G4.1

The Laser Ranging Interferometer (LRI) onboard the GRACE Follow-On mission is operational for almost four years. It provides high-quality ranging data with a noise below 1 nm/√Hz at Fourier frequencies around 1 Hz, as well as attitude information with respect to the line-of-sight between the two spacecraft. Future missions are being developed by ESA under the name Next Generation Gravity Mission (NGGM) and on US-side as so-called Mass Change Mission (MCM), and in a joint frame as Mass Change and Geosciences International Constellation (MAGIC).

In this presentation, we discuss the basic working principle of the LRI and show some advantages of the design. The low ranging noise below 35 mHz Fourier frequency allows to retrieve finer structures of Earth’s gravity field than possible with conventional microwave ranging. In contrast, the low fluctuations at higher frequencies are useful to characterize the satellite platforms, e.g., thrusters and impulse-like non-gravitational accelerations, potentially from impacts of micrometeorites. We address the learned lessons from the instrument so far and sketch the challenges and development efforts ongoing for the upcoming missions.

How to cite: Müller, V., Müller, L., Misfeldt, M., Wegener, H., Hauk, M., Heinzel, G., Voss, K., and Nicklaus, K.: Laser Ranging Interferometers in GRACE-FO and for NGGM - Status, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-6448, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-6448, 2022.

Using time-variable gravity field models has recently become essential for studying the hydrology change, ice melting, Earth’s crust deformation, etc. One of the most successful missions for establishing the time-variable gravity field model is the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission and its successor GRACE-Follow On (GARCE-FO) mission. However, the eleven-month gap between the end of GRACE's life span and the start of GRACE-FO observations hinders the study continuation. This investigation is devoted to model the GRACE data using time-variable gravity field model employing a smart least-squares regression technique. The GRACE-derived time-variable gravity field model is validated first using available GRACE data used in the modeling technique (to measure the internal precision of the model) as well as using available GRACE data which have not been used in the modeling technique (to measure the external accuracy of the model). The assessment of the derived model has been carried out at two different levels in the frequency domain (through the harmonic coefficients and the degree variances) and in the space domains (through the total water storage change in Africa). The GRACE-derived time-variable gravity field model has then been used to fill in the GRACE/GRACE-FO gap. A comparison among the existing techniques of filling-in the GRACE gaps versus the derived technique within the current investigation is given and widely discussed. This study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundations of China (NSFC) under Grants 41874023, 41721003, 41631072.

Keywords: GRACE, GRACE-FO, Gravity, GRACE gap, TWS, Least square adjustment. 

How to cite: Mohasseb, H. A., Abd-Elmotaal, H. A., and Shen, W.: Filling GRACE Gaps Using GRACE-Derived Time Varying Model , EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-3208, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-3208, 2022.

    Accelerometers are integral part of the science instrument payloads of space based gravimetry and gravitational wave measurements. These are either used to detect the actuating forces on the body of the spacecraft, to enable a drag-free scenario where a test mass will follow a geodesic, or combined in pairs as to build a gradiometer. From a technological standpoint, different techniques have been used to measure the acceleration, from capacitance reading, to optical interferometry, to cold atom interferometry. As the next generation gravimetry missions are considered, there is a need to assist the design of this instrument, preferentially without having to recreate a model for each family of devices within the same framework, in order to simulate its performance and to enable the best science return.
    
    Here is presented a tool to model and simulate accelerometers. This comprises a Simulink library containing the components and their associated Matlab scripts. It is being developed to be modular, parametric, agnostic in respect of measurement technique, flexible in the mode of operation of the instrument, and instantiable to accommodate scenarios with multiple accelerometers on one or more spacecrafts. This tool can run as a standalone simulation, with multiple arbitrary generated noise inputs to obtain the overall noise budget and also can be integrated with XHPS, a Simulink library that simulates satellite dynamics with high precision gravity field models, to calculate the in-flight instrument sensitivity.

How to cite: Reis, A., Kupriyanov, A., and Müller, V.: A Tool for  Accelerometer Modeling, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-1168, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-1168, 2022.

