Open AccessA comparison of geoid undulations for west central Greenland
Author(s) -
Roman Daniel R.,
Csathó Beata,
Jezek Kenneth C.,
Thomas Robert H.,
Krabill William B.,
Frese Ralph R. B.,
Forsberg Rene
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: solid earth
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/96jb02697
Subject(s) - geoid , geodesy , geology , gravitational field , greenland ice sheet , altimeter , groenlandia , gravity anomaly , geopotential , gravimetry , remote sensing , geophysics , ice sheet , geomorphology , physics , paleontology , astronomy , oil field , measured depth , geotechnical engineering , reservoir modeling
The accuracy of a new local gravity field model, GEOID94A, is examined at a site on the western Greenland ice sheet. The model, developed by the Danish National Survey and Cadastre, incorporates several new gravity data sets including an extensive amount of airborne gravity data. Model‐derived geoid undulations were compared to independently determined undulations found by differencing the elevations from Global Positioning System controlled airborne laser altimetry and optical leveling surveys. Differences between the two sets of undulations were less than +/−6 cm RMS. The comparison improved (+/−5 cm RMS) when GEOID94A undulations were adjusted by local gravity observations also acquired at the site. Our comparisons demonstrate that GEOID94A adequately models the long to intermediate wavelengths of the gravity field. We conclude that GEOID94A constitutes a reliable reference model for studies of Greenland's gravity field.