Dedicated gravity field missions—principles and aims

摘要: Abstract Current knowledge of the Earth's gravity field and its geoid, as derived from various observing techniques sources, is incomplete. Within a reasonable time, substantial improvement can only come by exploiting new approaches based on satellite observation methods. For this purpose three missions will be realised, starting with CHAMP in 2000, followed GRACE 2002 GOCE 2004. Typical for all their extremely low (almost) polar orbit, continuous three-dimensional tracking GPS ability to separate non-gravitational gravitational signal parts. A further amplification achieved inter-satellite between two orbiters case gradiometry GOCE. The rationale discussed more detail. have wide range applications solid Earth physics, oceanography, ice research, climatology, geodesy sea level research.