Evaluation of 15th- and 30th-Order Geopotential Harmonic Coefficients from 26 Resonant Satellite Orbits
Abstract
The earth's gravitational potential is usually expressed as an infinite series of harmonics, and the values of harmonic coefficients of order 15 and 30 can be determined most accurately by analysis of satellite orbits which experience 15th-order resonance. The results from two recent resonance analyses, for 1965-09A and 1968-70A, have been added to those previously available, to produce an improved evaluation of 44 coefficients of order 15 and degree 15-36, and 12 coefficients of order 30 and even degree 30,32,...40. Compared with previous results, the new evaluation shows a great improvement in the standard deviations (sd's) of many of the 15th-order coefficients of even degree, thanks largely to the contribution of 1965-09A at inclination 31.8 deg.; for the coefficients of degree 24, 26, 28 and 30, sd has been reduced by a factor of 3.1 on average; and for degree 32, 34, and 36 by a factor of 1.4 on average. For the other coefficients-those of 30th order, and odd-degree 15th order-the changes are relatively small. In the new 15th-order solution, all the 30 coefficients of degree 15-29 have sd < or = 2.0 X 10 to the minus 9th power, and the average sd of these 30 values is equivalent to an error in geoid height of 0.7 cm. Comparison of our values with those in comprehensive geoid models, which usually have larger sd, lead us to conclude that, for orders 15 and 30, the nominal sd's of the comprehensive models are quite realistic. Great Britain.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA205482
Entities
People
- Desmond King-Hele
- Doreen M. Walker
Organizations
- Royal Aircraft Establishment