Error analysis of deflections of the vertical and undulations from the accuracies of gravity anomalies

Equations, suitable for machine evaluation, are derived for computing the coefficients to be multiplied by each mean gravity anomaly, world-wide, to obtain the deflections of the vertical and undulations at any given point. These coefficients together with the accuracies of the anomalies are used to compute the standard of the deflections and undulations. Sample computations done with some assumed data gave average world-wide standard errors of 0".6 for the meridian and prime vertical deflections and 4.5 m for the undulations.     

Gravity anomalies from satellite altimetry: comparison between computation via geoid heights and via deflections of the vertical

The accumulation of good quality satellite altimetry missions allows us to have a precise geoid with fair resolution and to compute free air gravity anomalies easily by fast Fourier transform (FFT) techniques.In this study we are comparing two methods to get gravity anomalies. The first one is to establish a geoid grid and transform it into anomalies using inverse Stokes formula in the spectral domain via FFT. The second one computes deflection of the vertical grids and transforms them into anomalies.The comparison is made using different data sets: Geosat, ERS-1 and Topex-Poseidon exact repeat misions (ERMs) north of 30°S and Geosat geodetic mission (GM) south of 30°S. The second method which transforms the geoid gradients converted into deflection of the vertical values is much better and the results have been favourably evaluated by comparison with marine gravity data.     

Gravimetric and astro-geodetic geoids and mean free-air anomalies in India

A preliminary gravimetric geoid with respect to the International Spheroid and the latest astro-geodetic geoid computed on the Everest and International Spheroids are given in the form of undulation maps over the Indian Sub—continent. 1⁰x1⁰ mean free-air anomalies (modified) on the Geodetic Reference System, 1967 (GRS-67) are also given for the whole country in the form of a chart. For the purpose of computing the gravimetric geoid, 5⁰x5⁰ mean free-air anomalies were used outside the area bounded by latitudes 0⁰ to 40⁰ N and longitudes 60⁰ to 100⁰ E and 1⁰x1⁰ mean free-air anomalies within these limits. The anomalies partly computed by Survey of India and mostly collected from other sources (such as B.G.I.) were utilised for this purpose. The astro-geodetic geoid is based on the astronomical data observed in India up to 1978.     

Statistical behaviour of the free-air,Bouguer and isostatic anomalies in Austria

Some selected test areas in the Austrian territory are presented. Free-air and Bouguer anomalies as well as isostatic anomalies (based on Vening Meinesz' isostatic model) are computed. Statistics of these anomalies are given. Also, an extensive comparison between their empirical covariance functions is made and will be discussed. The results show that the isostatic anomalies for our test areas still contain, in general, a trend part.     

Modelling position dependent errors in gravimetric deflections of the vertical

Comparisons of gravimetric and astrogeodetic deflections of the vertical in the Australian region indicate that the former are affected by position dependent systematic errors, even after orientation onto the Australian Geodetic Datum. These are probably due to errors in the predicted mean anomalies for gravimetrically unsurveyed oceanic regions to the east, south and west of the continent. Deflection component residuals (astrogeodetic minus oriented gravimetric) at 83 control stations are made the observables in a set of observation equations, based on the Vening Meinesz equations, from which pseudocorrections to the mean anomalies for a set of arbitrarily selected surface elements are computed. These pseudocorrections compensate for prediction errors in much larger unsurveyed regions. Their effects on individual deflection components are calculated using the Vening Meinesz equations. Statistical tests indicate that pseudocorrections computed for four large offshore elements and six smaller elements in unsurveyed areas produce corrections to the gravimetric deflections which make the ξ and η components in seconds of arc consistent with normally distributed populations N (0.00, 0.70²).     

Investigations on the accuracy concerning the derivation of absolute gravimetric height anomalies and deflections of the vertical based on the theory of Molodensky

The investigations refer to the compartment method by using mean terrestrial free air anomalies only. Three main error influences of remote areas (distance from the fixed point >9°) on height anomalies and deflections of the vertical are being regarded:

1. The prediction errors of mean terrestrial free air anomalies have the greatest influence and amount to about ±0″.2 in each component for deflections of the vertical and to ±3 m for height anomalies;
2. The error of the compartment method, which originates from converting the integral formulas of Stokes and Vening-Meinesz into summation formulas, can be neglected if the anomalies for points and gravity profiles are compiled to 5°×5° mean values.
3. The influences of the mean gravimetric correction terms of Arnold—estimated for important mountains of the Earth by means of an approximate formula—on height anomalies may amount to 1–2 m and on deflections of the vertical to 0″0.5–0″.1, and, therefore, they have to be taken into account for exact calculations.

The computations of errors are carried out using a global covariance function of point free air anomalies.     

