Improved GRACE science results after adjustment of geometric biases in the Level-1B K-band ranging data

The GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) satellite mission relies on the inter-satellite K-band microwave ranging (KBR) observations. We investigate systematic errors that are present in the Level-1B KBR data, namely in the geometric correction. This correction converts the original ranging observation (between the two KBR antennas phase centers) into an observation between the two satellites’ centers of mass. It is computed from data on the precise alignment between both satellites, that is, between the lines joining the center of mass and the antenna phase center of either satellite. The Level-1B data used to determine this alignment exhibit constant biases as large as 1–2 mrad in terms of pitch and yaw alignment angles. These biases induce non-constant errors in the Level-1B geometric correction. While the precise origin of the biases remains to be identified, we are able to estimate and reduce them in a re-calibration approach. This significantly improves time-variable gravity field solutions based on the CNES/GRGS processing strategy. Empirical assessments indicate that the systematic KBR data errors have previously induced gravity field errors on the level of 6–11 times the so-called GRACE baseline error level. The zonal coefficients (from degree 14) are particularly affected. The re-calibration reduces their rms errors by about 50%. As examples for geophysical inferences, the improvement enhances agreement between mass variations observed by GRACE and in-situ ocean bottom pressure observations. The improvement also importantly affects estimates of inter-annual mass variations of the Antarctic ice sheet.