Derivation of the CHAMP-only global gravity field model TUG-CHAMP04 applying the energy integral approach

Abstract

A global gravity field model TUG-CHAMP04, derived from CHAMP (CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload) satellite-to-satellite GPS tracking observations in the high-low mode (SST-hl) in combination with CHAMP accelerometry, is presented and described in detail in this paper. For this purpose the energy integral approach was applied to precise kinematic orbits and accelerometer data. The advantage of these kinds of orbits is that they are derived from purely geometrical information, hence no external gravity field information is used for the determination of the positions. The disadvantage of precise kinematic orbit information is, that no velocities are delivered and hence a procedure has to be elaborated to deduce the velocities from kinematic positions. This work is done in preparation for ESA’s GOCE (Gravity field and steady state Ocean Circulation Explorer) satellite mission (scheduled launch November 2006), aiming at a high precision and high-resolution gravity field model on a global scale. This paper concentrates on the CHAMP data processing, where, in contrast to the usual standard method (processing in the Earth fixed frame), an approach in the inertial frame is chosen. Focus is taken on the data preprocessing of both accelerometer and orbit data, emphasising on the correct treatment of data-gaps and outlier detection. Furthermore an arc-wise weighting strategy is introduced and the advantages/disadvantages of this approach are discussed. Finally, the TUG-CHAMP04 model, calculated from one year of CHAMP data is compared with the official CHAMP gravity field model EIGEN-3p and terrestrial data (GPS levelling data).