Adjustment of UARS, POGS, and DE-1 Satellite Magnetic Field Data for Modeling of Earth's Main Field

Abstract

In the absence of Magsat quality satellite magnetic field measurements, the use of data of lesser quality is sought. The DE-1 and UARS satellite magnetic field experiments were not designed for the purpose of modeling Earth's main field. The POGS satellite acquired data for modeling of Earth's main field, but at a lower accuracy than Magsat. All of these data were acquired with fluxgate magnetometers, which are subject to calibration drifts. On Magsat the fluxgate magnetometer was calibrated in-flight by comparison with a Cesium-Vapor scalar magnetometer. Such calibration is not possible on the satellites considered here, leaving uncertainty as to the accuracy of the resulting data. A formalism is developed to compare the data from these satellites with a field model derived from all other available data. This model included data from Magsat, so it is highly accurate at 1980. Its accuracy at the epochs of the satellites considered then depends upon the accuracy with which the field at 1980 can be extrapolated to future epochs. Adjustment of DE-1 data requires estimation of only two parameters for data spanning about 10 years. The resulting adjusted data are in good agreement with the model for those 10 years and exhibit residuals generally interpretable in terms of sources in the ionosphere and magnetosphere. Adjustment parameters of the POGS data vary substantially over the three years of available data. The resulting residuals indicate that the adjusted data set is suitable for main field modeling up to about degree 10, as used for the International Geomagnetic Reference Field. However, the resulting residuals are considered to be due mainly to error in measurement and not to geophysical sources. Adjustment of the UARS data is more difficult. The data used are not sufficient to resolve all of the adjustment-model parameters. If a priori information regarding the magnetic field from attitude torquer rods is included, the ambiguity is mostly resolved. Residuals after adjustment are of comparable magnitude and quality to those from POGS.