Electrostatic accelerometers (EA) are one of the limiting factors of space gravimetry missions dominating the error contribution at low frequencies (<10⁻³Hz). The focus of this study is on the modelling of an optical accelerometer that can improve gravity field retrieval to unprecedented accuracy. Contrary to GRACE(-FO) or GOCE accelerometers, optical accelerometers sense the motion of the test mass (TM) in one or more axes by applying laser interferometry. Combination of sensing in multiple directions and of several test masses would lead to enhanced gradiometry which would improve the determination of the static gravity field to a higher spatial resolution. Modelling of the above-mentioned accelerometer blocks in Matlab Simulink allows to simulate various TM measurement scenarios for satellite missions under different conditions, e.g. dedicated satellite configurations, various non-gravitational forces, etc. This research is based on very promising results of the mission LISA-Pathfinder (LPF) which has demonstrated the benefit of a drag-free system in combination with optical accelerometry that allowed sensing of non-gravitational accelerations several orders of magnitude more accurate than those of current gravity missions like GRACE-FO. This research project is carried out in close collaboration with the IGP and the DLR-SI, to provide - on the long run - a roadmap for improved angular and linear accelerometry for the next generation of gravity field missions.

In this presentation, we now introduce a functional model of 6 degrees-of-freedom (DoF) optical accelerometer and compare its output with the measurements of electrostatic accelerometers for the dual satellite configuration, i.e. GRACE-FO mission. Also, the current state of the Simulink implementation of the accelerometer model which are mainly developed by IGP are presented. Finally, the simulated gravity gradients from the novel gradiometer based on the optical accelerometers are demonstrated as well as benefits that can be acquired from this sensor.

This project is funded by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) – Project-ID 434617780 – SFB 1464.

How to cite: Kupriyanov, A., Reis, A., Schilling, M., Müller, V., and Müller, J.: Sensor and performance modelling of an optical accelerometer for future gravity field missions, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-2023, 2022.

The Tide-Generating Potential (TGP) of the Moon is not symmetric but asymmetric with respect to the Lunar sub-orbital axis due to its relative proximity compared to astronomical length scales. This asymmetry can be described in the first order by the third-degree of the TGP expanded in Spherical Harmonic functions. Despite the tiny magnitude of this asymmetry (1/60 of the leading, second degree) several corresponding oceanic partial tides were previously detected in both tide gauge and superconducting gravimeter records. 

In this contribution, we present solutions with the data-unconstrained ocean tide model TiME (Sulzbach et al. 2021) for a number of partial tides of the third degree in all relevant tidal bands (long-period to terdiurnal). Tuning the model with the recently compiled TICON-td tide gauge dataset, we find the modelled ocean tide signals to agree at levels over 50 % with oceanographic data. The gravimetric impact of the oceanic load tides on 16 globally distributed gravimeter stations which amounts to only a few nGal is then modelled by 2 approaches: (1) a computation with SPOTL and (2) with an approach constrained by load Love numbers. While the gravity constituents modeled with both approaches are close to identical, comparison to the analysed constituents shows a high agreement between 63% to 80% for the degree-3 components depending on the selected partial tide solution, thereby confirming both the low noise level of state-of-the-art superconducting gravimeter recordings and the applied hydrodynamic modelling. 

By modeling and analyzing for additional degree-3 constituents (resulting in three partial tides in the diurnal, semidiurnal and terdiurnal band), load tide admittance functions of degree-3 can be calculated. We show that third-degree ocean and load tides exhibit a considerable admittance-dispersion that should be considered when estimating load tide contributions of other third-degree partial tides. For example, a larger number of degree-3 tides can be considered for satellite gravity when combining the presented solutions with a linear admittance approach, which might become relevant already for the upcoming MCM/MAGIC constellation currently studied by NASA and ESA.

References:
[1] Sulzbach, R., Dobslaw, H., & Thomas, M. (2021), JGR: Oceans., 126, 1–21, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JC017097

How to cite: Wziontek, H., Sulzbach, R., Hart-Davis, M., Dobslaw, H., Scherneck, H.-G., Van Camp, M., Omang, O. C. D., Antokoletz, E. D., Voigt, C., Dettmering, D., and Thomas, M.: Data-Unconstrained Modeling and Detection of 9 Individual Partial Ocean Tides of Third-Degree by Terrestrial Gravimetry, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-8556, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-8556, 2022.