ON THE EVALUATION OF DEFLECTIONS OF THE VERTICAL USING FFT TECHNIQUE

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Accuracy of gravimetric deflections of the vertical and optimization of gravity networks

In order to solve the problems of determining the shape of a part of the earth of national or continental extent, that is, of rigorous constituting and computing of the astrogeodetic network, it is required to determine gravimetric deflections of the vertical with an accuracy of, say, 0″.3. For this it is adequate to carry out additional gravity surveys in the neighborhoods of computation points, in addition to a given uniform gravity survey (normal density gravity survey). The study offers a method to determine the optimal distribution of gravity stations in such a gravity survey, which guarantees a given accuracy of computed gravimetric deflections of the vertical for a given statistical condition which characterizes the variation of the gravity field. The approach used here is based on the concept of the error of representation and the error propagation of Vening Meinesz integrals.     

On the evaluation of deflections of the vertical using FFT technique

There exist three types of convolution formulae for the efficient evaluation of gravity field convolution integrals, i.e., the planar 2D convolution, the spherical 2D convolution and the spherical 1D convolution. The largest drawback of both the planar and the spherical 2D FFT methods is that, due to the approximations in the kernel function, only inexact results can be achieved. Apparently, the reason is the meridian convergence at higher latitudes. As the meridians converge, the ??,?λ blocks do not form a rectangular grid, as is assumed in 2D FFT methods. It should be pointed out that the meridian convergence not only leads to an approximation error in the kernel function, but also causes an approximation error during the implementation of 2D FFT in computer. In order to meet the increasing need for precise determination of the vertica deflections, this paper derives a more precise planar 2D FFT formula for the computation of the vertical deflections. After having made a detailed comparison between the planar and the spherical 2D FFT formulae, we find out the main source of errors causing the loss in accuracy by applying the conventional spherical 2D FFT method. And then, a modified spherical 2D FFT formula for the computation of the vertical deflections is developed in this paper. A series of numerical tests have been carried out to illustrate the improvement made upon the old spherical 2D FFT. The second part of this paper is to discuss the influences of the spherical harmonic reference field, the limited capsize, and the singular integral on the computation of the vertical deflections. The results of the vertical deflections over China by applying the spherical 1D FFT formula with different integration radii have been compared to the astro-observed vertical deflections in the South China Sea to obtain a set of optimum deflection computation parameters.     

The spherical horizontal and spherical vertical boundary value problem – vertical deflections and geoidal undulations – the completed Meissl diagram

 In a comparison of the solution of the spherical horizontal and vertical boundary value problems of physical geodesy it is aimed to construct downward continuation operators for vertical deflections (surface gradient of the incremental gravitational potential) and for gravity disturbances (vertical derivative of the incremental gravitational potential) from points on the Earth's topographic surface or of the three-dimensional (3-D) Euclidean space nearby down to the international reference sphere (IRS). First the horizontal and vertical components of the gravity vector, namely spherical vertical deflections and spherical gravity disturbances, are set up. Second, the horizontal and vertical boundary value problem in spherical gravity and geometry space is considered. The incremental gravity vector is represented in terms of vector spherical harmonics. The solution of horizontal spherical boundary problem in terms of the horizontal vector-valued Green function converts vertical deflections given on the IRS to the incremental gravitational potential external in the 3-D Euclidean space. The horizontal Green functions specialized to evaluation and source points on the IRS coincide with the Stokes kernel for vertical deflections. Third, the vertical spherical boundary value problem is solved in terms of the vertical scalar-valued Green function. Fourth, the operators for upward continuation of vertical deflections given on the IRS to vertical deflections in its external 3-D Euclidean space are constructed. Fifth, the operators for upward continuation of incremental gravity given on the IRS to incremental gravity to the external 3-D Euclidean space are generated. Finally, Meissl-type diagrams for upward continuation and regularized downward continuation of horizontal and vertical gravity data, namely vertical deflection and incremental gravity, are produced. Received: 10 May 2000 / Accepted: 26 February 2001     

Accounting for topography in the calculation of quasigeoidal heights and plumb-line deflections from gravity anomalies

A calculation of quasigeoidal heights and plumb-line deflections according to Molodensky formulae was carried out under elimination of the effect of topography from gravity anomalies. After the masses of topography had been removed a smoothed-out surface passing through astronomical and gravity stations was considered as representing the physical surface of the Earth. Thus it has been practically rendered possible to use the first-approximation formulae of Molodensky, and, in many cases, also the “zero-approximation” formulae analogous to the formulae of Stokes and Vening-Meinesz. The effect of the restored masses of topography was then added to the quantities found; the said effect was expressed as the effect of topography condensed on the normal equipotential surface passing through the point under investigation, plus a correction for condensation. Following some transformations, the resulting formulae (13) and (18) were obtained which formulae differ in their “zero-approximation” (15) and (20) from traditional formulas in that they contain terrait reductions added to free-air anomalies. Moreover, in the calculation of plumb-line deflections directly in mountain regions a correction for differing effects of topography before and after its condensation is to be introduced. A tentative expansion of terrain reduction in terms of spherical harmonics up to the third order is given; it can be seen therefrom that the Stokes series in its usual form is subject to a mean arror about 15–20%. It is also shown that the expansion of free-air anomalies in terms of spherical functions contains a first-order harmonic with a mean values about ±0.3 mgl. The said harmonic practically disappears in the expansion of the sum of free-air anomalies and terrain reductions.     

