National height datum, the Gauss-Listing geoid level value w 0 and its time variation 0 (Baltic Sea Level Project: epochs 1990.8, 1993.8, 1997.4)

Abstract

A methodology for precise determination of the fundamental geodetic parameter w 0, the potential value of the Gauss–Listing geoid, as well as its time derivative 0, is presented. The method is based on: (1) ellipsoidal harmonic expansion of the external gravitational field of the Earth to degree/order 360/360 (130 321 coefficients; http://www.uni-stuttgard.de/gi/research/ index.html projects) with respect to the International Reference Ellipsoid WGD2000, at the GPS positioned stations; and (2) ellipsoidal free-air gravity reduction of degree/order 360/360, based on orthometric heights of the GPS-positioned stations. The method has been numerically tested for the data of three GPS campaigns of the Baltic Sea Level project (epochs 1990.8,1993.4 and 1997.4). New w 0 and 0 values (w 0=62 636 855.75 ± 0.21 m2/s2, 0=−0.0099±0.00079 m2/s2 per year, w 0/&γmacr;=6 379 781.502 m,0/&γmacr;=1.0 mm/year, and &γmacr;= −9.81802523 m2/s2) for the test region (Baltic Sea) were obtained. As by-products of the main study, the following were also determined: (1) the high-resolution sea surface topography map for the Baltic Sea; (2) the most accurate regional geoid amongst four different regional Gauss–Listing geoids currently proposed for the Baltic Sea; and (3) the difference between the national height datums of countries around the Baltic Sea.