卫星编队用于消除海潮模型混频误差影响的可行性研究

目前时变信号模型的混频误差成为时变重力场解算精度的主要限制之处,本文给出三种适合于重力任务的包含不同方向观测量的卫星编队GRACE-type,Pendulum-type和n-sCartwheel-type,设计两种方案并通过仿真实验研究了卫星编队用于消除海潮模型混频误差影响的可行性.结果表明,当不考虑模型混频误差时,n-s-Cartwheel编队能够为重力场解算提供最好的条件,与GRACE-type编队相比,对重力场解算精度提高达43%;当海潮模型的混频误差成为主要误差源时,利用卫星编队由动力法反演重力场并不能消除混频及提高重力场的解算精度,包含径向观测量的Cartwheel-type编队由于对重力场的高阶变化更为敏感,重力场结果中包含了更多的海潮模型误差的高频信号,误差急剧增大.     

内编队重力场测量系统轨道参数与载荷指标设计方法

内编队系统通过构造内卫星纯引力轨道完成高精度重力场测量,实现了不依赖于加速度计的重力卫星实施新途径.针对内编队系统轨道参数和载荷指标设计任务,从定性的角度分析了轨道高度、轨道倾角、偏心率等轨道参数的选择原则,以及外卫星定轨精度、内外卫星相对状态测量精度、内卫星非引力干扰抑制精度、系统采样率等载荷指标对内编队重力场测量性能的影响,并建立了这些参数之间的匹配关系.为获取内编队系统轨道参数和载荷指标的定量设计结果,给出了内编队重力场测量数据模拟和反演计算方法.结合轨道参数和载荷指标对重力场测量性能的影响及其匹配关系,提出了由解析推导和数值计算相结合的方法,获取重力场最高反演阶数、大地水准面精度、重力异常精度等重力场测量性能与轨道参数、载荷指标之间的解析关系,并给出了该解析关系的具体数学形式.与解析法、半解析法相比,该公式由解析推导和大量数值计算得到,因而考虑的影响因素更加全面,计算结果更加合理,可用于快速准确设计内编队系统轨道参数和载荷指标.     

基于下一代四星转轮式编队系统精确和快速反演FSCF地球重力场

第一,由于重力卫星编队轨道的稳定性设计是建立下一代高精度和高空间分辨率地球重力场模型的关键,因此为保证下一代四星转轮式编队系统的稳定性,轨道根数的最优设计如下:(1)轨道半长轴a、轨道偏心率e、轨道倾角i和升交点赤经Ω保持不变;(2)每对卫星的近地点幅角ω和平近点角M分别相差180°;(3)初始近地点辐角ω设置于赤道处,初始平近点角M设计于极点处;(4)卫星编队系统椭圆轨道的半长轴和半短轴之比为2:1. 第二,基于下一代四星转轮式编队系统,利用星间速度插值法,通过相关系数(激光干涉测量系统的星间速度0.85、GPS接收机的轨道位置和轨道速度0.95、星载加速度计的非保守力0.90)、观测时间30天和采样间隔10 s,反演了120阶FSCF-1/2/3/4(Four-Satellite Cartwheel Formation)地球重力场,在120阶处累计大地水准面精度为1.162×10^-4 m,较目前GRACE地球重力场精度至少提高一个数量级. 第三,下一代四星转轮式编队系统具有低轨道高度、高精度测量、全张量观测、弱混频效应和强时变信号的优点.     

