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The European Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer Satellite Mission Its Impact on Geophysics

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Abstract

Current knowledge of the Earth's gravity field and its geoid, as derived from various observing techniques and sources, is incomplete. Within a reasonable time, substantial improvement will come by exploiting new approaches based on spaceborne gravity observation. Among these, the European Space Agency (ESA) Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) satellite mission concept has been conceived and designed taking into account multi-disciplinary research objectives in solid Earth physics, oceanography and geodesy. Based on the unique capability of a gravity gradiometer combined with satellite-to-satellite high-low tracking techniques, an accurate and detailed global model of the Earth's gravity field and its corresponding geoid will be recovered. The importance of this is demonstrated by a series of realistic simulation experiments. In particular, the quantitative impact of the new and accurate gravity field and geoid is examined in studies of tectonic composition and motion, Glaciological Isostatic Adjustment, ocean mesoscale variability, water mass transport, and unification of height systems. Improved knowledge in each of these fields will also ensure the accumulation of new understanding of past and present sea-level changes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center, Edv. Griegsvei 3a, 5059, Bergen, Norway

    J. A. Johannessen

  2. Geophysical Institute, University of Bergen, Allégaten 70, 5007, Bergen, Norway

    J. A. Johannessen

  3. Centre National d`Etudes Spatiales – GRGS, 18 Av. Ed. Belin, 31401, Toulouse, Cedex 4, France

    G. Balmino & F. Perosanz

  4. Laboratoire d'Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales, 14 Av. Ed. Belin, 31400, Toulouse, Cedex 4, France

    C. Le Provost

  5. Astronomical and Physical Geodetic Institute, Technical University of Munich, Arcistrasse 21, 80333, Munich, Germany

    R. Rummel & N. Sneeuw

  6. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Universitá di Milano, Via L. Cicognara 7, 20129, Milano, Italy

    R. Sabadini

  7. Mathematical Geodesy and Geoinformatics, Technical University of Graz, Steyrergasse 30, 8010, Graz, Austria

    H. Sünkel

  8. Department of Geophysics, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

    C.C. Tscherning

  9. Delft Institute for Earth-Oriented Space Research, Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 1, 2629 HS, Delft, The Netherlands

    P. Visser

  10. Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory, Bidston Observatory, Bidston Hill, Prenton, CH43 7RA, United Kingdom

    P. Woodworth & C. Hughes

  11. IFREMER, Physical Oceanography Department, Technopole Brest Iroise, BP 70, 29280, Plouzané, France

    P. Legrand

  12. Department of Geomatics Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada

    N. Sneeuw

  13. European Space Agency - ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

    M. Aguirre-Martinez, H. Rebhan & M. Drinkwater

Authors
  1. J. A. Johannessen
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  2. G. Balmino
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  3. C. Le Provost
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  4. R. Rummel
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  5. R. Sabadini
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  6. H. Sünkel
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  7. C.C. Tscherning
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  8. P. Visser
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  9. P. Woodworth
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  10. C. Hughes
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  11. P. Legrand
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  12. N. Sneeuw
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  13. F. Perosanz
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  14. M. Aguirre-Martinez
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  15. H. Rebhan
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  16. M. Drinkwater
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Johannessen, J.A., Balmino, G., Le Provost, C. et al. The European Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer Satellite Mission Its Impact on Geophysics. Surveys in Geophysics 24, 339–386 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:GEOP.0000004264.04667.5e

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