Terrestrial Gravimetry Research Articles

Non‐Tidal Ocean Loading Signals of the North and Baltic Sea From Terrestrial Gravimetry, GNSS, and High‐Resolution Modeling

AbstractNon‐tidal ocean loading (NTOL) signals are known to be a significant source of geophysically induced noise in gravimetric and geodetic observations also far‐away from the coast and especially during extreme events such as storm surges. Operationally available corrections suffer from a low temporal and spatial resolution and reveal too small amplitudes on continental stations. Dedicated high‐resolution sea‐level modeling of the North and Baltic Sea provides an improved prediction of NTOL signals. Superconducting gravimeter and Global Navigation Satellite Systems observations on the small offshore island of Heligoland in the North Sea are used for an evaluation of the model values revealing largely increased correlations of up to 0.9 and signal reductions of up to 50% during a storm surge period of one month in January and February 2022. Evaluations on additional continental superconducting gravimeter stations also show significant improvements through the recommended high‐resolution modeling for improved signal separation further away from the coast.

Combining atmospheric and non-tidal ocean loading effects to correct high precision gravity time-series

SUMMARY In modelling atmospheric loading effects for terrestrial gravimetry, state-of-the-art approaches take advantage of numerical weather models to account for the global 3-D distribution of air masses. Deformation effects are often computed assuming the Inverse Barometer (IB) hypothesis to be generally valid over the oceans. By a revision of the IB assumption and its consequences we show that although the seafloor is not deformed by atmospheric pressure changes, there exists a fraction of ocean mass that current modelling schemes are usually not accounting for. This causes an overestimation of the atmospheric attraction effect over oceans, even when the dynamic response of the ocean to atmospheric pressure and wind is accounted through dynamic ocean models. This signal can reach a root mean square variability of a few nm s−2, depending on the location of the station. We therefore test atmospheric and non-tidal ocean loading effects at five superconducting gravimeter (SG) stations, showing that a better representation of the residual gravity variations is found when Newtonian attraction effects due to the IB response of the ocean are correctly considered. A sliding window variance analysis shows that the main reduction takes place for periods between 5 and 10 d, even for stations far away from the oceans. Since periods of non-tidal ocean mass variability closely resemble atmospheric signals recorded by SGs, we recommend to directly incorporate both an ocean component together with the IB into services that provide weather-related corrections for terrestrial gravimetry.

First implementation of a new cross-disciplinary observation strategy for heavy precipitation events from formation to flooding

Heavy Precipitation Events (HPE) are the result of enormous quantities of water vapor being transported to a limited area. HPE rainfall rates and volumes cannot be fully stored on and below the land surface, often leading to floods with short forecast lead times that may cause damage to humans, properties, and infrastructure. Toward an improved scientific understanding of the entire process chain from HPE formation to flooding at the catchment scale, we propose an elaborated event-triggered observation concept. It combines flexible mobile observing systems out of the fields of meteorology, hydrology and geophysics with stationary networks to capture atmospheric transport processes, heterogeneous precipitation patterns, land surface and subsurface storage processes, and runoff dynamics. As part of the Helmholtz Research Infrastructure MOSES (Modular Observation Solutions for Earth Systems), the effectiveness of our observation strategy is illustrated by its initial implementation in the Mueglitz river basin (210 km2), a headwater catchment of the Elbe in the Eastern Ore Mountains with historical and recent extreme flood events. Punctual radiosonde observations combined with continuous microwave radiometer measurements and back trajectory calculations deliver information about the moisture sources, and initiation and development of HPE. X-band radar observations calibrated by ground-based disdrometers and rain gauges deliver precipitation information with high spatial resolution. Runoff measurements in small sub-catchments complement the discharge time series of the operational network of gauging stations. Closing the catchment water balance at the HPE scale, however, is still challenging. While evapotranspiration is of less importance when studying short-term convective HPE, information on the spatial distribution and on temporal variations of soil moisture and total water storage by stationary and roving cosmic ray measurements and by hybrid terrestrial gravimetry offer prospects for improved quantification of the storage term of the water balance equation. Overall, the cross-disciplinary observation strategy presented here opens up new ways toward an integrative and scale-bridging understanding of event dynamics.

