Description of the multi-approach gravity field models from Swarm GPS data

• Published in: Earth system science data Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 1385 - 1417
• Main Authors: Teixeira da Encarnacao, Joao, Visser, Pieter, Arnold, Daniel, Bezdek, Ales, Doornbos, Eelco, Ellmer, Matthias, Guo, Junyi, van den IJssel, Jose, Iorfida, Elisabetta, Jäggi, Adrian, Klokocník, Jaroslav, Krauss, Sandro, Mao, Xinyuan, Mayer-Gürr, Torsten, Meyer, Ulrich, Sebera, Josef, Shum, C. K, Zhang, Chaoyang, Zhang, Yu, Dahle, Christoph
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Katlenburg-Lindau Copernicus GmbH 22.06.2020; Copernicus Publications
• Subjects: Abbreviations; Accelerometers; Access; Amplitudes; Correlation coefficient; Correlation coefficients; Data; Earth; Earth gravitation; Earth models; Earth's gravity field; Geodesy; Geodetics; Geophysics; Geospatial data; Global Positioning System; Global positioning systems; GOCE (experiment); GPS; GRACE (experiment); Gravimetry; Gravitational fields; Gravity; Gravity field; Gravity variations; Hydrology; Identification; Kinematics; Low earth orbit satellites; Quality; Satellite navigation systems; Satellites; Smoothing; Solar activity; Spatial data; Spherical harmonics; Temporal variations; Time series; United States
• ISSN: 1866-3516; 1866-3508; 1866-3516
• DOI: 10.5194/essd-12-1385-2020

Although the knowledge of the gravity of the Earth has improved considerably with CHAMP, GRACE, and GOCE (see appendices for a list of abbreviations) satellite missions, the geophysical community has identified the need for the continued monitoring of the time-variable component with the purpose of estimating the hydrological and glaciological yearly cycles and long-term trends. Currently, the GRACE-FO satellites are the sole dedicated provider of these data, while previously the GRACE mission fulfilled that role for 15 years. There is a data gap spanning from July 2017 to May 2018 between the end of the GRACE mission and start the of GRACE-FO, while the Swarm satellites have collected gravimetric data with their GPS receivers since December 2013.