一种新型重力测量卫星系统确定全球重力场的性能分析

本文设计了一种高-低卫星跟踪卫星、低-低卫星跟踪卫星和卫星重力梯度测量相结合的新型重力测量卫星系统,其可在一定程度上发挥卫星重力梯度和低低卫星跟踪卫星两种测量模式各自的优势.基于重力卫星系统指标设计的半解析法,深入分析了不同重力测量卫星系统配置和不同观测量及其不同白噪声水平情况下,新型卫星重力测量模式反演重力场模型的能力.数值模拟分析结果表明：在观测值精度和星间距离相同的条件下,轨道高度是影响重力场反演精度的关键因素;随着星间距离的增大,高频重力场信号反演精度会先提高后降低,轨道高度在200~350 km之间时,星间距离在150~180 km之间时反演精度最优;星间距离变率和卫星重力梯度两类观测值仅在某些精度配置时可达到优势互补,如果某一类观测值精度很高,则另一类观测值在联合解算时贡献非常小或者没有贡献.在300 km轨道高度,若以GRACE和GOCE任务的设计指标1 μm·s^-1/√Hz和5 mE/√Hz来配置新型重力测量卫星系统中星间距离变率和引力梯度观测值的精度,联合两类观测值解算200阶次模型大地水准面的精度比独立解算分别提高1.2倍和2.8倍.如果以实现100 km空间分辨率1~2 cm精度大地水准面为科学目标,考虑卫星在轨寿命,建议轨道高度选择300 km,星间距离变率和卫星重力梯度的精度分别为0.1 μm·s^-1/√Hz和1 mE/√Hz.本文的研究成果可为中国研制自主的重力测量卫星系统提供参考依据.     

基于下一代三向车轮双星编队改善地球重力场空间分辨率研究

由于当前GRACE(Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment)串行式编队存在"南北向条带误差"等缺陷,因此本文基于星间速度插值法开展了利用下一代三向车轮双星编队ACR(Along-Cross-Radial)-Cartwheel提高地球重力场空间分辨率的可行性研究论证.第一,采用GRACE卫星轨道参数和关键载荷精度,利用三向车轮双星编队ACR-Cartwheel-A/B反演了120阶地球重力场.结果表明:基于ACR-Cartwheel-A/B双星编队反演地球重力场的模拟精度较德国波茨坦地学研究中心(GFZ)公布的EIGEN-GRACE02S地球重力场模型的实测精度平均提高2.6倍,从而检验了基于下一代三向车轮双星编队ACR-Cartwheel-A/B反演地球重力场精度优于当前GRACE串行式双星编队的可行性.第二,通过星间速度插值法,采用卫星轨道参数(初始轨道高度350km、平均星间距离100km、初始轨道倾角89°、初始轨道离心率0.0046)、卫星关键载荷精度指标(星间速度10-7 m·s-1、轨道位置10-3 m、轨道速度10-6 m·s-1、非保守力10-11 m·s-2)、观测时间30天和采样间隔10s,基于经向车轮双星编队Lo-AR(Longitudinal-Along-Radial)-Cartwheel-A/B、纬向车轮双星编队La-AR(Latitudinal-Along-Radial)-Cartwheel-A/B和三向车轮双星编队ACR-Cartwheel-A/B,分别反演了120阶地球重力场;在120阶处,累计大地水准面精度分别为5.115×10-4 m、4.923×10-4 m和3.488×10-4 m.结果表明:(1)由于La-AR-Cartwheel-A/B编队的轨道稳定性优于Lo-AR-Cartwheel-A/B编队,因此基于La-AR-Cartwheel-A/B编队反演重力场精度高于Lo-AR-CartwheelA/B编队;(2)由于ACR-Cartwheel-A/B编队可以同时获得轨向、垂向和径向的重力场信息,卫星观测数据具有各向同性优点,因此ACR-Cartwheel-A/B编队是建立下一代高精度和高空间分辨地球重力场模型的优化选择.     

基于引力位系数相对权重的卫星重力场测量分析

卫星重力场测量已成为最有效的全球重力场测量手段.本文结合典型的重力卫星和重力卫星研究计划,分析了卫星重力测量的三种原理,并基于各阶位系数的相对权重讨论了各种原理的应用优势.分析可知,卫星受摄轨道适用于恢复长波重力场,低轨星间距离变化率适用于恢复中长波重力场,重力梯度适用于恢复中短波重力场.针对中长波高精度重力场测量的需要,设计了综合获取低轨星间距离变化率与受摄轨道的重力卫星方案,该方案由两组内编队组成星星跟踪复合编队,轨道高度为250km,星间距离为50～100km.     

