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1994•Geophysical Research LettersRequires access

Observations of geographically correlated orbit errors for TOPEX/Poseidon using the global positioning system

E. J. Christensen, BRUCE J. HAINES, K. C. McColl, R. S. Nerem

Open publisher page 36 citations

Abstract

We have compared Global Positioning System (GPS)‐based dynamic and reduced‐dynamic TOPEX/Poseidon orbits over three 10‐day repeat cycles of the ground‐track. The results suggest that the prelaunch joint gravity model (JGM‐1) introduces geographically correlated errors (GCEs) which have a strong meridional dependence. The global distribution and magnitude of these GCEs are consistent with a prelaunch covariance analysis, with estimated and predicted global rms error statistics of 2.3 and 2.4 cm rms, respectively. Repeating the analysis with the post‐launch joint gravity model (JGM‐2) suggests that a portion of the meridional dependence observed in JGM‐1 still remains, with a global rms error of 1.2 cm.

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What this paper is about

We have compared Global Positioning System (GPS)‐based dynamic and reduced‐dynamic TOPEX/Poseidon orbits over three 10‐day repeat cycles of the ground‐track. The results suggest that the prelaunch joint gravity model (JGM‐1) introduces geographically correlated errors (GCEs) which have a strong meridional dependence. The global distribution and magnitude of these GCEs are consistent with a prelaunch covariance analysis, with estimated and predicted global rms error statistics of 2.3 and 2.4 cm rms, respectively. Repeating the analysis with the post‐launch joint gravity model (JGM‐2) suggests that a portion of the meridional dependence observed in JGM‐1 still remains, with a global rms error of 1.2 cm.

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Available abstract

We have compared Global Positioning System (GPS)‐based dynamic and reduced‐dynamic TOPEX/Poseidon orbits over three 10‐day repeat cycles of the ground‐track. The results suggest that the prelaunch joint gravity model (JGM‐1) introduces geographically correlated errors (GCEs) which have a strong meridional dependence. The global distribution and magnitude of these GCEs are consistent with a prelaunch covariance analysis, with estimated and predicted global rms error statistics of 2.3 and 2.4 cm rms, respectively. Repeating the analysis with the post‐launch joint gravity model (JGM‐2) suggests that a portion of the meridional dependence observed in JGM‐1 still remains, with a global rms error of 1.2 cm.

Key concepts: Zonal and meridional, Global Positioning System, Geodesy, Magnitude (astronomy), Covariance, Orbit (dynamics), Climatology, Environmental science

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