High-resolution Gravity Model Research Articles

A Comparison of Geologic Structure Detection of Sumatera Island Using Goce Satellite Gravity Data and Sgg-Ugm-2 Data

GOCE gravity satellite data can be used for regional fault detection because the observation area is wide and not limited by area. In this study, GOCE satellite data is used to detect geological structures on the island of Sumatra, the results of which are used as the basis for disaster mitigation. GOCE data and SGG-UGM-2 were processed using the GOCE User Toolbox (GUT) software to produce a gravity disturbance map and a complete bouguer anomaly map. The GOCE obtained results were validated using the SGG-UGM-2 high-resolution gravity model data. The calculation results obtained that the gravity disturbance value from the GOCE data was around -140 to 200 mGal, while the value of the gravity disturbance from the SGG-UGM-2 data was around -180-300 mGal. The GOCE gravity disturbance map and the SGG-UGM-2 can detect the Subduction Trench, Mentawai Fault, and West Andaman Fault on Sumatra Island with negative values, while the Sumatran Fault Zone (SFZ) along Sumatra Island with positive values ​​in line with the presence of mountain ranges. The results of the SGG-UGM-2 data processing for the gravity disturbance are more detailed than GOCE because the SGG-UGM-2 data degree is higher than that of GOCE. GOCE complete bouguer anomaly value is around 40-560 mGal, while the value of complete bouguer anomaly SGG-UGM-2 is around 60-560 mGal. The complete bouguer anomaly maps from GOCE and SGG-UGM-2 can detect patterns from the Subduction Trench, Mentawai Fault, and West Andaman Fault but cannot clearly detect SFZ. The complete bouguer anomaly can also detect differences between oceanic and continental crust. The GOCE and the SGG-UGM-2 complete bouguer anomaly map show almost similar patterns and the ability to detect geological structures for sub and regional Sumatra Island. In addition, GOCE data detect geological structures more clearly than GRACE data.

Geological Evaluation of EIGEN-6C4 and GOCE Derived Gravity Models in and around Karakoram Shear Zone, Leh, India

ABSTRACT New generation high resolution gravity models derived from space-borne gravity data, integrated with land based surveys, have enabled understanding of regional gravity field over regions, which are till date considered to be inaccessible for land surveys, especially in mountainous terrains. In this study, we evaluate two high resolution gravity models EIGEN-6C4 and GO_CONS_GCF_2_TIM_R5 in order to understand its usability in identification of meso-scale regional geological features and lithological boundaries around the Karakoram shear zone, in Leh, India. The EIGEN-6C4 is a “hybrid” model integrating data from space-borne sensors and terrestrial data, whereas GO_CONS_GCF_2_TIM_R5 is a model derived from the latest space-borne GOCE sensor. Bouguer gravity anomaly has been derived for both the models and compared. It is seen that, the GOCE derived model pertains to the regional gravity field of the region and compares well with the regional derivative of the EIGEN-6C4 model. Further, the EIGEN-6C4 has been analyzed using horizontal derivatives (dx, dy), analytical signal (ANS) and tilt derivative (TDR) techniques. These, derived maps are then overlain on published geological map of the area to understand the correlation between sub-surface geology vis a vis gravitational signal. The major and distinct geological signatures as derived from the various derivative maps correlate well with the existing geological map. The source boundaries derived from the TDR map agrees reasonably well with the lithological boundaries. Further, the anomaly and derivative maps from EIGEN-6C4 indicates towards a possible continuation of the Shyok suture zone in the region. Therefore, for the given spatial extent of the area under consideration, the GOCE derived model represents the regional field, whereas the EIGEN-6C4 data and derivatives are of sufficient resolution for understanding the geological variability in and around the Karakoram shear zone.

High-resolution local gravity model of the south pole of the Moon from GRAIL extended mission data.

We estimated a high-resolution local gravity field model over the south pole of the Moon using data from the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory's extended mission. Our solution consists of adjustments with respect to a global model expressed in spherical harmonics. The adjustments are expressed as gridded gravity anomalies with a resolution of 1/6° by 1/6° (equivalent to that of a degree and order 1080 model in spherical harmonics), covering a cap over the south pole with a radius of 40°. The gravity anomalies have been estimated from a short-arc analysis using only Ka-band range-rate (KBRR) data over the area of interest. We apply a neighbor-smoothing constraint to our solution. Our local model removes striping present in the global model; it reduces the misfit to the KBRR data and improves correlations with topography to higher degrees than current global models.Key Points We present a high-resolution gravity model of the south pole of the Moon Improved correlations with topography to higher degrees than global models Improved fits to the data and reduced striping that is present in global models

On the combination of high-resolution and satellite-only global gravity models

The issue of combining high-resolution gravity models, based on observations taken on the Earth surface, with those derived from satellite-only observations is of increasing importance, due to the new data provided by gravity satellite missions, CHAMP, GRACE and GOCE. The paper addresses this issue with a twofold purpose. On the one hand, it is an attempt to discuss and assess general concepts, well known in literature, such as achievable resolution, regularization in the least-squares sense or in an infinite dimensional setup, combination criteria, symmetry and block diagonal structures. In particular, as for the symmetry question, a well-defined result, generalizing known facts, is derived. On the other hand, the outcomes of the general discussion are specifically applied to the combination of a high-resolution model (e.g. EGM08) with a GOCE gravity model estimated by the so-called space-wise approach. Small numerical examples are developed to clarify the property of the proposed solution.

