Advanced processing strategies regarding an improved GFZ GRACE/GRACE-FO RL07 time series

GFZ, as part of the GRACE/GRACE-FO Science Data System, is one of the official Level-2 processing centers routinely providing monthly gravity models. These models are used by a wide variety of geoscientists to infer mass changes mainly at the Earth’s surface. While the current release 6 (RL06) is still operationally processed, plans and internal tests for a reprocessed GFZ RL07 time series are already in progress.

In this context, advanced processing strategies are developed within the Research Unit (RU) NEROGRAV (New Refined Observations of Climate Change from Spaceborne Gravity Missions) funded by the German Research Foundation DFG. The main focus is on an improved stochastic modeling regarding both instrument data (accelerometer and inter-satellite ranging observations) as well as background models (e.g. by the utilization of covariance information for these models). At the same time, the solved-for parameter space, in particular regarding empirical accelerations, has been revised. Finally, also the potential benefit by adding observations of the laser-ranging interferometer (LRI) onboard GRACE-FO has been investigated.

This poster provides an overview of the developed advanced processing strategies, and their individual and combined impact on GFZ’s Level-2 products compared to current GFZ RL06 solutions.