基于地面重力的卫星重力梯度检校方法

卫星重力梯度仪在轨检校是提高梯度模式重力卫星观测质量的关键.本文面向中国未来梯度模式重力卫星规划任务,研究提出一种基于地面重力的卫星在轨检校方法,该方法顾及卫星设计指标,从地面先验重力数据的精度、空间尺度以及卫星重力梯度仪的观测噪声等卫星检校要素开展分析研究,成功实现地面数据与卫星观测数据的比对检校.研究结果表明,在12°×12°的地面检校区域内,利用精度优于1 mGal的地面重力观测数据即可实现噪声低于10 mE的重力梯度仪高精度在轨检校.     

我国地震电磁监测卫星总体技术研究

地震孕育和发生过程会引起震中附近上空的电离层异常,通过空间观测手段对由地震引起的空间电磁异常现象进行观测有着地面观测手段难以企及的优势.本文对我国地震电磁监测试验卫星科学任务进行了分析,在此基础上,给出了卫星的总体方案设计,并对卫星的工作模式、轨道和卫星构型进行了详细的论证、设计与分析,提出了满足地震电磁观测要求的卫星总体技术方案.     

模拟分析低低跟踪模式重力卫星反演地球重力场的精度

本文利用卫星重力反演与模拟软件ANGELS系统(ANalyst of Gravity Estimation with Low-orbit Satellites)对低低跟踪模式的重力卫星的关键载荷精度指标进行了深入分析.模拟结果表明:(1)对短弧长积分法而言,在低低跟踪模式的关键载荷精度指标中,重力场反演精度对星间距离变率精度最为敏感;(2)通过对目前在轨运行GRACE的载荷指标进行分析,发现轨道数据的误差主要影响重力场的低阶部分(约小于25阶),较高阶次部分(约大于26阶)主要受星间距离变率的误差限制;(3)如果下一代低低跟踪模式的重力卫星的目标之一是把重力异常反演精度较GRACE提高约10倍,则在保持轨道高度和GRACE相同的前提下,轨道、星间距离变率和星载加速度计等关键载荷指标需要达到的最低精度分别约为2cm、10nm·s-1和3.0×10-10 m·s-2;(4)轨道精度和混频误差将是影响下一代低低跟踪模式重力卫星重力场恢复能力进一步提高的主要制约因素,距离变率精度和加速度计精度存在盈余.     

星间加速度解算模式的模拟与分析

低低卫星跟踪卫星的观测量是两低轨卫星的星间距离或星间速度,星间加速度由星间速度通过数值微分导出,用星间加速度作为观测量可以避免解算卫星运动的变分方程,简化观测方程的建立,但数值微分会使观测噪声放大,从而影响重力位的解算精度.为了定量给出星间加速度观测模式的精度,本文分析并模拟验证了数值微分公式计算星间加速度的精度,导出了基于星间加速度的一般形式的观测方程,模拟计算了基于星间加速度的重力位模型.结果表明,采用星间加速度观测模式的解算精度要明显低于星间速度观测模式的解算精度.     

Feasibility study on application of satellite formations for eliminating the influence from aliasing error of ocean tide model

Currently,aliasing error of temporal signal model becomes the main factor constraining the accuracy of temporal gravity field.In provision of three types of satellite formations,i.e.,GRACE-type,Pendulum-type and n-s-Cartwheel-type,which are suitable for gravity mission and composed of observation in different directions,here we design two cases and conduct a simulation experiment on the feasibility to apply satellite formations for eliminating the influence from the aliasing error of ocean tide models.The result of our experiment shows that,when the aliasing error is disregarded,n-s-Cartwheel formation can provide the best conditions for gravity field determination,which,compared with GRACE-type,can improve the accuracy by 43%.When aliasing error of the ocean tide model acts as the main source of error,the satellite formation applied in dynamic method for gravity field inversion cannot eliminate aliasing or improve the accuracy of gravity field.And due to its higher sensitivity to the high-degree variation of gravity field,the Cartwheel-type formation,which includes the radial observation,can result in the gravity field containing more high-frequency signals for the ocean tide model error,and lead to a dramatically larger error.     

