Accuracy of the determination of mean anomalies and mean geoid undulations from a satellite gravity field mapping mission
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Date
1980-08
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Publisher
Ohio State University. Division of Geodetic Science
Abstract
Improved knowledge of the earth's gravity field can be obtained from new and improved satellite measurements such as satellite to satellite tracking and gradiometry. This improvement has been examined by estimating the accuracy of the determination of mean anomalies and mean undulations in various size blocks based on an assumed mission. In this report the accuracy is considered through a commission error due to measurement noise propagation and a truncation error due to unobservable higher degree terms in the geopotential. To do this the spectrum of the measurement has been related to the spectrum of the disturbing potential of the earth's gravity field. Equations were derived for a low-low (radial or horizontal seperation) mission and a gradiometer mission. For a low-low mission of six month's duration, at an altitude of 160km, with a data noise of ± 1 μm/sec for a four second integration time, we would expect to determine 1° x 1° mean anomalies to an accuracy of ±2.3 mgals and 1° x 1° mean geoid undulations to ± 4.3 cm. A very fast Fortran program is available to study various mission configurations and block sizes.
Description
Prepared for National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland: Grant No. NGR 36-008-161, OSURF Project No. 783210