Assessment of high-degree reference models and Recent Goce/Grace Global Geopotential Models over Sudan based on the GPS/Leveling data

Nowadays, Global Geopotential Models (GGMs) can be used as a reference to develop more detailed regional/local geoids, or they can be used to provide geoid heights on their own. Since 2000, several GGMs have been released, and they are mainly derived from satellite gravity measurements, satellite-only models, terrestrial gravimetry, altimeter-derived gravity data in marine areas, and airborne gravity data. With a precise geoid model, ellipsoidal heights obtained from GPS can be converted to orthometric heights, which is reasonably quite needed in Geodesy, Civil Engineering, etc. These heights reflect changes in topography as well as local variations in gravity. This paper evaluates some of the latest releases of high degree reference models and the satellite-only global gravity field model over Sudan using 19 GPS/Leveling stations. We have been selected 6 GGMs based on Gravity field Goce and Grace, and they released in 2020, 2019, 2014, 2008, and 1996 as shown in the International Centre for Global Earth Models website (ICGEM). The accuracy evaluation of the GGM models have been discussed, the accurate GGMs over Sudan are XGM2019e_2159 and GOCO05s, which have indicated -0.019 and 0.046 meters, respectively. The evaluation results produce valuable information to academia and geoid modeling research topics in Sudan, which shows the precise model from the selected GGMs in Sudan by using the available GPS/Leveling data.

Field‐Scale Subsurface Flow Processes Inferred From Continuous Gravity Monitoring During a Sprinkling Experiment

AbstractField‐scale subsurface flow processes are difficult to observe and monitor. We investigated the value of gravity time series to identify subsurface flow processes by carrying out a sprinkling experiment in the direct vicinity of a superconducting gravimeter. We demonstrate how different water mass distributions in the subsoil affect the gravity signal and show the benefit of using the shape of the gravity response curve to identify different subsurface flow processes. For this purpose, a simple hydro‐gravimetric model was set up to test different scenarios in an optimization approach, including the processes macropore flow, preferential flow, wetting front advancement (WFA), bypass flow and perched water table rise. Besides the gravity observations, electrical resistivity and soil moisture data were used for evaluation. For the study site, the process combination of preferential flow and WFA led to the best correspondence to the observations in a multi‐criteria assessment. We argue that the approach of combining field‐scale sprinkling experiments in combination with gravity monitoring can be transferred to other sites for process identification, and discuss related uncertainties including limitations of the simple model used here. The study stresses the value of advancing terrestrial gravimetry as an integrative and non‐invasive monitoring technique for assessing hydrological states and dynamics.

The determination of Thailand Geoid Model 2017 (TGM2017) from airborne and terrestrial gravimetry

The determination of Thailand Geoid Model 2017 (TGM2017) from airborne and terrestrial gravimetry

Status of the International Gravity Reference System and Frame

The increasing importance of terrestrial gravimetry in monitoring global change processes, in providing a reference for satellite measurements and in applications in metrology necessitates a stable reference system reflecting the measurement accuracy achievable by modern gravimeters. Therefore, over the last decade, the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) has developed a system to achieve accurate, homogeneous, long-term global recording of Earth’s gravity, while taking advantage of the potential of today’s absolute gravity measurements. The current status of the International Gravity Reference System and Frame is presented as worked out by the IAG Joint Working Group 2.1.1 “Establishment of a global absolute gravity reference system” during the period 2015–2019. Here, the system is defined by the instantaneous acceleration of free-fall, expressed in the International System of Units (SI) and a set of conventional corrections for the time-independent components of gravity effects. The frame as the systems realization includes a set of conventional temporal gravity corrections which represent a uniform set of minimum requirements. Measurements with absolute gravimeters, the traceability of which is ensured by comparisons and monitoring at reference stations, provide the basis of the frame. A global set of such stations providing absolute gravity values at the microgal level is the backbone of the frame. Core stations with at least one available space geodetic technique will provide a link to the terrestrial reference frame. Expanded facilities enabling instrumental verification as well as repeated regional and additional comparisons will complement key comparisons at the level of the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM) and ensure a common reference and the traceability to the SI. To make the gravity reference system accessible to any user and to replace the previous IGSN71 network, an infrastructure based on absolute gravity observations needs to be built up. This requires the support of national agencies, which are encouraged to establish compatible first order gravity networks and to provide information about existing absolute gravity observations.

