scholarly journals ANALYSIS OF ISOSTATICALLY-BALANCED CORTICAL MODELS USING MODERN GLOBAL GEOPOTENTIAL MODELS

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 623-635
Author(s):  
Claudia Infante ◽  
Claudia Tocho ◽  
Daniel Del Cogliano

Abstract: The knowledge of the Earth's gravity field and its temporal variations is the main goal of the dedicated gravity field missions CHAMP, GRACE and GOCE. Since then, several global geopotential models (GGMs) have been released. This paper uses geoid heights derived from global geopotential models to analyze the cortical features of the Tandilia structure which is assumed to be in isostatic equilibrium. The geoid heights are suitably filtered so that the structure becomes apparent as a residual geoid height. Assuming that the geological structure is in isostatic equilibrium, the residual geoid height can be assimilated and compared to the isostatic geoid height generated from an isostatically compensated crust. The residual geoid height was obtained from the EGM2008 and the EIGEN-6C4 global geopotential models, respectively. The isostatic geoid was computed using the cortical parameters from the global crustal models GEMMA and CRUST 1.0 and from local parameters determined in the area under study. The obtained results make it clear that the isostatic geoid height might become appropriate to validate crustal models if the structures analyzed show evidence of being in isostatic equilibrium.

2019 ◽  
Vol 79 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignazio Ciufolini ◽  
Antonio Paolozzi ◽  
Erricos C. Pavlis ◽  
Giampiero Sindoni ◽  
John Ries ◽  
...  

Abstract We report the improved test of frame-dragging, an intriguing phenomenon predicted by Einstein’s General Relativity, obtained using 7 years of Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) data of the satellite LARES (ASI, 2012) and 26 years of SLR data of LAGEOS (NASA, 1976) and LAGEOS 2 (ASI and NASA, 1992). We used the static part and temporal variations of the Earth gravity field obtained by the space geodesy mission GRACE (NASA and DLR) and in particular the static Earth’s gravity field model GGM05S augmented by a model for the 7-day temporal variations of the lowest degree Earth spherical harmonics. We used the orbital estimator GEODYN (NASA). We measured frame-dragging to be equal to $$0.9910 \pm 0.02$$0.9910±0.02, where 1 is the theoretical prediction of General Relativity normalized to its frame-dragging value and $$\pm 0.02$$±0.02 is the estimated systematic error due to modelling errors in the orbital perturbations, mainly due to the errors in the Earth’s gravity field determination. Therefore, our measurement confirms the prediction of General Relativity for frame-dragging with a few percent uncertainty.


2020 ◽  
Vol 223 (1) ◽  
pp. 379-397
Author(s):  
Mehdi Eshagh ◽  
Farzam Fatolazadeh ◽  
Robert Tenzer

SUMMARY Temporal variations in the Earth's gravity field can be used for monitoring of lithospheric deformations. The network of continuously operating gravity stations is required for this purpose but a global coverage by such network is currently extremely sparse. Temporal variations in long-wavelength part of the Earth's gravity field have been, however, observed by two satellite missions, namely the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) and the GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO). These satellite gravity observations can be used to study long-wavelength deformations of the lithosphere. Consequently, considering the lithosphere as a spherical elastic shell and solving the partial differential equation of elasticity for it, the stress, strain and displacement inside the lithosphere can be estimated. The lower boundary of this shell is assumed to be stressed by mantle convection, which has a direct relation to the Earth's gravity field according to Runcorn's theory. Changes in gravity field lead to changes in the sublithospheric stress and the stress propagated throughout the lithosphere. In this study, we develop mathematical models in spherical coordinates for describing the stress propagation from the sublithosphere through the lithosphere. We then organize a system of observation equations for finding a special solution to the boundary-value problem of elasticity in the way that provides a stable solution. In contrast, models presented in previously published studies are ill-posed. Furthermore, we use constants of the solution determined from the boundary stresses to determine the strain and displacements leading to these stresses, while in previous studies only the stress has been considered according to rheological properties of the lithosphere. We demonstrate a practical applicability of this theoretical model to estimate the stress–strain redistribution caused by the Sar-e-Pol Zahab 2018 earthquake in Iran by using the GRACE-FO monthly solutions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 1091
Author(s):  
A. Marinou ◽  
D. Anastasiou ◽  
X. Papanikolaou ◽  
D. Paradissis ◽  
V. Zacharis

Dionysos Satellite Observatory and Higher Geodesy Laboratory have been in operation since the 60s and their main objective is to fulfill academic and research needs, determined through the ongoing scientific and technological advance in the field of geodesy. They are involved in all scientific domains related to the determination of earth’s size and figure, as well as its temporal variations. Their field of expertise is Satellite Geodesy, (spanning a wide range of applications like reference systems, tectonic geodesy, etc.), as well as the study of the geoid and earth's gravity field.


2015 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Krynski

Abstract The summary of research activities concerning gravity field modelling and gravimetric works performed in Poland in the period of 2011-2014 is presented. It contains the results of research on geoid modelling in Poland and other countries, evaluation of global geopotential models, determination of temporal variations of the gravity field with the use of data from satellite gravity space missions, absolute gravity surveys for the maintenance and modernization of the gravity control in Poland and overseas, metrological aspects in gravimetry, maintenance of gravimetric calibration baselines, and investigations of the nontidal gravity changes. The bibliography of the related works is given in references.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (24) ◽  
pp. 226-242
Author(s):  
Chivatsi Jonathan Nyoka ◽  
Ami Hassan Md Din ◽  
Muhammad Faiz Pa’suya

The description of the earth’s gravity field is usually expressed in terms of spherical harmonic coefficients, derived from global geopotential models. These coefficients may be used to evaluate such quantities as geoid undulations, gravity anomalies, gravity disturbances, deflection of the vertical, etc. To accomplish this, a global reference normal ellipsoid, such as WGS84 and GRS80, is required to provide the computing reference surface. These global ellipsoids, however, may not always provide the best fit of the local geoid and may provide results that are aliased. In this study, a regional or localized geocentric level ellipsoid is used alongside the EGM2008 to compute gravity field functionals in the state of Johor. Residual gravity field quantities are then computed using GNSS-levelled and raw gravity data, and the results are compared with both the WGS84 and the GRS80 equipotential surfaces. It is demonstrated that regional level ellipsoids may be used to compute gravity field functionals with a better fit, provided the zero-degree spherical harmonic is considered. The resulting residual quantities are smaller when compared with those obtained with global ellipsoids. It is expected that when the remove-compute-restore method is employed with such residuals, the numerical quadrature of the Stoke’s integral may be evaluated on reduced gravity anomalies that are smoother compared to when global equipotential surfaces are used


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