Estimation of the Global Root Mean Square Error of Selected Gravitational Field Functionals Calculated by Integral Transforms

Integral transformations of the gravitational field gradients are defined over the entire solid angle on the surface of the sphere. Despite the indisputable progress in satellite gravimetry and gradiometry, gravity field focused satellite missions allow accurate determination of the gravity field with a spatial resolution of 100 km, i.e. only in its long-wavelength part. However, there is also a need for high-resolution gravity field models at regional, national or continental scales, especially concerning the determination of the quasi-geoid or geoid. On the other hand, potential weakness of ground-based data is the long-wavelength gravity field accuracy and limited availability due to several constraints (e.g. deserts, lakes and large rivers, forests, or lack of goodwill between neighboring countries to share sensitive data). The ideal scenario combines ground and satellite data that complement each other.

In this contribution, relations defining the estimation of the global root mean square errors of selected gravitational field functionals using integral transformations will be derived and presented. For practical calculation, knowledge about the accuracy of measured terrestrial data and formal errors of global satellite models of the Earth's gravity field will be utilized.