With more than 50 years of distance measurements for tracking the Moon from Earth by using laser pulses, Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) plays an important role in many research fields, e.g., relativity tests and lunar interior modelling. However, due to the limited LLR accuracy, mainly caused by the Earth’s atmosphere, some Earth-Moon parameters can only be determined with poor quality and certain details of the lunar interior cannot be assessed. A new laser station of JPL will enable a new technique of lunar tracking: Differential Lunar Laser Ranging (DLLR). The DLLR observation is the difference of any two consecutive ranges obtained by fast switching of a station between two or more reflectors. Because of the large reduction of the Earth’s atmospheric error, a big improvement of the observation accuracy of about 30 µm can potentially be obtained. Therefore, DLLR will provide an excellent chance to estimate various parameters with higher accuracies and to achieve a better understanding of the lunar interior. It is also expected to be beneficial for relativity tests, e.g., related to the equivalence principle (EP). For the comparison of DLLR and LLR with respect to the parameter sensitivity, correlation and accuracy, simulated DLLR data has been generated having the same distribution, time span and number of observations as LLR. DLLR and LLR keep the same sensitivity for one group of parameters which include, e.g., the lunar rotation parameters. However, owing to the cancelling effect of DLLR on the station side, DLLR is less sensitive for a second group of parameters, e.g., for the station coordinates. But this can be compensated by its high measurement accuracy. The parameter accuracy of the second group estimated using DLLR remains at the same level as that obtained by LLR, while the parameter accuracy of the first group is significantly enhanced. The DLLR concept increases the correlation of reflectors and stations. Fortunately, some decorrelation can be reached by selecting a larger switching interval from one reflector to the next (e.g., 15 min instead of 1.5 min). Besides the Newtonian parameters, DLLR can also improve the estimation of the relativity parameters. In this presentation, we illustrate the basic principles of DLLR, its typical characteristics and quantify the potential improvement for the determination of various parameters of the Earth-Moon system.

Acknowledgement. This research was funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany’s Excellence Strategy–EXC-2123 QuantumFrontiers–390837967.

How to cite: Zhang, M., Müller, J., Biskupek, L., and Singh, V. V.: Characteristics of Differential Lunar Laser Ranging, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-2841, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-2841, 2022.

Conventional geodesy builds on (the concepts of) Newtonian gravity. Thus, at the level of a relativistic theory of gravity, the underlying framework needs to be extended and basic notions need to be generalized.
This opens an entirely new perspective on the matter - chronometric geodesy - which investigates gravity by, e.g., the use of clocks and clock networks.
In this talk, the status of the theoretical framework of relativistic geodesy will be discussed and basic concepts such as the potential(s), multipole moments, geoid, reference ellipsoid, and height notions in the conventional and in the relativistic framework will be addressed. Moreover, observables and measurement prescriptions are discussed and an outlook on future developments is given.

How to cite: Philipp, D., Laemmerzahl, C., and Hackmann, E.: The Framework of Relativistic Geodesy: What do we know?, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-11442, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-11442, 2022.

We present a robust, transportable Ca⁺ optical clock, with a systematic uncertainty of 1.3 × 10⁻¹⁷ limited
by the black-body radiation (BBR) field evaluation and an uptime rate of >75% over a 20-day period. The
clock is then installed in an air-conditioned car trailer, making it more convenient for applications. Referenced
to a stationary laboratory clock, geopotential measurements are made with the transportable clock with a total
uncertainty of 0.33 m (statistically 0.25 m and systematically 0.22 m) and agree with the spirit level measurement.
After being moved >1200 km, the absolute frequency of the Ca⁺ optical clock transition is measured
as 411 042 129 776 400.41(23) Hz, with a fractional uncertainty of 5.6 × 10⁻¹⁶, which is about one order
of magnitude smaller than our previous measurement. The transportable built can be used for sub-meter-level
elevation measurements, comparing intercontinental optical clocks, verifying basic physical theories, etc.

How to cite: Huang, Y., Guan, H., and Gao, K.: Geopotential measurement with a robust, transportable Ca+ optical clock, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-2158, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-2158, 2022.

