Abstract
In this chapter we try to outline the main concepts used to estimate and describe the gravity field. The aim is to show the interplay between the geometry of the field, represented in terms of equipotential surfaces and plumb lines, and the mathematical relations that connect observable gravity values to the gravity potential. This is especially done in a linearized form, after a normal potential is defined, based on the ellipsoidal geometry, and used as reference function in the subsequent linearization.
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Sansò, F., Reguzzoni, M., Barzaghi, R. (2019). The Earth Gravity Field: Basics. In: Geodetic Heights. Springer Geophysics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10454-2_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10454-2_3
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