Next-Generation Gravity Missions: Sino-European Numerical Simulation Comparison Exercise

Roland Pail,Wei Feng,Zhicai Luo,Changqing Wang,Min Zhong,Markus Hauk,Bo Zhong,Roger Haagmans,Hao Zhou,Xiancai Zou,Qiujie Chen,Bingshi Liu,Xinyu Xu,Hsien-Chi Yeh,Yunzhong Shen,Yongqi Zhao,Houze Xu,Anna Purkhauser

doi:10.3390/rs11222654

Abstract

Temporal gravity retrieval simulation results of a future Bender-type double pair mission concept, performed by five processing centers of a Sino-European study team, have been inter-compared and assessed. They were computed in a synthetic closed-loop simulation world by five independent software systems applying different gravity retrieval methods, but were based on jointly defined mission scenarios. The inter-comparison showed that the results achieved a quite similar performance. Exemplarily, the root mean square (RMS) deviations of global equivalent water height fields from their true reference, resolved up to degree and order 30 of a 9-day solution, vary in the order of 10% of the target signal. Also, co-estimated independent daily gravity fields up to degree and order 15, which have been co-estimated by all processing centers, do not show large differences among each other. This positive result is an important pre-requisite and basis for future joint activities towards the realization of next-generation gravity missions.

Highlights

Generation Gravity Missions (NGGMs), expected to be launched in the midterm future, have set high anticipations for an enhanced monitoring of mass transport in the Earth system, establishing that their products are applicable to new scientific fields and serving societal needs
Past and current gravity missions such as Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE, [1]) and GRACE Follow-On [2] have improved our understanding of many mass change processes, such as the Rgelmoobtae lSewnsa.t2e0r19c,y1c1l,ex, FicOeRmPEaEsRs mREeVltIEinWg of ice sheets and glaciers, changes in ocean mass closely relat2eodf 2t0o eustatic sea level rise, which are subtle indicators of climate change, and gravity changes related to rseollaidteEdartothepursotcaetsicsessesauclhevaeslbrigiseea, rwthhqiuchakaerseorsuglbatcliealinisdoisctaattoicrasdojuf sctlmimenatte(GcIhAa)n. gTeh,ebGurtavailtsyofigerldavaintyd cshteaandgye-sstraetleatOedcetaonsColiirdcuElaatritohnpErxopcelosrseers(sGuOchCaEs)bmigisesaiornth[q3u] ahkaessimorpgrolavceidaloisuorsktantoicwaleddjugsetmofelnotn(gG-tIeArm)
We describe briefly the different methods applied by the five processing centers

Summary

Introduction

Generation Gravity Missions (NGGMs), expected to be launched in the midterm future, have set high anticipations for an enhanced monitoring of mass transport in the Earth system, establishing that their products are applicable to new scientific fields and serving societal needs. F long-term mass distribution and has provided the physical reference surface of the geoidT, hweimthaainreosbojelucttiivoenodfoNwGnGtMo 7s0is–8n0otkomn.ly the continuation and extension of existing mass transport timeTshereiems, abiunt oalbsjoecatisviegnoifif cNanGtGgMains iins snpoattioalnalyndthteemcpoonrtianlureastoioluntiaonnd. Extensive numerical simulations have shown that this set-up results in a significantly improved isotropy and reduction of stripes, e.g.

Jan 2002 1 Jan 2002

Closed-Loop Simulations and Input Data

Methods

Results and Discussions

Conclusions and Outlook