EQUILIBRIUM FIGURES AND THE NORMAL-SPHEROID OF THE EARTH. MASS-FUNCTIONS AND ISOSTASY.

Abstract

This study of the normal spheroid seems to prove that the earth's equilibrium figure lies on the curve Ac= min (Wiechert-models) or that the empirical radius of the core of the earth lies very close to that minimum. The mass-functions of the real earth derived from orbital perturbations of artificial satellites are investigated. He finds that the mass-functions J3 - J6, usually accepted, are incompatible. The absolute value of the mass-function J4 seems to be too small by 50% and the sectorial term J2,2 seems very improbable. New formulas for the condensation reduction of the artificial geoid are developed and a new concept of the so-called horizontal isostasy is discussed. To regularize the crust requires a horizontal flux of topography from the continents to the oceans along the mean lithosphere and an opposite flux of compensating masses along the mean Moho-surface. In this way both mass and pressure can be maintained exactly. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1968
Accession Number
AD0836105

Entities

People

  • K. Ledersteger

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Condensation
  • Continents
  • Geographic Regions
  • Geography
  • Lithosphere
  • Perturbations
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • Topography
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Calculus or Mathematical Analysis
  • Geodesy
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris