Quality assessment for terrestrial gravity anomalies by variance component estimation using GOCE gradiometric data and Earth’s gravity models

Abstract

The satellite gravity gradiometry (SGG) data of the recent European satellite mission, the Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE), can be used as an external source for quality description of terrestrial gravity anomalies and the Earth’s gravity models (EGMs). In this study integral estimators are provided and modified in a least-squares sense to regenerate the SGG data of GOCE from terrestrial gravity anomalies and an existing EGM. Based on the differences between the generated and real GOCE SGG data, condition adjustment models are constructed and variance component estimation (VCE) is applied for balancing the a priori errors of data with these differences. Here, a 1-month orbit of GOCE is considered over Iran and the condition adjustment models and VCE process are used to calibrate the errors of the GOCE data, terrestrial gravity anomalies of the area and the EGM. Numerical studies over Iran show that the a priori errors of the GOCE data and the EGM were properly presented. Also the average error of the terrestrial gravity anomalies, with a resolution of 0.5° × 0.5°, after condition adjustment and VCE process using Tzz, Tx, Tyz and −Txx −Tyy is about 30 mGal.