Determination of the main Lunar waves generated by the third degree tidal potential and validity of the corresponding body tides models

Abstract

Seventeen long series of tidal gravity observations with superconducting gravimeters (SGs) belonging to the GGP network allowed to determine the main tidal waves generated by the tidal potential of third degree in the Diurnal (M1), Semi-Diurnal (3MK2, 3MO2) and Ter-Diurnal (M3) bands with a precision of 0.1%, although the amplitudes of these waves are below 10 nm s−2 (1 μgal). Special analysis techniques have been used to separate M1, 3MK2 and 3MO2 from the neighbouring waves generated by the second degree potential. The 11 European stations form a geographically homogeneous subgroup and it is thus possible to derive some conclusions concerning the ocean tides loading and the body tides models. The results for M1, 3MK2 and 3MO2 are not in contradiction with the recent models and the results for M3 are even in agreement with them.