Volume 27, Issue 22 p. 3611-3614
Free Access

A new global Earth's gravity field model from satellite orbit perturbations: GRIM5-S1

Richard Biancale

Richard Biancale

Groupe de Recherche de Géodésie Spatiale (GRGS), Toulouse, France

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Georges Balmino

Georges Balmino

Groupe de Recherche de Géodésie Spatiale (GRGS), Toulouse, France

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Jean-Michel Lemoine

Jean-Michel Lemoine

Groupe de Recherche de Géodésie Spatiale (GRGS), Toulouse, France

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Jean-Charles Marty

Jean-Charles Marty

Groupe de Recherche de Géodésie Spatiale (GRGS), Toulouse, France

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Bernard Moynot

Bernard Moynot

Groupe de Recherche de Géodésie Spatiale (GRGS), Toulouse, France

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Francois Barlier

Francois Barlier

Groupe de Recherche de Géodésie Spatiale (GRGS), OCA/CERGA, Grasse, France

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Pierre Exertier

Pierre Exertier

Groupe de Recherche de Géodésie Spatiale (GRGS), OCA/CERGA, Grasse, France

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Olivier Laurain

Olivier Laurain

Groupe de Recherche de Géodésie Spatiale (GRGS), OCA/CERGA, Grasse, France

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Pascal Gegout

Pascal Gegout

Ecole et Observatoire du Globe de Strasbourg (EOPGS), Strasbourg, France

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Peter Schwintzer

Peter Schwintzer

GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam (GFZ), Division Kinematics&Dynamics of the Earth, Potsdam, Germany

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Christoph Reigber

Christoph Reigber

GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam (GFZ), Division Kinematics&Dynamics of the Earth, Potsdam, Germany

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Albert Bode

Albert Bode

GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam (GFZ), Division Kinematics&Dynamics of the Earth, Potsdam, Germany

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Rolf König

Rolf König

GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam (GFZ), Division Kinematics&Dynamics of the Earth, Potsdam, Germany

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Franz-Heinrich Massmann

Franz-Heinrich Massmann

GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam (GFZ), Division Kinematics&Dynamics of the Earth, Potsdam, Germany

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Jean-Claude Raimondo

Jean-Claude Raimondo

GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam (GFZ), Division Kinematics&Dynamics of the Earth, Potsdam, Germany

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Roland Schmidt

Roland Schmidt

GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam (GFZ), Division Kinematics&Dynamics of the Earth, Potsdam, Germany

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Sheng Yuan Zhu

Sheng Yuan Zhu

GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam (GFZ), Division Kinematics&Dynamics of the Earth, Potsdam, Germany

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First published: 15 November 2000
Citations: 70

Abstract

A new model of the Earth's gravity field, called GRIM5-S1, was prepared in a joint German-French effort. The solution is based on satellite orbit perturbation analysis and exploits tracking data from 21 satellites to solve simultaneously for the gravitational and ocean tide potential and tracking station positions. The satellite-only solution results in a homogeneous representation of the geoid with an approximation error of about 45 cm in terms of 5×5 degree block mean values, and performs globally better in satellite orbit restitution than any previous gravity field model. The GRIM5 normals, which were generated taking into account the latest computational standards, shall be the reference for use during the coming geopotential satellite mission CHAMP and should provide new standards in computing orbits of next altimetric missions like Jason and ENVISAT. The GRIM5-S1 normals also give the basis for the tracking/surface data combined solution GRIM5-C1.