Calibration and evaluation of Skylab altimetry for geodetic determination of the geoid
There are no author-identified significant results in this report.
Mourad, A. G.↗
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Radar optimization for sea surface and geodetic measurements
The efficient estimation of geoid and sea state parameters is discussed, and the optimum processing structures, including maximum likelihood estimators, and their accuracy limits are given for a model. The model accounts for random surface reflectivity, sea height, and additive noise, and allows for arbitrary radar system parameters, based on the assumption the received signal is a sample function of a normal random process. The integral equation associated with the Gaussian signal in Gaussian noise inference problem was solved. It is shown that the optimum processing is generally a mixture of coherent and incoherent integrations which may be viewed as a weighted summation of received power of the match-filtered received data. When estimates are correlated, the strongest correlation appears between geoid and asymmetry estimates, and between wave height standard deviation and reflectivity estimates.
Harger, R. O.↗
Calibration and evaluation of Skylab altimetry for geodetic determination of the geoid
There are no author-identified significant results in this report.
Mourad, A. G.↗
Calibration and evaluation of Skylab altimetry for geodetic determination of the geoid
The author has identified the following significant results. The collocation technique to filter the remaining EREP passes no. 4, no. 6, and no. 9 was completed. The correlation studies of altimetry geoid profiles with the gravity data and ocean bottom topography were also completed.
Mourad, A. G.↗
Calibration and evaluation of Skylab altimetry for geodetic determination of the geoid
There are no author-identified significant results in this report.
Mourad, A. G.↗
Calibration and evaluation of Skylab altimetry for geodetic determination of the geoid
The author has identified the following significant results. The Skylab altimeter experiment has proven the capability of the altimeter for measurement of sea surface topography. The geometric determination of the geoid/mean sea level from satellite altimetry is a new approach having significant applications in many disciplines including geodesy and oceanography. A generalized least squares collocation technique was developed for determination of the geoid from altimetry data. The technique solves for the altimetry geoid and determines one bias term for the combined effect of sea state, orbit, tides, geoid, and instrument error using sparse ground truth data. The influence of errors in orbit and a priori geoid values are discussed. Although the Skylab altimeter instrument accuracy is about plus or minus 1m, significant results were obtained in identification of large geoidal features such as over the Puerto Rico trench. Comparison of the results of several passes shows that good agreement exists between the general slopes of the altimeter geoid and the ground truth, and that the altimeter appears to be capable of providing more details than are now available with best known geoids.
Mourad, A. G.↗
Basic research and data analysis for the earth and ocean physics applications program and for the National Geodetic Satellite program
Data acquisition using single image and seven image data processing is used to provide a precise and accurate geometric description of the earth's surface. Transformation parameters and network distortions are determined, Sea slope along the continental boundaries of the U.S. and earth rotation are examined, along with close grid geodynamic satellite system. Data are derived for a mathematical description of the earth's gravitational field; time variations are determined for geometry of the ocean surface, the solid earth, gravity field, and other geophysical parameters.
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Revision of geodetic parameters
Laser data from nine satellites and 12 stations are combined with surface-gravity data to obtain spherical harmonics representing the geopotential complete through degree and order 18. This laser-data-only solution provides a reasonable improvement to the gravity field.
Gaposchkin, E. M.↗
LIBRA: An inexpensive geodetic network densification system
A description is given of the Libra (Locations Interposed by Ranging Aircraft) system, by which geodesy and earth strain measurements can be performed rapidly and inexpensively to several hundred auxiliary points with respect to a few fundamental control points established by any other technique, such as radio interferometry or satellite ranging. This low-cost means of extending the accuracy of space age geodesy to local surveys provides speed and spatial resolution useful, for example, for earthquake hazards estimation. Libra may be combined with an existing system, Aries (Astronomical Radio Interferometric Earth Surveying) to provide a balanced system adequate to meet the geophysical needs, and applicable to conventional surveying. The basic hardware design was outlined and specifications were defined. Then need for network densification was described. The following activities required to implement the proposed Libra system are also described: hardware development, data reduction, tropospheric calibrations, schedule of development and estimated costs.
Fliegel, H. F.↗
Range difference multilateration for obtaining precision geodetic and trajectory measurements
The theoretical aspects of a new multilateration technique suitable for precision geodesy and orbit determination applications are examined. The multilateration technique considered herein makes use of the differential time of arrival of signals at an ensemble of ground stations from a spacecraft or aircraft as the fundamental data type. It is demonstrated that simultaneous measurements give rise to a system of equations which upon solution permits the determination of the three-dimensional vehicle coordinates plus the three-dimensional coordinates of the station net relative to an arbitrarily adopted origin (which may be taken to be one of the stations). A solution to these equations can be obtained without any a priori knowledge of the locations of the stations and vehicle. The necessary conditions for obtaining all of these coordinates in the same solution are discussed, and it is indicated that at least five stations are required in the station ensemble.
Escobal, P. R.↗
Basic research and data analysis for the earth and ocean physics applications program and for the National Geodetic Satellite program
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Investigations related to geodetic control on the moon
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Mueller, I. I.↗
Geodetic control net
Computer program, originally developed for Mariner flyby missions, computes planetary control net from measurements of topographical features identified on television pictures. Program solves for areocentric coordinates of 115 surface points and orthogonal camera matrices of 57 far and near encounter pictures.
Davies, M. E.↗
Potential contributions of Seasat-A to geodetic science
It is projected that SEASAT-A will provide high resolution ocean coverage between the 72 deg latitude lines that gives data on most of the non-permanently frozen ocean areas. Data gathered by SEASAT-A in combination with terrestrial gravimetry data and orbit perturbation data allow for the computation of a worldwide geoid and gravity field with high accuracy and spatial resolution.
Smith, S. L., III↗
Basic research and data analysis for the earth and ocean physics applications program and for the National Geodetic Satellite Program
Data analysis and supporting research in connection with the following objectives are discussed: (1) provide a precise and accurate geometric description of the earth's surface, (2) provide a precise and accurate mathematical description of the earth's gravitational field, and (3) determine time variations of the geometry of the ocean surface, the solid earth, the gravity field and other geophysical parameters.
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Some problems concerned with the geodetic use of high precision altimeter data
The definition of the geoid in view of different height systems is discussed. A definition is suggested which makes it possible to take into account the influence of the unknown corrections to the various height systems on the solution of Stokes' problem. A solution to Stokes' problem with an accuracy of 10 cm is derived which allows the inclusion of the results of satellite geodesy. In addition equations are developed for the determination of spherical harmonies using altimeter measurements. The influence of the ellipticity of the reference surface is considered.
Lelgemann, D.↗
Geodetic and dynamical properties of planets
The study of planetary dynamics and geodesy is a difficult subject. This is so, not simply because of the complexity of the interactions between several scientific disciplines, including geophysics, geology, geochemistry, seismology, celestial mechanics, radar astronomy, and meteoritics, but perhaps more fundamentally, because of a lack of data. Although it is true that the space age has brought about important new observational techniques, which are responsible in large part for the rapid developments in planetary science over the past decade, and although we should expect to see significant progress in the field over the next few years, it is still a sad fact that data will be severely limited for an indefinite period of time in the future. The basic problem is that we can observe and study, at present, only one planetary system in the universe. This system, our solar system, contains only four major planets, five terrestrial planets, where we are inclined to include the moon but exclude Pluto, and a fairly limited collection of debris, presumably left over from some inadequately understood formation process. Thus it is impossible to base the study of planets on a significant statistical sample.
J. D.. Anderson↗
Experiment S-213 selenocentric geodetic reference system
Development and implementation of a photogrammetric system was undertaken to provide accurate selenodetic positions and topographic mapping of all areas overflown by orbital spacecraft. The system was installed in the scientific instrument module (SIM) bay of the Apollo command service module (CSM). In theory, this system provided everything a photogrammetrist could want: the position of each exposure station would be obtained from Earth-based tracking; the orientation of each photograph could be computed from the synchronized stellar exposure and the lock-angles determined by preflight calibration; and the scale of each stereomodel would be obtained directly from the altimeter data. Operationally, the data acquisition was adequate, but less than optimum. Systematic errors are believed to be the result of the primitive orbit determination procedures in use at the time of the Apollo 15 mission, inadequate models of the lunar gravity field, and spacecraft oscillations induced by uncoupled thrusting and various activities of the astronauts.
Doyle, F. J.↗