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Global Mass Flux Solutions from GRACE: A Comparison of Parameter Estimation Strategies - Mass Concentrations Versus Stokes CoefficientsThe differences between mass concentration (mas con) parameters and standard Stokes coefficient parameters in the recovery of gravity infonnation from gravity recovery and climate experiment (GRACE) intersatellite K-band range rate data are investigated. First, mascons are decomposed into their Stokes coefficient representations to gauge the range of solutions available using each of the two types of parameters. Next, a direct comparison is made between two time series of unconstrained gravity solutions, one based on a set of global equal area mascon parameters (equivalent to 4deg x 4deg at the equator), and the other based on standard Stokes coefficients with each time series using the same fundamental processing of the GRACE tracking data. It is shown that in unconstrained solutions, the type of gravity parameter being estimated does not qualitatively affect the estimated gravity field. It is also shown that many of the differences in mass flux derivations from GRACE gravity solutions arise from the type of smoothing being used and that the type of smoothing that can be embedded in mas con solutions has distinct advantages over postsolution smoothing. Finally, a 1 year time series based on global 2deg equal area mascons estimated every 10 days is presented.
Document ID
20110013484
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Rowlands, D. D.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Luthcke, S. B.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
McCarthy J. J.
(SGT, Inc. Greenbelt , MD, United States)
Klosko, S. M.
(SGT, Inc. Greenbelt , MD, United States)
Chinn, D. S.
(SGT, Inc. Greenbelt , MD, United States)
Lemoine, F. G.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Boy, J.-P.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Sabaka, T. J.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 25, 2013
Publication Date
January 27, 2010
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Volume: 115
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.JA.4518.2011
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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