A data-adaptive network design for the regional gravity field modelling using spherical radial basis functions

A high-precision regional gravity field model is significant in various geodesy applications.In the field of modelling regional gravity fields,the spherical radial basis functions(SRBFs)approach has recently gained widespread attention,while the modelling precision is primarily influenced by the base function network.In this study,we propose a method for constructing a data-adaptive network of SRBFs using a modified Hierarchical Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise(HDBSCAN)algorithm,and the performance of the algorithm is verified by the observed gravity data in the Auvergne area.Furthermore,the turning point method is used to optimize the bandwidth of the basis function spectrum,which satisfies the demand for both high-precision gravity field and quasi-geoid modelling simultaneously.Numerical experimental results indicate that our algorithm has an accuracy of about 1.58 mGal in constructing the gravity field model and about 0.03 m in the regional quasi-geoid model.Compared to the existing methods,the number of SRBFs used for modelling has been reduced by 15.8%,and the time cost to determine the centre positions of SRBFs has been saved by 12.5%.Hence,the modified HDBSCAN algorithm presented here is a suitable design method for constructing the SRBF data adaptive network.

Discovering Crustal Deformation Bands by Processing Regional Gravity Field

Objectives： This article presents a new computational procedure to discover scratches buried in the earth＇s crust. We also validate this new interdisciplinary analysis method with regional gravity data located in a well-known Dabie orogenic zone for test. Methods： Based on the scratch analysis method evolved with mathematical morphology of surfaces, we present a procedure that extracts information of the crustal scratches from regional gravity data. Because the crustal scratches are positively and highly correlated to crustal deformation bands, it can be used for delineation of the crustal deformation belts. The scratches can be quantitatively characterized by calculation of the ridge coefficient function, whose high value traces delineate the deformation bands hidden in the regional gravity field. In addition, because the degree of crustal deformation is an important indicator of tectonic unit divisions, so the crust can be further divided according to the degree of crustal deformation into some tectonic units by using the ridge coefficient data, providing an objective base map for earth scientists to build tectonic models with quantitative evidence. Results： After the ridge coefficients are calculated, we can further enhance the boundary of high ridge-coefficient blocks, resulting in the so-called ridge-edge coefficient function. The high-value ridge-edge coefficients are well correlated with the edge faults of tectonic units underlay, providing accurate positioning of the base map for compilation of regional tectonic maps. In order to validate this new interdisciplinary analysis method, we select the Dabie orogenic zone as a pilot area for test, where rock outcrops are well exposed on the surface and detailed geological and geophysical surveys have been carried out. Tests show that the deformation bands and the tectonic units, which are conformed by tectonic scientists based on surface observations, are clearly displayed on the ridge and ridge-edge coefficient images obtained in this article. Moreover, these computer-generated images provide more accurate locations and geometric details. Conclusions： This work demonstrates that application of modern mathematical tools can promote the quantitative degree in research of modern geosciences, helping to open a door to develop a new branch of mathematical tectonics.

A High-Resolution Earth’s Gravity Field Model SGG-UGM-2 from GOCE,GRACE,Satellite Altimetry,and EGM2008

This paper focuses on estimating a new high-resolution Earth’s gravity field model named SGG-UGM-2 from satellite gravimetry,satellite altimetry,and Earth Gravitational Model 2008(EGM2008)-derived gravity data based on the theory of the ellipsoidal harmonic analysis and coefficient transformation(EHA-CT).We first derive the related formulas of the EHA-CT method,which is used for computing the spherical harmonic coefficients from grid area-mean and point gravity anomalies on the ellipsoid.The derived formulas are successfully evaluated based on numerical experiments.Then,based on the derived least-squares formulas of the EHA-CT method,we develop the new model SGG-UGM-2 up to degree 2190 and order 2159 by combining the observations of the Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer(GOCE),the normal equation of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment(GRACE),marine gravity data derived from satellite altimetry data,and EGM2008-derived continental gravity data.The coefficients of degrees 251–2159 are estimated by solving the block-diagonal form normal equations of surface gravity anomalies(including the marine gravity data).The coefficients of degrees 2–250 are determined by combining the normal equations of satellite observations and surface gravity anomalies.The variance component estimation technique is used to estimate the relative weights of different observations.Finally,global positioning system(GPS)/leveling data in the mainland of China and the United States are used to validate SGG-UGM-2 together with other models,such as European improved gravity model of the earth by new techniques(EIGEN)-6C4,GECO,EGM2008,and SGG-UGM-1(the predecessor of SGG-UGM-2).Compared to other models,the model SGG-UGM-2 shows a promising performance in the GPS/leveling validation.All GOCE-related models have similar performances both in the mainland of China and the United States,and better performances than that of EGM2008 in the mainland of China.Due to the contribution of GRACE data and the new marine gravity anomalies,SGG-UGM-2 is slightly better than SGG-UGM-1 both in the mainland of China and the United States.

Preparation of electrolytic copper powders with high current efficiency enhanced by super gravity field and its mechanism

Super gravity field was employed to enhance electrolytic reaction for the preparation of copper powders.The morphology, microstructure and size of copper powders were characterized by scanning electron microscopy,X-ray diffractometry and laser particle analysis.The results indicated that current efficiencies of electrolytic copper powders under super gravity field increased by more than 20% compared with that under normal gravity condition.Cell voltage under super gravity field was also much lower.The size of copper powders decreased with the increase of gravity coefficient(G).The increase of current efficiency can be contributed to the disturbance of electrode/electrolyte interface and enhanced mass transfer of Cu2+ in super gravity field.Meanwhile,the huge gravity acceleration would promote the detachment of copper powders from electrode surface during electrolytic process,which can prevent the growth of copper powders.

Analysis of limitations on recovery of gravity field based on satellite gravity gradient data

Although satellite gravity gradient data plays a great role in determining short-wavelength part of static gravity field model,accuracy of the long-wavelength part of gravity field model recovered by them are poor,which leads to only a few applications in time-variable gravity investigation.The reason is that some factors limit the accuracy of the gravity field recovered using gradient data,including accuracy of the gravity gradient observations,measurement bandwidth(MBW)of gradiometer,satellite inclination,etc.This paper aims at analyzing the influence of these limitations on gravity field recovery and discusses the possibility of time-variable gravity field detection by using gravity gradient observations.Firstly,for arbitrary satellite orbit inclination,we give the frequency distributions of all the components of gravity gradients(i.e.Txx;Tyy;Tzz;Txy;Txz and Tyz,).The results show that the maximum frequency of each component of the gravity gradients is the same,i.e.l=Ts(l is degree of the gravity field model,Ts is the orbital periods),and it is not influenced by the inclination of the satellite orbits.Secondly,the paper gives a theory proof to explain why only the low orders of the coefficients are influenced by polar gaps.Big polar gaps are experimented by a numerical test with inclination of 45°.Finally,considering that the measurement bandwidth can be expanded and accuracy of gradient observations can be improved by superconducting gravity gradiometer(SGG)compared to gradiometer used in Gravity field and steadystate Ocean Circulation Explorer(GOCE),the possibility of detecting time-variable gravity using gravity gradient observations is discussed.The results show that the SGG creates errors in MBW with magnitude of 0.014 m E,which is smaller than the magnitude of the time-variable gravity gradient signals(i.e.,0.02 m E)derived from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment(GRACE)gravity field models.This indicates the potential of SGG in time-variable gravity detection.

Bearing capacity of surface circular footings on granular material under low gravity fields

Low gravity fields have been simulated through magnetic acceleration to conduct experimental study on bearing capacity of circular footings on a type of crushable planetary regolith simulant,which has comparable density and particle size distribution of lunar soil.The loadesettlement responses of surface spread footings are obtained by investigating the relative density,footing size and gravity effects.Applying the hyperbolic asymptote method,normalised foundation stiffness and ultimate bearing capacity are obtained by curve fitting and predicted by power functions using multivariate nonlinear regression.The results show that the nonlinear gravity effect is not negligible,related to stress condition,soil dilatancy and mobilised friction angle.A cone penetration test(CPT)-based method for prediction of bearing capacity is proposed with correlations between ultimate bearing capacity of footings and shallow penetration stiffness of CPTs,avoiding the uncertainties of soil property estimations.Analyses of allowable bearing capacity and footing influence zone in consideration of footing size and gravity effects could therefore improve the design of shallow foundations on the Moon and Mars,and provide new understandings and potential implications to the bearing capacity of shallow foundations on crushable granular material in both terrestrial and extraterrestrial geotechnical engineering.

Determination of the degree 120 time-variable gravity field in the Sichuan-Yunnan region using Slepian functions and terrestrial measurements

The terrestrial time-variable gravity measurements are characterized by a high signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity to the sources of mass change in the Earth's crust.These gravity data have many applications,such as surface deformation,groundwater storage changes,and mass migration before and after earthquakes.Based on repeated terrestrial gravity measurements at 198 gravity stations in the Sichuan-Yunnan region(SYR)from 2015 to 2017,we determine a time series of degree 120 gravity fields using the localized spherical harmonic(Slepian)basis functions.Our results show that adopting the first 6 Slepian basis functions is sufficient for effective localized Slepian modeling in the SYR.The differences between two gravity campaigns at the same time of year show an obvious correlation with tectonic features.The degree 120 timevariable gravity models presented in this paper will benefit the study of the regional mass migration inside the crust of the SYR and supplement the existing geophysical models for the China Seismic Experimental Site.

Analysis of the impact on the gravity field determination from the data with the ununiform noise distribution using block-diagonal least squares method

The block-diagonal least squares method, which theoretically has specific requirements for the observation data and the spatial distribution of its precision, plays an important role in ultra-high degree gravity field determination. On the basis of block-diagonal least squares method, three data processing strategies are employed to determine the gravity field models using three kinds of simulated global grid data with different noise spatial distri- bution in this paper. The numerical results show that when we employed the weight matrix corresponding to the noise of the observation data, the model computed by the least squares using the full normal matrix has much higher precision than the one estimated only using the block part of the normal matrix. The model computed by the block-diagonal least squares method without the weight matrix has slightly lower precision than the model computed using the rigorous least squares with the weight matrix. The result offers valuable reference to the using of block-diagonal least squares method in ultra-high gravity model determination.

Comparison of Present SST Gravity Field Models

Taking the main land of Europe as the region to be studied, the potential of the new satellite gravity technique: satellite-to-satellite tracking (SST) and improving the accuracy of regional gravity field model with the SST models are investigated. The drawbacks of these models are discussed. With GPM98C as the reference, the gravity anomaly residuals of several other models, the latest SST global gravity field models (EIGEN series and GGM series), were computed and compared. The results of the comparison show that in the selected region, some systematic errors with periodical properties exist in the EIGEN and GGM’s S series models in the high degree and order. Some information that was not shown in the classic gravity models is detected in the low and middle degree and order of EIGEN and GGM’s S series models. At last, the effective maximum degrees and orders of SST models are suggested.

Earth Gravity Field Recovered from CHAMP Science Orbit and Accelerometer Data

The earth gravity field model CDS01S of degree and order 36 has been recovered from the post processed Science Orbits and on-board accelerometer data of GFZ’s CHAMP satellite. The model resolves the geoid with an accuracy of better than 4 cm at a resolution of 700 km half-wavelength. By using the degree difference variances of geopotential coefficients to compare the model CDS01S with EIGEN3P, EIGEN1S and EGM96, the result indicates that the coefficients of CDS01S are most close to those of EIGEN3P. The result of the comparison between the accuracies of geopotential coefficients in the above models, indicates that the accuracy of coefficients in CDS01S is higher than that in EGM96.The geoid undulations of CDS01S and GGM01C up to 30 degrees are calculated and the standard deviation is 4.7 cm between them.

Characteristics of gravity fields in the Jinggu M6. 6 earthquake

Based on the study of high-precision gravity data obtained from recent studies and the regional gravi- ty network for Yunnan province, a variation in the regional gravity field was identified before the occurrence of the Yunnan Jinggu M6.6 earthquake.

Review of the Research Progress on Static Earth Gravity Field and Vertical Datum in China during 2019—2023

The contribution presents the representative research progress on global static gravity field modeling,regional geoid/quasigeoid determination,vertical datum study,as well as the theory,algorithm and software for gravity field study in China from 2019 to 2023,which are the highlights of the chapter 6“Progress in Earth Gravity Model and Vertical Datum”in the“2019—2023 China National Report on Geodesy”that submitted to the International Association of Geodesy(IAG).In addition,suggestions are proposed to promote the research in the fields of earth gravity field,geoid/quasigeoid and vertical datumin China according to trends of international geodesy and related disciplines.

Accuracy Analysis for SST Gravity Field Model in China

Taking China as the region for test, the potential of the new satellite gravity technique, satelliteto-satellite tracking for improving the accuracy of regional gravity field model is studied. With WDM94 as referenee, the gravity anomaly residuals of three models, the latest two GRACE global gravity field model （EIGEN_GRACE02S, GGM02S） and EGM96, are computed and compared. The causes for the differences among the residuals of the three models are discussed. The comparison between the residuals shows that in the selected region, EIGEN_GRACE02S or GGM02S is better than EGM96 in lower degree part （less than 110 degree）. Additionally, through the analysis of the model gravity anomaly residuals, it is found that some systematic errors with periodical properties exist in the higher degree part of EIGEN and GGM models, the results can also be taken as references in the validation of the SST gravity data.