Satellite gravity – enhancements from new satellites and new altimeter technology

This paper reviews the impacts of new satellite altimeter data sets and new technology on the production of satellite gravity. It considers the contribution of the increased data volume, the application of new altimeter acquisition technology and the potential for future developments. Satellite altimeter derived gravity has provided gravity maps of the world's seas since the 1980s, but, from 1995 to 2010, virtually all improvements were in the processing as there were no new satellite data with closely spaced tracks. In recent years, new data from CryoSat-2 (launched in 2010) and the geodetic mission of Jason-1 (2012–2013) have provided a wealth of additional coverage and new technology allows further improvements. The synthetic aperture radar mode of CryoSat-2 uses a scanning approach to limit the size of the altimeter sea surface footprint in the along-track direction. Tests indicate that this allows reliable data to be acquired closer to coastlines. The synthetic aperture radar interferometric mode of CryoSat-2 uses two altimeters to locate sea-surface reflection points laterally away from the satellite track. In a study to generate gravity for freshwater lakes, this mode is found to be valuable in extending the available satellite coverage. The AltiKa altimeter uses higher frequency radar to provide less noisy sea-surface signals and its new orbit mode gives potential for further improvements in satellite gravity. Future developments include the potential for swath mapping to provide further gravity improvements.     

GOCE Quick-Look Gravity Solution: Application of the Semianalytic Approach in the Case of Data Gaps and Non-Repeat Orbits

The satellite mission GOCE (Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer), the first Core Mission of the Earth Explorer Programme funded by ESA (European Space Agency), is dedicated to the precise modelling of the Earth's gravity field, with its launch planned for 2006. The mathematical models for parameterizing the Earth's gravity field are based on a series expansion into spherical harmonics, yielding a huge number of unknown coefficients. Their computation leads to the solution of very large normal equation systems. An efficient way to handle these equation systems is the so-called semianalytic or lumped coefficients approach, which theoretically requires an uninterrupted, continuous time series of observations, recorded along an exact circular repeat orbit. In this paper the consequences of violating these conditions are analyzed. The effects of an interrupted observation stream onto the estimated spherical harmonic coefficients are demonstrated, and an iterative strategy, which reduces the negative influence depending on the characteristics of the data gaps, is proposed. Additionally, the impact of an imperfectly closing orbit (non-repeat orbit) on the gravity field model is analyzed, and a strategy to minimize the corresponding errors is presented. The applicability of the semianalytic approach also to a joint inversion of satellite-to-satellite tracking data in high-low mode (hl-SST) and satellite gravity gradiometry (SGG) observations is demonstrated, where the analysis of the former component is based on the energy conservation law. Several realistic case studies prove that the semianalytic approach is a feasible tool to generate quick-look gravity solutions, i.e. fast coefficient estimates using only partial data sets. This quick-look analysis shall be able to detect potential distortions of statistical significance (e.g. systematic errors) in the input data, and to give a fast feedback to the GOCE mission control.     

Application of Gravity Gradients in the Process of GOCE Orbit Determination

The possibility of improving the Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) mission satellite orbit using gravity gradient observations was investigated. The orbit improvement is performed by a dedicated software package, called the Orbital Computation System (OCS), which is based on the classical least squares method. The corrections to the initial satellite state vector components are estimated in an iterative process, using dynamic models describing gravitational perturbations. An important component implemented in the OCS package is the 8th order Cowell numerical integration procedure, which directly generates the satellite orbit. Taking into account the real and simulated GOCE gravity gradients, different variants of the solution of the orbit improvement process were obtained. The improved orbits were compared to the GOCE reference orbits (Precise Science Orbits for the GOCE satellite provided by the European Space Agency) using the root mean squares (RMS) of the differences between the satellite positions in these orbits. The comparison between the improved orbits and the reference orbits was performed with respect to the inertial reference frame (IRF) at J2000.0 epoch. The RMS values for the solutions based on the real gravity gradient measurements are at a level of hundreds of kilometers and more. This means that orbit improvement using the real gravity gradients is ineffective. However, all solutions using simulated gravity gradients have RMS values below the threshold determined by the RMS values for the computed orbits (without the improvement). The most promising results were achieved when short orbital arcs with lengths up to tens of minutes were improved. For these short arcs, the RMS values reach the level of centimeters, which is close to the accuracy of the Precise Science Orbit for the GOCE satellite. Additional research has provided requirements for efficient orbit improvement in terms of the accuracy and spectral content of the measured gravity gradients.     