Accuracy Analysis of Gravity Field Changes from Grace RL06 and RL05 Data Compared to in Situ Gravimetric Measurements in the Context of Choosing Optimal Filtering Type

Abstract Global satellite gravity measurements provide unique information regarding gravity field distribution and its variability on the Earth. The main cause of gravity changes is the mass transportation within the Earth, appearing as, e.g. dynamic fluctuations in hydrology, glaciology, oceanology, meteorology and the lithosphere. This phenomenon has become more comprehensible thanks to the dedicated gravimetric missions such as Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) and Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE). From among these missions, GRACE seems to be the most dominating source of gravity data, sharing a unique set of observations from over 15 years. The results of this experiment are often of interest to geodesists and geophysicists due to its high compatibility with the other methods of gravity measurements, especially absolute gravimetry. Direct validation of gravity field solutions is crucial as it can provide conclusions concerning forecasts of subsurface water changes. The aim of this work is to present the issue of selection of filtration parameters for monthly gravity field solutions in RL06 and RL05 releases and then to compare them to a time series of absolute gravimetric data conducted in quasi-monthly measurements in Astro-Geodetic Observatory in Józefosław (Poland). The other purpose of this study is to estimate the accuracy of GRACE temporal solutions in comparison with absolute terrestrial gravimetry data and making an attempt to indicate the significance of differences between solutions using various types of filtration (DDK, Gaussian) from selected research centres.

Variations of porosity in intermediate-sized lunar impact basins

The Moon is cratered with hundreds of well-preserved impact basins, and shared bombardment history with Earth makes lunar basins a good proxy for the processes affecting early Earth. Basin-forming impact events alter the bulk density and porosity of the targeted crust, and measurement of these quantities offers a means by which we can investigate the mechanisms of basin formation. In this work, we calculate the bulk density of the crust in the vicinity of 50 basins with diameters of 170–360 km—a size range that has been neglected by previous studies—with the goal of understanding the deformational mechanisms present during impact events. Our bulk density estimates are derived from gravity data from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission and topography data from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) using a new technique similar to the Nettleton method in terrestrial gravimetry. By making assumptions about crustal compositions across the Moon, we can furthermore estimate porosity in and around the basins. Low porosity is observed in the interior of 76% of the basins studied, and this trend becomes more apparent when basins in the Feldspathic Highlands Terrane are observed alone. Overall, impact events appear to decrease porosity inside basins and increase porosity outside basins, suggesting the prevalence of impact melting within the basins and fracturing and ejecta deposition in the exteriors. Our results are seemingly inconsistent with previous studies that measured high porosity values inside basins from residual Bouguer anomalies. However, these disparate results may be reconciled if impact melting processes are confined to the uppermost kilometers of the lunar crust and are underlain by heavy impact-induced fracturing.

Insight into the preparation of the 2016 MS6.4 Menyuan earthquake from terrestrial gravimetry-derived crustal density changes

Geophysical processes of the pre-earthquake activities are difficult to be determined since less pre-seismic signal is observed directly. Crustal density changes derived from the periodical terrestrial gravimetry may provide meaningful deep information for the pre-earthquake cue. In this study, the crustal density changes following the 2016 MS6.4 Menyuan earthquake are estimated using ground-based gravity-change data from 2011 to 2015 in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. The results show that negative density changes dominate the region between the South Longshou Mountain fault and the Daban Mountain fault except the southeast of this region (the seismic region) during 2011–2012. Positive density changes appeared in the middle crust near the epicenter during 2012–2013 and in the upper and middle crust east of the epicenter approximately 1.5 years before the earthquake (2013–2014), and then negative density changes appeared under and northeast of the epicenter approximately four months before the earthquake (2014–2015). The state of the crustal materials near the seismic region changed from convergence to expansion, in turn, indicating that the characteristics of the deep seismogenic process was corresponding to Amos Nur’s 1974 dilatancy-fluid diffusion model.

