical as well as practical disadvantage of a singularity at the origin. In the present paper two more versions of a gravity-space transformation are investigated, where none of them has a singularity. In both cases the transformed differential equations are nonlinear. Therefore, a special emphasis is laid on the linearized problems and their relationships to the simple Hotine-problem and to the symmetries between both formulations. Finally, in numerical simulation study the accuracy of the solutions of both linearized problems is studied and factors limiting this accuracy are identified.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Austen G (2008) On the treatment of the geodetic boundary value problem by means of regular gravity space formulations. Ph.D. thesis, Stuttgart University

  • Austen G, Keller W (2006) On an ellipsoidal approach to the singularity-free gravity space theory. In: Xu P (eds) Proceedings of the VI Hotine-Marussi symposium on theoretical and computational geodesy, 29 May–02 June, Wuhan, China. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Bronstein IN, Semendjajew KA (1996) Teubner-Taschenbuch Mathematik. B.G. Teubner Stuttgart, Leipzig

    Google Scholar 

  • Keller W (1987) On the treatment of the geodetic boundary value problem by contact transformations. Gerlands Beitr Geophys 96(3/4): 186–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemoine FG et al (1998) The development of the Joint NASA GSFC and NIMA Geopotential Model EGM96, NASA/TP-1998-206861, NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD

  • Lie S (1977) Transformationsgruppen, 2nd edn (Reprint). Chelsea Publishing Company, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Moritz H (1989) Advanced physical geodesy. Herbert Wichmann Verlag GmbH, Karlsruhe

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanso F (1977) The geodetic boundary value problem in gravity space. Mem Akad Naz Lincei 14(3): 41–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanso F (1978) Molodensky’s problem in gravity space: a review of the first results. Bull Geod 52(1): 59–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanso F (1981) The geodetic boundary value problem and the coordinate choice problem. Bull Geod 55(1): 17–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wenzel H-G (1998) Ultra hochauflösende Kugelfunktionsmodelle GPM98A und GPM98B des Erdschwerefeldes. In: Freeden W (eds) Progress in geodetic science at GW 98, Geodätische Woche in Kaiserslautern. Shaker, Aachen, pp 323–331

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiesner M (1987) The global digital terrain model TUG87. Internal report on set-up, origin and characteristics. Institute of Navigation and Satellite Geodesy, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria

  • Witsch KJ (1985) On a free boundary value problem of physical geodesy I (uniqueness). Math Methods Appl Sci 7: 269–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Witsch KJ (1986) On a free boundary value problem of physical geodesy II (existence). Math Methods Appl Sci 8: 402–423

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wolfgang Keller.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Austen, G., Keller, W. Singularity free formulations of the geodetic boundary value problem in gravity-space. J Geod 83, 645–657 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00190-008-0278-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00190-008-0278-x

Keywords

Navigation