Temporal variations of the Earth's gravitational field from satellite laser ranging to Lageos

Abstract

We have estimated monthly values of the J2 and J3 Earth gravitational coefficients using LAGEOS satellite laser ranging (SLR) data collected between 1980 and 1989. For the same time period, we have also computed corresponding estimates of the variations in these coefficients caused by atmospheric mass redistribution using surface atmospheric pressure estimates from the European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). These data were processed both with and without a correction for the “inverted barometer effect,” the ocean's isostatic response to atmospheric loading. While the estimated zonal harmonics in the orbit analysis accommodate gravitational changes at a reduced level arising from all other higher degree zonal effects, the LAGEOS and atmospheric time series for J2 compare quite well and it appears that the non‐secular variation in J2 can be largely attributed to the redistribution of the atmospheric mass. While the observed changes in the “effective” J3 parameters are not well predicted by the third degree zonal harmonic changes in the atmosphere, both odd zonal time series display strong seasonality. The LAGEOS J3 estimates are very sensitive to as yet unmodeled forces acting on the satellite and these effects must be better understood before determining the dominant geophysical signals contributing to the estimate of this time series.