Optimal Estimation of a High Degree Gravity Field from a Global Set of 1 deg x 1 deg Anomalies to Degree and Order 250.

Abstract

An algorithm developed by Colombo (1981) for the optimal estimation of potential coefficients has been implemented with global 1 deg X 1 deg gravity anomalies. The reformulation of the algorithm, and the modifications, have been described. The effect of changes in anomaly error estimates, and change in the anomaly data, on the optimally estimated potential coefficients has been examined. Potential coefficients were estimated complete to degree and order 250 with present realistic anomaly error estimates, and also with idealized anomaly error estimates. A comparison wtih the current set of potential coefficients (Rapp, 1981) complete to degree and order 180 shows a realistic coefficient percentage improvement of about 8% at degree 60, increasing to about 33% at degree 180. The cumulative undulation and anomaly difference to degree 180 is 1.51 meters and 2.7 mgals respectively. The present coefficient error estimates are better by a factor of about two when compared to the current coefficient error estimates. Keywords include: Earth's Gravity Field; Spherical Harmonics; Degree and Order 250; Optimal Estimation.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1984
Accession Number
ADA156008

Entities

People

  • D. P. Hajela

Organizations

  • Ohio State University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Algorithms
  • Computations
  • Computer Programming
  • Computers
  • Contracts
  • Data Sets
  • Earth Models
  • Earth Sciences
  • Estimators
  • Geophysics
  • Gravity
  • Gravity Anomalies
  • Grids
  • Legendre Functions
  • Optimal Estimators
  • Plastic Explosives

Readers

  • Approximation Theory.
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.