The Estimation of Geopotentials by Way of Geophysical Inverse Theory.

Abstract

Satellite to satellite tracking data (SST) can be used to measure the geopotential at the satellite altitude. This measurement can be used to estimate the Earth's gravity field at the Earth's surface, the so-called 'inverse problem'. Geophysical inverse theory is applied to this inverse problem, and numerical methods are developed and tested. Geophysical inverse theory is used to map the geopotential from the satellite altitude to a lower surface. Two configurations are explored and the geopotential in a local network is recovered with less than 4% error. Keywords: Geoid; Metric data; Geophysical inverse theory; Elliptic integrals; Theta functions.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 27, 1986
Accession Number
ADA165691

Entities

People

  • Edward M. Gaposchkin
  • Mark T. Lane

Organizations

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Accuracy
  • Altitude
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Celestial Mechanics
  • Coefficients
  • Computations
  • Delta Functions
  • Eigenvalues
  • Eigenvectors
  • Equations
  • Errors
  • Geopotential
  • Gravity
  • Grids
  • Inverse Problems
  • Measurement

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Approximation Theory.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris