Processing of altimetry data

Summary Two methods are discussed for the processing of altimetry data. For the first method it is assumed that the altimetry data, may be analyzed independent of the orbit computation for the satellite that carries the altimeter. Because of the high accuracy of the altimetry data, which can only be fully utilized if it is also introduced into the orbit computations, the second method deals with a simultaneous processing of altimetry data, orbit tracking, and gravity anomalies for the continents. To represent the gravity field, the potential of a simple layer is chosen whose unknown density is assumed to be constant over surface elements into which the surface of the earth is divided. Depending on the accuracy and the amount of the altimetry data, the surface elements for the density values are chosen smaller or larger, so that a very flexible representation of the earth’s gravity field is obtained. Because of the amount and the resolution of the altimetry data a large number of density values have to be determined in a least squares adjustment. To facilitate the computations, buffer zones are introduced so that the large system of normal equations can be broken up into small independent subsystems. Shortened version of a paper presented to the 14 th International Congress of Surveyors in Washington, Sept. 1974.