GOCE gravity field modeling: Computational aspects - Free kite numbering scheme

Abstract

The modelling of the Earth's gravity field by means of a high-resolving spherical harmonic analysis is a numerically demanding task, especially when realistic (non gridded) data sets are analysed. The free kite numbering scheme, presented in the current article, allows a flexible combination of models. It is focussed, in particular, on the combination of a model containing rotation-symmetrical, high-resolving data with a second model comprising fully correlated data, which allows the determination of the lower degrees. This kite scheme may, depending on the degree of conformance with rotation symmetry, be used both with a direct solver and to improve the convergence rate of an iterative solver. © 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.