Mapping the geoid for Iberia and the Macaronesian Islands using multi-sensor gravity data and the GRACE geopotential model

A new gravimetric geoid model (ICAGM07) has been determined for the North-East Atlantic Ocean, Iberia, and the Macaronesian Islands using multi-sensor gravity data and a GRACE derived Earth geopotential model. A high resolution gravity model, determined using least squares optimal interpolation of marine, land, and satellite derived gravity anomalies, was used to resolve the medium and short wavelengths of the geoid. Long wavelengths of the geoid were provided by the GRACE derived Earth geopotential model. The topographic effects were computed in the spectral domain using a high resolution (100 m) digital terrain model derived from SRTM mission data and cartographic charts. The remove–restore technique was used to compute the geoid model on a 1.5′ grid, and the residual geoid height was computed using spherical FFT and a modified Stokes’ kernel. The effects of different Earth tide models on the geoid were computed and analysed. Comparison over the sea with an oceanographic geoid determined from CLS01 MSSH and Rio05 MDT yield a relative accuracy of 8 cm, with larger differences close to the shoreline. Over land, comparisons with 1646 GPS/levelling marks indicate an overall precision of 8–10 cm and relative vertical datum offsets of up to 2 m. This new geoid model represents a significant improvement over existing geoid models, with a homogeneous relative accuracy of 8–10 cm over both marine and land areas, and exposes the inaccuracies of local vertical datums as references for studies of vertical deformation.

Iberia-Azores Gravity Model (IAGRM) using multi-source gravity data

Abstract A consistent high precision and high resolution gravity model in the north-east Atlantic off Iberia peninsula using multi-source gravity data, ship-borne and satellite derived gravity anomalies, is presented. A solution strategy based on least squares optimal interpolation was used to assimilate into a coherent gravity model, gravity data with different spectral and spatial resolutions. Satellite derived gravity anomalies from KMS02 model, with an error covariance of 25 mGal2, and marine data carefully edited and validated by bias crossover error adjustment, were used in this study. The observation error variance was determined from ship-borne track adjustment and assigned an independent value for each track determined from error variance propagation. Unbiased ship-borne gravity observations were assimilated into the satellite derived gravity KMS02 model by the least squares optimal interpolation algorithm (OI) with bias removed by applying a regional bias to all ship tracks (OI-b) and alternatively by constraining all ship tracks to KMS02 using bias and tilt (OI-t). External error of the model was determined by comparing with recent surveys and it was verified that OI-t approach improved the final gravity model to an accuracy of about 3 mGal. The effect of different merging approaches on geoid solution was also evaluated and it was verified that the merging process can contribute to improve the geoid accuracy up to 4 cm with the OI-t approach.

An Improved 360 Degree and Order Model of Venus Topography

We present an improved 360 degree and order spherical harmonic solution for Venus' topography. The new model uses the most recent set of Venus altimetry data with spacecraft positions derived from a recent high resolution gravity model. Geometric analysis indicates that the offset between the center of mass and center of figure of Venus is about 10 times smaller than that for the Earth, the Moon, or Mars. Statistical analyses confirm that the RMS topography follows a power law over the central part of the spectrum. Compared to the previous topography model, the new model is more highly correlated with Venus' harmonic gravity field.

A high resolution gravity model for Venus: GVM‐1

A spherical harmonic model of the gravitational field of Venus complete to degree and order 50 has been developed using the S‐band Doppler tracking data of the Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) collected between 1979 and 1982. The short wavelengths of this model could only be resolved near the PVO periapse location (∼14°N latitude), therefore a priori constraints were applied to the model to bias poorly observed coefficients towards zero. The resulting model has a half‐wavelength resolution of 400 km near the PVO periapse location, but the resolution degrades to greater than 1000 km near the poles. This gravity model correlates well with a degree 50 spherical harmonic expansion of the Venus topography derived from a combination of Magellan and PVO data. New tracking data from Magellan's gravity mission should provide some improvement to this model, although a complete model of the Venusian gravity field will depend on tracking of Magellan after the circularization of it's orbit using aerobraking.