Mitigation of Oceanic Tidal Aliasing Errors in Space and Time Simultaneously Using Different Repeat Sub-Satellite Tracks from Pendulum-Type Gravimetric Mission Candidate

This contribution investigates two different ways for mitigating the aliasing errors in ocean tides. This is done, on the one hand, by sampling the satellite observations in another direction using the pendulum satellite mission configuration. On the other hand, a mitigation of the temporal aliasing errors in the ocean tides can be achieved by using a suitable repeat period of the sub-satellite tracks.The findings show, firstly, that it is very beneficial for minimizing the aliasing errors in ocean tides to use pendulum configuration; secondly, optimizing the orbital parameter to get shorter repeat orbit mode can be effective in minimizing the aliasing errors. This paper recommends the pendulum as a candidate for future gravity mission to be launched in longer repeating orbit mode with shorter “sub-cycle” repeat periods to improve the temporal resolution of the satellite mission.     

重力卫星精密星间测距系统滤波器技术指标论证

本文基于重力卫星精密星间测距测量模式,从星间测距观测值与地球重力场频谱关系的角度,建立了距离观测值关于重力位系数的敏感矩阵,分析了各阶次重力场位系数对应的敏感矩阵的频谱特性,讨论了星间测距信息中能反应地球重力场信息的有效信号频带,给出了能最大限度保留地球重力场信息的低通滤波器的通带截止频率、通带增益波纹和频率采样率技术指标设计方案,可为我国首期卫星跟踪卫星重力测量计划的主要技术指标的初步设计提供参考.     

利用SWARM卫星高低跟踪探测格陵兰岛时变重力信号

GRACE重力卫星任务即将结束,后续GRACE Follow-On卫星计划于2017年发射,在此期间,迫切需要一个新的卫星计划继续对全球时变重力场进行连续监测,以保证时变重力场信息时间序列的连贯性.SWARM计划包括三颗轨道高为300~500 km的近极轨卫星星座,类似于三颗CHAMP卫星,具有接替时变重力场探测的潜力.本文首先分析SWARM(模拟)、CHAMP、GRACE反演至60阶时变重力场球谐系数的误差特性及不同高斯平滑半径对高频误差的抑制效果,然后分别利用SWARM、CHAMP、GRACE的时变重力场模型恢复全球质量变化,结果表明,SWARM模拟观测数据的高频误差低于CHAMP观测数据,探测时变重力场的整体精度优于CHAMP,略低于GRACE探测精度;其次,对比2003年1月—2009年12月期间CHAMP(hl-SST)和GRACE(ll-SST)时变重力场模型反演格陵兰岛冰盖质量变化趋势,结果显示,CHAMP数据得到格陵兰岛冰盖质量变化趋势为-50.2±2.0 Gt/a,GRACE所得结果为-41.2±1.6 Gt/a,两者相差21.8%;最后,对比2000年1月—2004年12月间SWARM模拟数据和"真实"模型数据反演的格陵兰岛冰盖质量变化趋势,结果表明,两者相差19.2%.本文研究表明,利用SWARM hl-SST数据探测时变重力场可以达到20%相对精度水平,有潜力用于填补GRACE和GRACE Follow-On期间探测地球时变重力场的空白.     

Earth System Mass Transport Mission (e.motion): A Concept for Future Earth Gravity Field Measurements from Space

In the last decade, satellite gravimetry has been revealed as a pioneering technique for mapping mass redistributions within the Earth system. This fact has allowed us to have an improved understanding of the dynamic processes that take place within and between the Earth’s various constituents. Results from the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission have revolutionized Earth system research and have established the necessity for future satellite gravity missions. In 2010, a comprehensive team of European and Canadian scientists and industrial partners proposed the e.motion (Earth system mass transport mission) concept to the European Space Agency. The proposal is based on two tandem satellites in a pendulum orbit configuration at an altitude of about 370 km, carrying a laser interferometer inter-satellite ranging instrument and improved accelerometers. In this paper, we review and discuss a wide range of mass signals related to the global water cycle and to solid Earth deformations that were outlined in the e.motion proposal. The technological and mission challenges that need to be addressed in order to detect these signals are emphasized within the context of the scientific return. This analysis presents a broad perspective on the value and need for future satellite gravimetry missions.