Geoid model determination for the Hellenic area “Hellas Geoid 2023”

Abstract

The latest geoid model "HELLAS GEOID 2023" (HG2023) derived by the Hellenic Military Geographical Service is the most comprehensive model for the entire Hellenic area. Long-term gravity data, orthometric and geometric heights, seabed topography and a high-resolution digital terrain model were implemented in the calculations. Data evaluation and their accuracy estimation were of major importance to ascertain compatibility among data sources. In this study, data from neighboring countries were used as they were essential for the completeness of the model developed. The technique remove–compute–restore was adopted for the separation of the gravity signal in the heterogeneous data utilizing EIGEN 6C4 (full degree and order 2190), since the global geodynamic model was found to fit best in the Greek region. Mean gravity residual contribution to the local geoid model was calculated using Stokes' theorem in the frequency domain and implementing the Fourier transform using the Wang and Core modification. The final surface of the resulting gravimetric geoid was adapted to the existing height system of the State utilizing the Least Squares Collocation method by fitting points of known orthometric and geometric heights, distributed throughout Greece. The external accuracy of the estimated geoid model was estimated at the level of 6 cm.