Resolving Geophysical Signals by Terrestrial Gravimetry: A Time Domain Assessment of the Correction‐Induced Uncertainty

AbstractTerrestrial gravimetry is increasingly used to monitor mass transport processes in geophysics boosted by the ongoing technological development of instruments. Resolving a particular phenomenon of interest, however, requires a set of gravity corrections of which the uncertainties have not been addressed up to now. In this study, we quantify the time domain uncertainty of tide, global atmospheric, large‐scale hydrological, and nontidal ocean loading corrections. The uncertainty is assessed by comparing the majority of available global models for a suite of sites worldwide. The average uncertainty expressed as root‐mean‐square error equals 5.1 nm/s2, discounting local hydrology or air pressure. The correction‐induced uncertainty of gravity changes over various time periods of interest ranges from 0.6 nm/s2 for hours up to a maximum of 6.7 nm/s2 for 6 months. The corrections are shown to be significant and should be applied for most geophysical applications of terrestrial gravimetry. From a statistical point of view, however, resolving subtle gravity effects in the order of few nanometers per square second is challenged by the uncertainty of the corrections.

Quantum estimation of parameters of classical spacetimes

We describe a quantum limit to measurement of classical spacetimes. Specifically, we formulate a quantum Cramér-Rao lower bound for estimating the single parameter in any one-parameter family of spacetime metrics. We employ the locally covariant formulation of quantum field theory in curved spacetime, which allows for a manifestly background-independent derivation. The result is an uncertainty relation that applies to all globally hyperbolic spacetimes. Among other examples, we apply our method to detection of gravitational waves with the electromagnetic field as a probe, as in laser-interferometric gravitational-wave detectors. Other applications are discussed, from terrestrial gravimetry to cosmology.

Geophysics From Terrestrial Time‐Variable Gravity Measurements

AbstractIn a context of global change and increasing anthropic pressure on the environment, monitoring the Earth system and its evolution has become one of the key missions of geosciences. Geodesy is the geoscience that measures the geometric shape of the Earth, its orientation in space, and gravity field. Time‐variable gravity, because of its high accuracy, can be used to build an enhanced picture and understanding of the changing Earth. Ground‐based gravimetry can determine the change in gravity related to the Earth rotation fluctuation, to celestial body and Earth attractions, to the mass in the direct vicinity of the instruments, and to vertical displacement of the instrument itself on the ground. In this paper, we review the geophysical questions that can be addressed by ground gravimeters used to monitor time‐variable gravity. This is done in relation to the instrumental characteristics, noise sources, and good practices. We also discuss the next challenges to be met by ground gravimetry, the place that terrestrial gravimetry should hold in the Earth observation system, and perspectives and recommendations about the future of ground gravity instrumentation.

Emerging methods for noninvasive sensing of soil moisture dynamics from field to catchment scale: a review

Soil moisture is an important state variable in the terrestrial system because it controls the exchange of water and energy between the land surface and the atmosphere. In this study, we review recent advances in noninvasive techniques that allow continuous noninvasive and contactless measurements of soil moisture dynamics at the field to basin scale. In particular, we report on (1) cosmic‐ray neutron probes, (2) Global Navigation Satellite System reflectometry, (3) ground‐based microwave radiometry, (4) gamma‐ray monitoring, (5) terrestrial gravimetry, and (6) low‐frequency electromagnetic surface waves. Each method is described in terms of its basic principle, measurement scales, calibration issues, measurement accuracy, and applications. We hope that this review will further stimulate the community to invest in the continued development of novel soil moisture sensing methods that address the need for large‐scale soil water content measurements with sufficiently high temporal resolution. WIREs Water 2015, 2:635–647. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1097This article is categorized under: Science of Water > Hydrological Processes Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change

Application of Terrestrial and Aerial Gravimetry in the Pimenta Bueno Graben, Brazil

This paper presents an application of the gravimetric method using terrestrial and aerial data collected in one sector of the Parecis Basin, Brazil. The data received latitude and elevation corrections and also the Eotvos correction in the aerial survey case. Maps of Free-Air anomaly and Bouguer anomaly were obtained. These maps allowed us to identify the Pimenta Bueno Graben, which is an attractive region for oil and gas prospecting. Finally, the maps were compared and correlated to tectonic domains of the Pimenta Bueno Graben region.

