COMPARISON OF SATELLITE GEOIDS AND ANOMALY FIELDS,
Abstract
Various determinations of the harmonic coefficients in the expansion of the earth's gravitational field have been compared in terms of geoids and gravity anomalies. The most recent satellite solution of Anderle agrees fairly well (when comparing common coefficients) with the Gaposchkin solution (RMS difference = plus or minus 5.9 m) but does not agree well with the recent Kaula field from combined satellite and terrestrial data (RMS difference = plus or minus 9.2 m). Estimates made of the effect of the higher-order terms on the undulation values were used to estimate the over-all accuracy figure for current solutions as plus or minus 9.9 m. The error committed by neglecting terms higher than n=8 was estimated as plus or minus 6 m; beyond n=12, plus or minus 4 m; and beyond n=15, plus or minus 3 m. Comparisons of the solutions for various size blocks showed better agreement, the larger the blocks. Accuracy estimates for mean anomaly evaluations from the current satellite solutions were: 5 degrees x 5 degrees, plus or minus 15 mgal; 10 degrees x 10 degrees, plus or minus 12 mgal; 15 degrees x 15 degrees, plus or minus 10 mgal; 20 degrees x 20 degrees, plus or minus 7 mgal; and 30 degrees x 30 degrees, plus or minus 3 mgal. Comparisons of the satellite anomalies were also made to terrestrial anomalies in 5 degrees x 5 degrees and 30 degrees x 30 degrees blocks. The 5 degree comparison was used to demonstrate a method for the determination of equatorial gravity. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0653194
Entities
People
- Richard H. Rapp
Organizations
- Ohio State University