Optical clocks with increasingly high accuracy have broadened scopes of applications of atomic clocks in scientific community as well as in life. One of the applications of optical clocks is based on the Einstein’s general relativity theory (GRT) to determine geopotential as well as orthometric height. The GRT concludes that a clock at a higher position (with a lower geopotential) will run faster than a clock at a lower position (with a higher geopotential). Therefore, relativistic geodesy has studied and come to the conclusion: using a clock with a stability of 10^-18, the height difference will be determined with an accuracy of 1 cm. Currently, optical clocks with a stability of 10^-19 have been created in the laboratory, which help scientists investigate prospective applications of the clocks in geodesy. One of the issues that scientists are interested in is monitoring the vertical deformation of the Earth's crust such as slow sliding events, earthquakes, volcanoes, etc. Here, we propose an optical clock network model for monitoring the vertical deformation of the Earth's crust. The optical clocks will be located at the fault layers and connected by fiber optic cables. The advantage of using a clock network over other classical methods (spirit leveling, GNSS) is that it is not only convenient and accurate (centimeter level or higher) but also not restricted by measurement time and geographic conditions. This study is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (grant Nos. 42030105, 41721003, 41631072, 41874023, 41804012), and Space Station Project (2020)228.

Key words: GRT, optical clocks network, orthometric height, crustal vertical deformation.

How to cite: Hoang, A. T. and Shen, W.: Monitoring crustal vertical deformation by optical clocks network, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-2016, 2022.

In this study the time transfer algorithms of the precise point positioning (PPP) and integer PPP (IPPP) are extended to Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) and Galileo Navigation Satellite System (Galileo). Taking BRUX-OPMT, BRUX-PTB, BRUX-WTZR, and BRUX-CEBR four-time links as an example, the performances of the PPP and the IPPP time transfer of the GPS, BDS, Galileo and GLONASS systems are compared and analyzed. The results show that the performances of GPS and Galileo are better than those of BDS and GLONASS. With an ambiguity resolution, the frequency instability in time transfer can reach sub 10^-16 level after five days. Compared with the PPP solutions, the long-term frequency stability of IPPP is improved by above 15% on average. If the frequency instability of the clock reaches 1 × 10^-18, an equivalent altitude difference of 1.0 cm can be sensed with the help of the PPP or IPPP time transfer technique. High-precision GNSS time transfer methods, especially the IPPP time transfer techniques with their advantages in long-term stability, will provide prospective applications for determining the gravity potential, measuring height, and unifying the world height system. This study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundations of China (NSFC) under Grants 42030105, 41721003, 41804012, 41631072, 41874023, Space Station Project (2020)228, and the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province of China under Grant 2019CFB611.

Keywords  Multi-GNSS  PPP  Ambiguity resolution  Time transfer  Gravity potential

How to cite: Xu, W., Shen, W., Li, L., Wang, L., Ning, A., and Shen, Z.: Potentiality of Multi-GNSS precise point positioning time transfer with ambiguity resolution in determining gravity potential, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-1402, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-1402, 2022.

High accuracy and stability of time and frequency transfer links are significant to realizing high-precision time synchronization in geodesy, navigation, and metrology. Also, the current and future challenges for space and ground geodetic observatories are to transfer high-stability time and frequency signals between remote locations. Therefore, future optical spatial links, such as Laser Time Transfer (LTT) on China Space Station (CSS) which will equip with atomic clocks and optical clocks with stabilities of 2 × 10⁻¹⁶ and 8 × 10⁻¹⁸, respectively, are a promising technique for high-precision time transfer links, because laser time transfer links are highly accurate, with fewer delays, and unambiguous observable compared to microwave domain links. The most promising applications for optical time transfer links and optical clocks are fundamental physics and relativistic geodesy. For instance, gravitational redshift test and determination of relativistic geoid. Based on the gravitational frequency shift effect predicted by General Relativity Theory (GRT), this study discusses an approach for determining the gravitational potential difference between optical-atomic clocks onboard China Space Station (CSS) and ground station via optical time transfer link, which could have potential applications in geoscience. For testing purposes, we will use the observations of the Time Transfer by Laser Link (T2L2) on the Jason-2 mission to evaluate the performances of the data analysis algorithm. This study is supported by the National Natural Science Foundations of China (NSFC) under Grants 42030105, 41721003, 41804012, 41974034, 41631072, 41874023, Space Station Project (2020)228, and the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province of China under Grant 2019CFB611.