Methods for computing deflections of the vertical by modifying Vening-Meinesz' function

Summary The application of combined data (satellite and terrestrial data) to the practical computation of height anomalies or the deflections of the vertical was originally suggested by (Molodensky et al. 1962). This idea usually leads to the modification of Stokes' or Vening-Meinesz' functions in the integration procedure. In the recent decade there were various suggestions in this regard especially for the computation of height anomalies. For example, a considerable mathematical insight into the modification of Stokes' function and the truncation of its integral has been provided by (Meissl 1971, Houtze et al. 1979, Rapp 1980, Jekeli 1980). Five different methods for computing deflections of the vertical by modifying Vening-Meinesz' function are studied and compared with each other. The corresponding formulae, the values of the coefficients in each method and the estimations of their corresponding potential coefficient error and truncation error are given in this article. This paper was written at the Institut f. Angewandte Geod?sie, Technische Universit?t Graz, Austria.     

Integral transformations of deflections of the vertical onto satellite-to-satellite tracking and gradiometric data

With the advent of geodetic satellite missions mapping almost globally the Earth’s gravitational field, new methods and theoretical approaches have been developed and investigated to fully exploit the potential of their new observables. Besides estimating values of numerical coefficients in harmonic series of the gravitational potential, new applications emerged such as data validation and combination. In this contribution, new integral transformations are presented which transform principal components of the terrestrial deflection of the vertical onto disturbing satellite-to-satellite tracking and gradiometric data at altitude. Using spherical approximation, necessary integral kernel functions are derived in both spectral and closed forms. The behaviour of isotropic kernel functions is studied and the new integral transformations are tested in a closed-loop simulation using synthetic terrestrial and satellite data synthesized from a global gravitational model. New integral transformations can be used for data validation and combination purposes.     

卫星测高的垂线偏差格网化方法研究

针对卫星测高技术反演海洋重力场需要解算格网垂线偏差,不同的格网化方法影响垂线偏差的解算精度与空间分辨率的问题,结合Shepard格网化方法与沿轨最小二乘方法的优势提出了一种新的格网化方法,即基于Shepard 权函数的沿轨最小二乘方法.采用CryoSat-2卫星约7年的数据,选取中国黄海和南海及其周边海域作为研究区域,分别利用基于交叉点的Shepard法、距离加权沿轨最小二乘法和基于Shepard权函数的沿轨最小二乘法解算1'×1'格网的垂线偏差.将不同方法得到的结果与EGM2008模型的垂线偏差进行比较,利用本文提出的方法解算的1'×1'格网垂线偏差精度最高.研究表明,在基于Shepard权函数的沿轨最小二乘方法在垂线偏差格网化中是可靠的,且该方法可获得高精度结果.     

Evaluation of deflections of the vertical using topographic-isostatic and astrogeodetic data for the area of Greece

The evaluation of deflections of the vertical for the area of Greece is attempted using a combination of topographic and astrogeodetic data. Tests carried out in the area bounded by 35°≤ϕ≤42°, 19°≤λ≤27° indicate that an accuracy of ±3″.3 can be obtained in this area for the meridian and prime vertical deflection components when high resolution topographic data in the immediate vicinity of computation points are used, combined with high degree spherical harmonic expansions of the geopotential and isostatic reduction potential. This accuracy is about 25% better than the corresponding topographic-Moho deflection components which are evaluated using topographic and Moho data up to 120 km around each station, without any combination with the spherical harmonic expansion of the geopotential or isostatic reduction potential. The accuracy in both cases is increased to about 2″.6 when the astrogeodetic data available in the area mentioned above are used for the prediction of remaining values. Furthermore the estimation of datum-shift parameters is attempted using least squares collocation.     

Astronomical-topographic levelling using high-precision astrogeodetic vertical deflections and digital terrain model data

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, a technological change took place in geodetic astronomy by the development of Digital Zenith Camera Systems (DZCS). Such instruments provide vertical deflection data at an angular accuracy level of 0.̋1 and better. Recently, DZCS have been employed for the collection of dense sets of astrogeodetic vertical deflection data in several test areas in Germany with high-resolution digital terrain model (DTM) data (10–50 m resolution) available. These considerable advancements motivate a new analysis of the method of astronomical-topographic levelling, which uses DTM data for the interpolation between the astrogeodetic stations. We present and analyse a least-squares collocation technique that uses DTM data for the accurate interpolation of vertical deflection data. The combination of both data sets allows a precise determination of the gravity field along profiles, even in regions with a rugged topography. The accuracy of the method is studied with particular attention on the density of astrogeodetic stations. The error propagation rule of astronomical levelling is empirically derived. It accounts for the signal omission that increases with the station spacing. In a test area located in the German Alps, the method was successfully applied to the determination of a quasigeoid profile of 23 km length. For a station spacing from a few 100 m to about 2 km, the accuracy of the quasigeoid was found to be about 1–2 mm, which corresponds to a relative accuracy of about 0.05−0.1 ppm. Application examples are given, such as the local and regional validation of gravity field models computed from gravimetric data and the economic gravity field determination in geodetically less covered regions.