The static gravity field model DGM-1S from GRACE and GOCE data: computation, validation and an analysis of GOCE mission’s added value

We present a global static model of the Earth’s gravity field entitled DGM-1S based on GRACE and GOCE data. The collection of used data sets includes nearly 7 years of GRACE KBR data and 10 months of GOCE gravity gradient data. The KBR data are transformed with a 3-point differentiation into quantities that are approximately inter-satellite accelerations. Gravity gradients are processed in the instrumental frame. Noise is handled with a frequency-dependent data weighting. DGM-1S is complete to spherical harmonic degree 250 with a Kaula regularization being applied above degree 179. Its performance is compared with a number of other satellite-only GRACE/GOCE models by confronting them with (i) an independent model of the oceanic mean dynamic topography, and (ii) independent KBR and gravity gradient data. The tests reveal a competitive quality for DGM-1S. Importantly, we study added value of GOCE data by comparing the performance of satellite-only GRACE/GOCE models with models produced without GOCE data: either ITG-Grace2010s or EGM2008 depending on which of the two performs better in a given region. The test executed based on independent gravity gradients quantifies this added value as 25–38 % in the continental areas poorly covered with terrestrial gravimetry data (Equatorial Africa, Himalayas, and South America), 7–17 % in those with a good coverage with these data (Australia, North America, and North Eurasia), and 14 % in the oceans. This added value is shown to be almost entirely related to coefficients below degree 200. It is shown that this gain must be entirely attributed to gravity gradients acquired by the mission. The test executed based on an independent model of the mean dynamic topography suggests that problems still seem to exist in satellite-only GRACE/GOCE models over the Pacific ocean, where noticeable deviations between these models and EGM2008 are detected, too.

Validation of static gravity field models using GRACE K-band ranging and GOCE gradiometry data

The ability of satellite gravimetry data to validate global static models of the Earth’s gravity field is studied. Two types of data are considered: K-band ranging (KBR) data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission and Satellite Gravity Gradiometry (SGG) data from the GOCE (Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer) mission. The validation is based on analysis of misfits obtained as the differences between the data observed and those computed with a force model that includes, in particular, a static gravity field model to be assessed. To facilitate the model assessment on a region-by-region basis, we convert KBR data into so-called range combinations, which are approximately equivalent to the intersatellite accelerations.We only use the accurately measured components of SGG data, that is, xx, yy, zz and xz components with x, y and z being along-track, cross-track and radial axes.We perform the validation in spectral and spatial domain. The latter requires elimination of low-frequency noise in the misfit data with a subsequent averaging over pre-defined blocks. Only ‘independent’ data are used, that is, those that have not been used in the production of the models under consideration. The proposed methodology is applied to eight models: EGM2008 (truncated at degree 250), EIGEN-6C (truncated at degree 250), two GRACE-only models (ITG-Grace03 and ITGGrace2010s) and four (satellite-only) combined GRACE/GOCE models (GOCO01S, EIGEN- 6S, GOCO02S and DGM-1S). The latter is a novel model developed at Delft University of Technology in collaboration with GNSS Research Centre of Wuhan University. The GRACE KBR and GOCE SGG data demonstrate a pronounced sensitivity to inaccuracies of EGM2008 in 5–22 mHz (27–120 cycles-per-revolution, cpr) and 10–28 mHz (54–150 cpr) frequency ranges, respectively. The latter data also show a high sensitivity to inaccuracies of ITGGrace2010s in 25–37 mHz (135–200 cpr) frequency range. From the validation in the spatial domain, it is confirmed that independent data of both types allow a difference in performance of the models to be observed, despite the fact that the duration of these data is much shorter than that of data used to produce those models. It is shown that EGM2008 performs weaker than the combined GRACE/GOCE models (up to the highest spectral sensitivity of the validation data). Considering the root mean square misfits related to the zz gravity gradient component, the differences in performance are: 76–83 per cent in the continental areas poorly covered by terrestrial gravimetry measurements (Himalayas, South America and Equatorial Africa); 4–16 per cent in the continental areas well covered by these measurements (Australia, North Eurasia and North America); and 11 per cent in theworld’s oceans (65?S–65?N). The identified differences in the regions of the latter two categories are related to the added value of the GOCE mission. It is shown that ITG-Grace03 and ITG-Grace2010s are of a much lower accuracy than EGM2008 in the gravimetrically well-surveyed continental areas: by 62–70 and 19–35 per cent and in the world’s oceans: by 54 and 18 per cent, respectively. Nevertheless, the former models show a higher accuracy in the gravimetrically poorly surveyed continental areas: by 62–69 and 69–75 per cent, respectively. This difference is explained mostly by a loss of information content of ITG-Grace03 when it was combined with terrestrial gravimetry data to produce EGM2008. The KBR and SGG test data identify this loss of information content in 4–23 mHz (22–124 cpr) and 9–26 mHz (50–140 cpr) frequency ranges, respectively. It is shown that EIGEN-6C also suffers from a similar problem but in a much less pronounced manner. In South America, for instance, this model is found to perform somewhat poorer than its satellite-only counterpart, that is, EIGEN-6S, by about 12 per cent. The combined GRACE/GOCE models show in the poorly surveyed continental areas a higher accuracy than ITG-Grace2010s: by 23–36 per cent, which is attributed to the added value of the GOCE mission data. GOCO02S outperforms GOCO01S by not more than 2–5 per cent. DGM-1S and GOCO02S show an almost similar performance against SGG test data. However, the former model shows a slightly better agreement with KBR test data. Both models agree with test data better than EIGEN-6S.