How to cite: Ruby, A., Shen, W., Shaker, A., Zhang, P., Shen, Z., and Ashry, M.: Gravitational Potential Difference Between Optical-Atomic Clocks onboard China Space Station (CSS) and Ground Station via Optical Time Transfer links, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-1231, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-1231, 2022.

According to general relativity theory, the clock at a position with lower geopotential ticks slower than an identical one at a position with higher geopotential. Here, we provide a geopotential determination using a non-transportable hydrogen clock and a transportable hydrogen clock for altitude transmission based on the two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT) technique. First, we set one hydrogen clock on the fifth floor and another hydrogen clock on the ground floor of a building in Beijing, with their height difference of 22.8 m measured by tape, and compared the time difference between these two clocks by TWSTFT for 13 days. Then, we set both clocks on the ground floor and compared the time difference between the two clocks for 7 days for the purpose of the zero-baseline calibration (synchronization). Based on the measured time difference between the two clocks at different floors, we obtained the height difference 28.0±5.4 m, which coincides well with the tape-measured result. This experiment provides a method of height propagation using precise clocks based on the TWSTFT technique. This study is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41721003, 42030105, 41631072, 41804012, 41874023, 41974034), Space Station Project (2020)228 and Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province (grant No. 2019CFB611).

How to cite: Cheng, P., Shen, W., Sun, X., Cai, C., Wu, K., and Shen, Z.: Measuring Height Difference Using Two-Way Satellite Time And Frequency Transfer, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-1949, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-1949, 2022.

Measuring the acceleration of the Earth’s gravity g and the gravity gradient simultaneously and at the same location promises to provide enhanced information about the distribution of underground masses, especially at shallow depths [1]. Quantum sensors relying on Atom Interferometry with laser cooled-atoms [2,3] is a technology of choice to implement such new sensing capability and an industry-grade demonstrator has been recently developed [4] by iXblue.

This Differential Quantum Gravimeter (DQG) has been operational for more than two years and has demonstrated state-of-the-art sensitivity mainly limited by Quantum Projection Noise down to a noise floor at about 40E/sqrt(tau). We will present as well a 21 day long run with the demonstration of a resolution below 1E for the measurement of the vertical gravity gradient (1E = 10^-9 s^-2 = 0.1 µGal/m) and 0.5 µGal for the measurement of g. Moreover in order to illustrate the potential for mass balance monitoring and gravity survey we will present a proof-of-principle experiment with realistic masses and measurement duration. We will provide insight on an previsional accuracy budget and main biases.

The compactness of the instrument and the field-tested technology [5] on which it is based, allows to consider the deployment of this new sensor in real environment as a future short-term outcome to investigate both spatial and temporal mass balance in the field. Promising case studies will be discussed, as this type of sensor can sense mass changes that are not detected by gravimeters.

[1] G. Pajot, O. de Viron, M. M. Diament, M. F. Lequentrec-Lalancette, V. Mikhailov, GEO-PHYSICS 73, 123 (2008).

[2] R.Geiger, A.Landragin, S.Merlet, F.P.D.Santos, AVS QuantumScience 2, 024702(2020).

[3] V. Ménoret et al., "Gravity measurements below 10−9 g with a transportable absolute quantum gravimeter", Nature Scientific Reports, vol. 8, 12300 (2018)

[4] A compact differential gravimeter at the quantum projection noise limit, to be published in Physical Review A

[5] A.-K. Cooke, C. Champollion, N. Le Moigne, Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and

Data Systems Discussions 2020, 1 (2020).

How to cite: Janvier, C., Ménoret, V., Merlet, S., Landragin, A., Pereira dos Santos, F., and Desruelle, B.: Optimization and characterization of a differential quantum gravimeter, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-8513, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-8513, 2022.

