First- and Second-Phase Gravity Field Solutions Based on Satellite Altimetry.

Abstract

The increasing accuracy of satellite altimetry and its growing use in the determination of the general circulation of the oceans provide the motivation for conceiving the most rigorous model possible in relating the pressure and geopotential gradients. In response to such a need, the standard derivation is refined through the inclusion of second-order effects. This refinement is carried out with extensive use of tensor notations. Since altimeter measurements are directly affected by the surface (geocentric) tide, an exact representation of the latter is important. An improvement of the altimeter model with tidal effects included is achieved by an adaptation of Schwiderski's formula giving the ocean bottom deformation due to ocean tidal loading. The resulting model for the bottom tide and, especially, for the surface tide can be used in conjunction with all of the tidal constituents. The point-mass adjustment model, based on the residuals from the spherical-harmonic adjustment of satellite altimetry, was recently modified to allow for an efficient, large-scale resolution of the geoidal detail. As an alternative to the point-mass adjustment (without tidal parameters), an approach is presented which is an adaptation of the collocation theory.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1984
Accession Number
ADA142256

Entities

People

  • G. Blaha

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Air Force
  • Algorithms
  • Altimetry
  • Computational Science
  • Computations
  • Computer Programs
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Covariance
  • Geodesy
  • Geophysics
  • Gravity Anomalies
  • Grids
  • Latitude
  • Measurement
  • Ocean Basins
  • Seabed

Readers

  • Calculus or Mathematical Analysis
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris