Using GRACE to Explain Variations in the Earth's Oblateness

We present a new approach to estimate time variations in J2. Those variations are represented as the sum of contributions from individual sources. This approach uses solely Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) data and the geoid fingerprints of mass redistributions that take place both at...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical Research Letters
Main Authors: Sun, Y. (author), Riva, R.E.M. (author), Ditmar, P.G. (author), Rietbroek, Roelof (author)
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2019
Subjects:
C
Earth's dynamic oblateness
geoid fingerprints
GRACE
J
mass redistribution
J(2)
C-20
Antarc*
Antarctic
Greenland
Online Access:http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:303371c0-6e5d-460b-8ead-4a4b37b88d80
https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GL080607
Description
Summary:We present a new approach to estimate time variations in J2. Those variations are represented as the sum of contributions from individual sources. This approach uses solely Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) data and the geoid fingerprints of mass redistributions that take place both at the surface and in the interior of the solid Earth. The results agree remarkably well with those based on satellite laser ranging, while estimates of the sources explain the observed variations in J2. Seasonal variations are dominated by terrestrial water storage and by mass redistribution in the atmosphere and ocean. Trends, however, are primarily controlled by the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets and by glacial isostatic adjustment. The positive trend from surface mass variations is larger than the negative trend due to glacial isostatic adjustment and leads to an overall rising trend during the GRACE period (2002–2017). Physical and Space Geodesy

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