Time-variable gravity fields derived from GPS tracking of Swarm

Journal Article (2016)
Author(s)

Aleš Bezdek (Czech Academy of Sciences and Arts)

Josef Sebera (Czech Academy of Sciences and Arts)

JG De Teixeira Da Encarnação (TU Delft - Astrodynamics & Space Missions)

Jaroslav Klokočnik (Czech Academy of Sciences and Arts)

Astrodynamics & Space Missions
Copyright
© 2016 Aleš Bezděk, Josef Sebera, J. De Teixeira Da Encarnação, Jaroslav Klokočnik
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggw094
More Info
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Publication Year
2016
Language
English
Copyright
© 2016 Aleš Bezděk, Josef Sebera, J. De Teixeira Da Encarnação, Jaroslav Klokočnik
Astrodynamics & Space Missions
Issue number
3
Volume number
205
Pages (from-to)
1665-1669
Reuse Rights

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Abstract

Since 2002 Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) provides monthly gravity fields from K-band ranging (KBR) between two GRACE satellites. These KBR gravity monthlies have enabled the global observation of time-varying Earth mass signal at a regional scale (about 400 km resolution). Apart from KBR, monthly gravity solutions can be computed from onboard GPS data. The newly reprocessed GPS monthlies from 13 yr of GRACE data are shown to yield correct time-variable gravity signal (seasonality, trends, interannual variations) at a spatial resolution of 1300 km (harmonic degree 15). We show that GPS fields from new Swarm mission are of similar quality as GRACE GPS monthlies. Thus, Swarm GPS monthlies represent new and independent source of information on time-variable gravity, and, although with lower resolution and accuracy, they can be used for its monitoring, particularly if GRACE KBR/GPS data become unavailable before GRACE Follow-On is launched (2017 August).

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