Residual geoid and free-air gravity over the indian offshore from ers-1 high resolution altimeter data

Abstract

In this study, ERS-1 altimeter data over the Indian offshore have been processed for deriving marine geoid and gravity. Processing of altimeter data involves corrections for various atmospheric and oceanographic effects, stacking and averaging of repeat passes, cross-over correction, removal of deeper earth and bathymetric effects, spectral analyses and conversion of geoid into free-air gravity anomaly. Methods for generation of residual geoid and free-air gravity anomaly using high resolution ERS-1 168 day repeat altimeter data were developed. High resolution detailed geoid maps, gravity anomaly and their spectral components have been generated over the Indian offshore using ERS-I altimeter data and ARCGIS system. A number of known megastructures over the study area have been successfully interpreted e.g. Bombay High, Saurastra platform, 90° east ridge etc. from these maps.