Open AccessSurface Density Values for the Earth from Satellite and Gravity Observations
Author(s) -
Koch KarlRudolf
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
geophysical journal of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0016-8009
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1970.tb01763.x
Subject(s) - flattening , geophysics , gravitational field , geology , hydrostatic equilibrium , earth (classical element) , satellite , surface (topology) , geodesy , ellipsoid , surface gravity , figure of the earth , gravity anomaly , physics , geometry , classical mechanics , mathematics , quantum mechanics , astronomy , mathematical physics , spectral line , paleontology , oil field
Summary The representation of the Earth's gravity field as the potential of a simple layer distributed over the surface of the Earth is determined by combining satellite observations and gravity anomalies. Density values of the simple layer for 192 surface elements are computed and converted into harmonic coefficients up to the 15th degree and order. These co‐efficients are used to determine surface density values referred to a reference ellipsoid with the flattening of an earth in hydrostatic equilibrium. The geophysical implications of these values are outlined.