Abstract
Since the publication of the Earth gravitational model (EGM)96 considerable improvements in the observation techniques resulted in the development of new improved models. The improvements are due to the availability of data from dedicated gravity mapping missions (CHAMP, GRACE) and to the use of 5′ × 5′ terrestrial and altimetry derived gravity anomalies. It is expected that the use of new EGMs will further contribute to the improvement of the resolution and accuracy of the gravity and geoid modeling in continental and regional scale. To prove this numerically, three representative Earth gravitational models are used for the reduction of several kinds of data related to the gravity field in different places of the Earth. The results of the reduction are discussed regarding the corresponding covariance functions which might be used for modeling using the least squares collocation method. The contribution of the EIGEN-GL04C model in most cases is comparable to that of EGM96. However, the big difference is shown in the case of EGM2008, due not only to its quality but obviously to its high degree of expansion. Almost in all cases the variance and the correlation length of the covariance functions of data reduced to this model up to its maximum degree are only a few percentages of corresponding quantities of the same data reduced up to degree 360. Furthermore, the mean value and the standard deviation of the reduced gravity anomalies in extended areas of the Earth such as Australia, Arctic region, Scandinavia or the Canadian plains, vary between −1 and +1 and between 5 and 10 × 10−5 ms−2, respectively, reflecting the homogenization of the gravity field on a regional scale. This is very important in using least squares collocation for regional applications. However, the distance to the first zero-value was in several cases much longer than warranted by the high degree of the expansion. This is attributed to errors of medium wavelengths stemming from the lack of, e.g., high-quality data in some area.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andersen OB, Knudsen P (2008) The DNSC08 global mean sea surface and bathymetry. Presented EGU-2008, Vienna, Austria, April 2008
Arabelos D, Tscherning CC (1997) Comparison of recent geopotential models with surface, airborne and satellite data in different areas of the Earth. Int Geoid Service Bull 6: 103–114
Arabelos D, Tscherning CC (1998) The use of least squares collocation method in global gravity field modeling. Phys Chem Earth 23: 1–12
Arabelos D, Tscherning CC (1999) Gravity field recovery from airborne gradiometer data using collocation and taking into account correlated errors. Phys Chem Earth (A) 24(1): 19–25
Arabelos D, Tscherning CC (2007) On a strategy for the use of GOCE gradiometer data for the development of a geopotential model by LSC. In: Proceedings of the 3rd international GOCE user workshope ESA SP627, January 2007, pp 69–75
Arabelos D, Tziavos IN (1992) Gravity field approximation using airborne gravity gradiometer data. J Geophys Res 97(B5): 7097–7108
Arabelos D, Barzaghi R, Sansò F, Sona G (1994) The gravimetric geoid and the sst in the eastern mediterranean. Mare Nostrum Geomed Rep 4: 91–111
Arabelos D, Forsberg R, Tscherning CC (2007) On the apriori estimation of collocation error covariance functions: a feasibility study. Geophys J Int 170: 527–533. doi:10.1111/j.1365-246X.2007.03460.x
Barzaghi R, Carrion D (2009) Testing EGM2008 in the Central Mediterranean area. Newtons Bull 4: 133–143
Brzezowski SJ, Gleason SD, Goldstein J, Heller W, Jekeli C, White J (1988) Synopsis of Earth field test results from the gravity gradiometer survey system. Paper presented at Chapman conference on progress in the determination of the Earth’s gravity field. American Geophysical Union Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 13–16 September 1988