Atomic interferometers use the interference of cold or ultra-cold matter waves and are a promising tool for high-precision inertial sensors. The principle of freedom from drift of such sensors is an interesting property for autonomous navigation. In this context, a compact geometry of differential atomic interferometers to differentiate between accelerations and rotation rates is demonstrated and a concept for a compact six-axis sensor is presented [1]. It is based on our experimental studies on atom-chip-based interferometry [2] in combination with atom-chip sources for a high flux of condensed atoms [3]. Hybrid approaches that implement a fusion with classic sensors can remove the limitations of previous quantum sensors in terms of data rate and bandwidth [4].

So far, various components of quantum navigation based on laboratory systems have been demonstrated and their application tested in controlled environments. Current projects and proposals aim to qualify the first sensors for field use. They rely on either commercially available sub-systems or, in some cases, custom-made products and integrate them into laboratory environments. We hereby present our preliminary system design with Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) of 87Rb atoms for a transportable demonstrator aiming at a multi-axis inertial sensor, for the precise measurement of accelerations and rotation.

We acknowledge financial support from the Deutsche Forschungs-gemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany’s Excellence Strategy - EXC-2123 QuantumFrontiers - 390837967 and through the CRC 1227 (DQ-mat), as well as support from DLR with funds provided by the BMWi under grant no. DLR 50RK1957 (QGyro) and DLR 50NA2106 (QGyro+).

[1] M. Gersemann, et al. Eur. Phys. J. D, 74 10 203, 2020

[2] S. Abend et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 203003, 2016

[3] J. Rudolph et al., New J. Phys. 17, 065001, 2015.

[4] L.L. Richardson, et al. Commun. Phys. 3, 208, 2020

How to cite: Zou, Y., Abidi, M., Barbey, P., Rajagopalan, A., Schubert, C., Gersemann, M., Schlippert, D., Abend, S., and Rasel, E. M.: Quantum navigation with multi-axis atomic interferometry and hybrid, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-5697, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-5697, 2022.

MOCAST+ (MOnitoring mass variations by Cold Atom Sensors and Time measures) is a recently concluded study funded by the Italian Space Agency (ASl) and jointly carried out by several Italian research groups, focusing on a gravimetry mission based on quantum technology.

In the past twenty years, space missions like GRACE and GRACE-FO have formed a well-organized user community tracking the Earth mass movement to study environmental changes on a global scale using data from satellite measurements. In fact, monitoring global parameters underlying climate change, water resources, flooding, melting of ice masses and the corresponding global sea level rise is of paramount importance, since remote sensing of the changes of the Earth gravitational field provides basic data on, e.g., geodynamics, earthquakes, hydrology or ice sheets changes.

Since classical sensors have reached a high level of maturity with a limited potential for further improvement, a large interest has developed in novel technologies based on quantum technologies and quantum sensing. These technologies promise to offer higher sensitivity and drift-free measurements, and higher absolute accuracy for terrestrial as well as space missions, thus giving direct access to more precise long-term measurements and comparisons.

Europe is at the forefront of quantum technologies, and activities towards the deployment of pathfinder quantum gravimetry mission within this decade are being funded at various levels. Looking at a time frame beyond the present decade, in the MOCAST+ study we have analyzed the performance of a quantum enhanced payload consisting of a Cold Atom Interferometer based on strontium atoms and acting as a gravity gradiometer, plus an optical frequency measurement using an ultra-stable laser, in order to also provide time measurements. The main goals of the study were to define the level of accuracy which can be expected from such a payload and the level of accuracy which is needed in order to detect and monitor phenomena identified in the Scientific Challenges of the ESA Living Planet Program, in particular Cryosphere, Ocean and Solid Earth.

We will present the results of the study in terms of proposed payload, mission profile and preliminary platform design, results of end-to-end simulations and assessment of the impact of the proposed mission for geophysical applications.

How to cite: Migliaccio, F., Batsukh, K., Benciolini, G. B., Braitenberg, C., Koç, Ö., Mottini, S., Pastorutti, A., Pivetta, T., Reguzzoni, M., Rosi, G., Rossi, L., Sorrentino, F., Tino, G. M., and Vitti, A.: Results of the MOCAST+ study on a quantum gravimetry mission, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-9568, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-9568, 2022.

How to cite: Koç, Ö., Reguzzoni, M., Rossi, L., Migliaccio, F., Batsukh, K., and Vitti, A.: Gravity field recovery of the MOCAST+ quantum mission proposal, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-9417, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-9417, 2022.