Geoid determination by spectral combination of an Earth gravitational model with airborne and terrestrial gravimetry — a theoretical study

Today air-gravimetry is a versatile technique to quickly collect gravity data over large regions, where terrestrial gravity data are sparse and/or of poor quality. The method requires the data to be downward continued to sea level for use in geoid determination, an inverse problem operation that calls for smoothing of the data and/or the kernel function involved (in either spectral or space domain). In this purely theoretical study we avoid this separate computational step by performing direct geoid estimation by so-called spectral combination/filtering of the data, which includes terrestrial gravimetry, airgravimetry, an Earth Gravitational Model (EGM) as well as their signal and error degree variances. Each derived geoid estimator is presented as the sum of one or two integral formulas and the harmonic series of the EGM together with the expected mean square error of the estimator. The article is limited to a theoretical study, leaving its practical tests for future investigation.

An Analysis on Requirements of Orbital Parameters in Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking Mode

Based on the semi-analytical method and using the combined model whose accuracy on the accumulative geoid is influenced by the error of the inter-satellite velocity of the GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) binary in the K band, the orbital error of the GPS receiver and the error of the non-conservative force of the accelerometer, we have for the first time carried out an analysis on the requirements of the orbital parameters in the SST (satellite-to-satellite tracking) mode. We suggest that it would be better for the first gravity satellite of our country the average orbital altitude and inter-satellite distance will be designed, respectively, as 400 km and 220 km. This study may not only provide a theoretical basis and calculational guarantee for the optimal selection of the orbital parameters in the program of satellite gravimetry of our country in the future as well as the efficient and quick estimation of the accuracy of the global gravitational field, but also possess certain guiding significance on the orientation of the development of the future international programs of the GRACE Follow-On terrestrial gravimetry and the GRAIL (Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory) lunar gravitational exploration.

Taking the “Boulder” Step From Static to Dynamic Geoid: 2009 Workshop on Monitoring North American Geoid Change; Boulder, Colorado, 21–23 October 2009

As coastal communities are increasingly affected by sea level rise and flooding from extreme weather events, and as less evident (yet significant) tectonic shifts reshape the North American continent, the need for elevation data that are accurate, consistent, updated, and easily accessible has become critical. Currently, however, the vertical datums in North America are defined by tide gauge and leveling observations, which inevitably become outdated and are costly to replace or repeat. Therefore, two North American governments (Canada and United States) have resolved that the next generation of their national vertical datums will be geoid‐ based and accessible through Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology.To adequately serve as the reference surface for a future vertical datum, the geoid must be modeled accurately and its changes over time must be monitored. But what mix of tools and techniques could fulfill this requirement? To address this question and to plan for a campaign to monitor North American geoid change, experts from North America (including United States, Canada, and Mexico) and Europe specializing in satellite and terrestrial gravimetry as well as satellite positioning convened in Colorado.