Can GPS-Derived Surface Loading Bridge a GRACE Mission Gap?

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Roelof Rietbroek - , Universität Bonn (Autor:in)
  • Mathias Fritsche - , Professur für Geodätische Erdsystemforschung (Autor:in)
  • Christoph Dahle - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam – Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum (Autor:in)
  • Sandra-Esther Brunnabend - , Utrecht University (Autor:in)
  • Madlen Behnisch - , Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (Autor:in)
  • Jürgen Kusche - , Universität Bonn (Autor:in)
  • Frank Flechtner - , Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam – Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum (Autor:in)
  • Jens Schröter - , Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (Autor:in)
  • Reinhard Dietrich - , Professur für Geodätische Erdsystemforschung (Autor:in)

Abstract

We investigated two ‘gap-filler’ methods based on GPS-derived low-degree surface loading variations (GPS-I and GPS-C) and a more simple method (REF-S) which extends a seasonal harmonic variation into the expected Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission gap. We simulated two mission gaps in a reference solution (REF), which is derived from a joint inversion of GRACE (RL05) data, GPS-derived surface loading and simulated ocean bottom pressure. The GPS-I and GPS-C methods both have a new type of constraint applied to mitigate the lack of GPS station network coverage over the ocean. To obtain the GPS-C solution, the GPS-I method is adjusted such that it fits the reference solution better in a 1.5 year overlapping period outside of the gap. As can be expected, the GPS-I and GPS-C solutions contain larger errors compared to the reference solution, which is heavily constrained by GRACE. Within the simulated gaps, the GPS-C solution generally fits the reference solution better compared to the GPS-I method, both in terms of spherical harmonic loading coefficients and in terms of selected basin-averaged hydrological mass variations. Depending on the basin, the RMS-error of the water storage variations (scaled for leakage effects) ranges between 1.6 cm (Yukon) and 15.3 cm (Orinoco). In terms of noise level, the seasonal gap-filler method (REF-S) even outperforms the GPS-I and GPS-C methods, which are still affected by spatial aliasing problems. However, it must be noted that the REF-S method cannot be used beyond the study of simple harmonic seasonal variations.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)1267-1283
Seitenumfang17
Fachzeitschrift Surveys in geophysics : an international review journal of geophysics and planetary sciences
Jahrgang35
Ausgabenummer6
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 30 Jan. 2014
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

Scopus 84927123501

Schlagworte

Fächergruppen, Lehr- und Forschungsbereiche, Fachgebiete nach Destatis

Bibliotheksschlagworte