The Rotation of the Gravity Potential on the Earth's Gravity Field Recovery

Abstract

Abstract We analyze the effect of approximate velocity in the formula of the rotation of the gravitational potential. The effect of the rotation of the gravitational potential is caused by the Earth rotation. The difference between the satellite ephemeris's velocity and numerical integral's velocity is computed. The ephemeris data come from GFZ's Rapid Science Orbit, TUM's Reduced‐Dynamic Orbit, GFZ's Post‐processed Science Orbit respectively. The integral data are obtained from reference gravity field model EGM96, EIGEN2, EIGEN‐CG01C respectively. The fitting between ephemeris velocity and integral velocity from EIGEN2 reference gravity field model is better than that from EGM96 and EIGEN‐CG01C model. The variations of velocity difference show obvious periodicity, which coincides with the satellite orbit period. When 1m 2 /s 2 for the disturbing potential, or 2mm/s for the approximate velocity in the formula of the rotation of the gravitational potential is required, only the satellite orbit data not satisfying the potential rotation computing demand need to be rejected in GFZ's Rapid Science Orbit and TUM's Reduced‐Dynamic Orbit. If the disturbing potential 0.5m 2 /s 2 is desired at satellite track, the satellite velocity required by the formula of the rotation of the gravitational potential should be re‐computed or GFZ's Post‐processed Science Orbit is adopted.