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Effect of ASTER DEM on the prediction of mean gravity anomalies: a case study over the Auvergne test region

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Abstract

A precise gravimetric geoid determination requires height information and terrestrial gravity data with high accuracy and resolution. The height data is utilized for predicting mean free-air gravity anomalies as well as computing the topographic, atmospheric and downward continuation effects which are fundamental components of any geoid model. Nowadays the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) obtained from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) has been widely used when an accurate regional DEM does not exist. In addition the DEM generated from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) was newly released by researchers from Japan and United States. In this study the effect of ASTER DEM on the estimating mean free-air gravity anomalies in geoid determination were investigated in the Auvergne test area where one of its regions exhibits one of the most rugged topography over the world. The numerical results show that ASTER DEM gives worse statistics than SRTM DEM with respect to the accuracy of the height. Using ASTER DEM introduces discrepancies (compared to SRTM DEM) in the range of \(-\)4 to 10 mGal in the interpolation of free-air gravity anomalies. It is also proven that the geoid differences due to the use of ASTER DEM are a few centimeters, which remain below the accuracy level of the external GPS-levelling data.

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Acknowledgments

NASA and METI are cordially acknowledged for providing independent SRTM and ASTER DEMs to the current research. The author would like to give a special thanks to Prof. Dr. I. Oztug Bildirici for his beneficial discussions and criticisms during the compilation of this manuscript. The author appreciates the constructive remarks suggested by two anonymous reviewers in the first version of this paper.

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  1. Department of Geomatics Engineering, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey

    Ramazan Alpay Abbak

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  1. Ramazan Alpay Abbak
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Correspondence to Ramazan Alpay Abbak.

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Abbak, R.A. Effect of ASTER DEM on the prediction of mean gravity anomalies: a case study over the Auvergne test region. Acta Geod Geophys 49, 491–502 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40328-014-0062-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40328-014-0062-8

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