GOCE gravity field processing

Abstract

A concept for an operable software system for the processing of a high-accuracy, highresolution spherical harmonic model of the Earth's gravity field from GOCE observables (satellite gravity gradiometry (SGG), satellite-to-satellite tracking in high-low mode (hl-SST)) is presented. The software architecture and the data flow are briefly described, and the main software components and recent developments are presented. Selected numerical simulations are performed to demonstrate the functionality of the software. They are based on a realistic mission scenario. Special emphasis is placed on the impact of the new GOCE mission design, i.e. the gravity gradients defined in the Gradiometer Reference Frame (GRF), which deviates from the actual flight direction (Local Orbit Reference Frame; LORE) by a few degrees, and the resulting modified error budget of the GOCE gradiometer. Additionally, the benefits of a combination of the SGG and hl-SST components are presented and discussed.