DEM-induced errors in developing a quasi-geoid model for Africa

Abstract

Errors in digital elevation models (DEMs) will introduce errors in geoid and quasi-geoid models, via their use in interpolating free-air gravity anomalies and (in the case of the quasi-geoid) their use in computing the Molodensky G1 term. The effects of these errors and those of datum shifts are assessed using three independent DEMs for a test region in South Africa. It is shown that these effects are significant and that it is important to choose the best-possible DEM for use in geoid and quasi-geoid modelling.