Claessens SJ, Featherstone WE, Anjasmara IM (2009) Is Australian data really validating EGM2008, or is EGM2008 just in/validating Australian data?. Newtons Bull 4: 207–251
Föerste C, Schmidt R, Stubenvoll R, Flechtner F, Meyer U, König R, Neumayer H, Biancale R, Lemoine JM, Bruinsma S, Loyer S, Barthelmes F, Esselborn S (2008) The GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam/Groupe de Recherche de Geodesie Spatiale satellite-only and combined gravity field models: EIGEN-GL04S1 and EIGEN-GL04C. J Geod 82(6): 331–346. doi:10.1007/s00190-007-0183-8
Forsberg R, Kenyon S (2004) Gravity and geoid in the Arctic Region—The Northern-Polar gap now filled. In: Proc of the second international GOCE user workshop ESA-ESRIN, March 2004, ESA SP-569
Forsberg R, Tscherning CC (2008) An overview manual for the GRAVSOFT geodetic gravity field modeling programs, 2nd edn. National Space Institute, Denmark and Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen
Gleason DM (1988) An initial look at 54 tracks of airborne data from the gravity gradiometer data. Presented at Chapman conference on progress in the determination of the Earth’s gravity field, American Geophysical Union, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 13–16 September
Holmes SA, Pavlis NK (2006) A FORTRAN program for very -high-degree harmonic synthesis, HARMONIC SYNTH. http://earth-infongamil/GandG/wgs84/gravitymod/new-egm/READMEtxt
Jekeli C (1985) On optimal estimation of gravity from gravity gradient at aircraft altitude. Rev Geophys 23(3): 301–311
Jekeli C (1988) The exact transformation between ellipsoidal and spherical expansions. Manusc Geod 13(2): 106–113
Lemoine FG, Kenyon SC, Factor JK, Trimmer RG, Chinn NKPDS, Cox CM, Klosko SM, Luthcke SB, Torrence MH, Wang YM, Williamson RG, Pavlis EC, Rapp RH, Olson TR (1998) The development of the Joint NASA GSFC and the National Imagery and Mapping Agency NIMA Geopotential Model EGM96 NASA/TP-1998-206861, July, 1998
Mäkinen J, Ihde J (2009) The permanent tide in height systems. IAG Sympo 133: 81–87
Morelli C (1970) Physiography, gravity and magnetism of the Tyrrenian Sea. Boll Geof Teor Appl XII No. 48
Morelli C, Gandar C, Pisani M (1975a) Bathymetry, gravity and magnetism in the strait of Sicily and in the Ionian Sea. Boll Geof Teor Appl XVII No. 65
Morelli C, Pisani M, Gandar C (1975b) Geophysical studies in the Aegean Sea and in the Eastern Mediterranean. Boll Geof Teor Appl XVIII No. 66
Pavlis NK, Saleh J (2005) Error propagation with geographic specificity for very high degree geopotential models. IAG Symp 129: 149–154
Pavlis NK, Holmes SA, Kenyon SC, Factor JK (2008) An Earth gravitational model to degree 2160: EGM2008. EGU General Assembly 2008, Vienna, Austria, 13–18 April
Rapp RH (1973) Geoid information by wavelength. Bull Geod 110: 405–411
Sansò F, Schuh WD (1987) Finite covariance functions. Bull Geod 61: 331–347
Schuh WD (1994) Numerische verfahren zur geodätischer optimierung Report Inst. für Theorätische Geodäsie, Technishe Universität Graz
Sevilla MJ (1993) Analysis and validation of the D.M.A gravimetric data of the Mediterranean Sea. Mare Nostrum Geomed Rep 3: 78–101
Tsuei GC, Arabelos D, Forsberg R, Sideris MG, Tziavos IN (1994) Geoid computations in Taiwan. IAG Symp 113: 446–458
Vasco DM (1989) Resolution and variance operators of gravity gradiometry. Geophysics 54(7): 889–899
Wang YM (1988) Determination of the gravity disturbance on the Earth’s topographic surface from airborne gravity gradient data. Dep of Geod Sci and Surv, Ohio State Univ, Columbus Rep. 401
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Arabelos, D.N., Tscherning, C.C. A comparison of recent Earth gravitational models with emphasis on their contribution in refining the gravity and geoid at continental or regional scale. J Geod 84, 643–660 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00190-010-0397-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00190-010-0397-z