The Role Of High Degree Potential Coefficients And Satellite Altimeter Data In Gravity Field Aproximation In The Malaysian Region

Earth Gravity models (OSU81, OSU86E,and F) defined by a set of high degree potential coefficients were used to generate the geopotential geoid in the Malaysian region. In the very near future, land gravity measurements can be carried out where the station positioning in the survey will be by Global Positioning System (GPS) operating in differential mode. In areas with scarce height benchmark, especially in the remote areas of Peninsular Malaysia, the geopotential geoid can be utilized in conjunction with the satellite derived ellipsoidal heights to yield the orthometric heights of the gravity stations. Satellite altimeter data has the ability to provide high frequency gravity field information in the surrounding marine areas. The method of gravity anomaly recovery in the Tioman test area was based on the theory of least squares collocation. Gravity anomaly maps derived from satellite altimeter data can be used to scan large off-shore areas for detecting density contrasts within the oceanic's outer crust, and thus providing an indirect indication of potential hydrocarbon deposits.