Simulation of earth gravity field using satellite constellation with variable inclination configuration

Based on a satellite constellation composed of two GRACE-type satellite formations with different inclinations(near polar orbit + low inclination) and the theory of repeat orbit cycle, we discuss the methods for selecting medium-low inclinations for global and local gravity fields. The effects of this constellation configuration on gravity field inversion are comparatively analyzed using a whole-course dynamics simulation. The results show that compared with the single GRACE-type satellite formation,the use of satellite constellations with different inclination configurations improves the gravity solution precision by 34%. The inclusion of multi-directional observations can improve the spatio-temporal resolution of the satellite missions, and yield gravity field solutions with higher isotropic sensitivity.Furthermore, it is necessary to select the optimal low inclination according to the study area, which will have a significant influence on the gravity field solution.

Dynamic changes of gravity fields before and after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake(Ms8.0)

The pattern evolution and dynamic mechanism of the dynamic changes of regional gravity fields occurring before and after the Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake are analyzed, based on five epochs of 1998 -2007 mobile gravity data from the middle-south section of the north-south seismic belt, and two epochs of field research data collected after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in combination with GPS data, leveling observations, and geotectonic environment data. The regional dynamic gravity changes demonstrate the effects of the eastward flow of solid matter in the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau and the preparation of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake （2- 10 yr）. The two most meaningful gravity indicators of the Wcnchuan earthquake preparation are the positive （increasing） gravity changes occurring over many years in the southwest epicenter and the largescale gradient zone of gravity variation, with the cumulative difference between the two sides of the gradient zone of gravity exceeding 200 μGal. The positive gravity changes may facilitate a constant energy accumulation and the gradient belt may support seismic shear breakage. Overall, the gravity changes associated with the earthquake preparation indicate a pattern of accelerating increase-decelerating increase-earthquake occurrence. The Songpan-Ganzi block generally displays a negative gravity change, providing evidence for a local upwarp- ing of the deep crust-mantle and an interior expansion of the deep crust attributable to high temperatures. The viewpoint is consistent with the dilatant mechanism for earthquake preparation.

Gravity field recovery from GOCE orbits using the energy conservation approach

The sum of the dissipative energy and energy constant of the GOCE satellite is found by a priori gravity field model at first, and the GOCE dissipative energy is obtained by computing the adjacent epoch difference via the differential method. Then, a gravity field model GOCE-ECPO1, which up to the degree and order 80, is recovered by the energy conservation approach from the 103-day precise orbital data of the GOCE satellite collected from November 1, 2009 to January 12, 2010. Finally, the model is compared with existing models EGM96, ITG-CHAMP05S, EIGEN-GRACE2010S, EIGEN-6C and GO CONS GCF 2 DIR_R3. The results show that at the same order and degree, the accuracy of model GOCE-EBPO1 is higher than those of models EGM96 and ITG-CHAMP05S, but lower than those of models EIGEN-GRACE2010S, EIGEN-6C and GO_CONS_GCF 2 DIR_R3, which is mainly caused by the pole gap.

Monthly gravity field solution from GRACE range measurements using modified short arc approach

In this paper we present a series of monthly gravity field solutions from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment（GRACE） range measurements using modified short arc approach,in which the ambiguity of range measurements is eliminated via differentiating two adjacent range measurements.The data used for developing our monthly gravity field model are same as Tongji-GRACEOl model except that the range measurements are used to replace the range rate measurements,and our model is truncated to degree and order 60,spanning Jan.2004 to Dec.2010 also same as Tongji-GRACE01 model.Based on the comparison results of the C_（2,0）,C_（2,1）,S_（2,1）,and C_（15,15）,S_（15,15）,time series and the global mass change signals as well as the mass change time series in Amazon area of our model with those of Tongji-GRACE01 model,we can conclude that our monthly gravity field model is comparable with Tongji-GRACE01 monthly model.

WHU-Grace01s:A new temporal gravity field model recovered from GRACE KBRR data alone

A new temporal gravity field model called WHU-Grace01s solely recovered from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment （GRACE） K-Band Range Rate （KBRR） data based on dynamic integral approach is presented in this paper. After meticulously preprocessing of the GRACE KBRR data, the root mean square of its post residuals is about 0.2 micrometers per second, and seventy-two monthly temporal solutions truncated to degree and order 60 are computed for the period from January 2003 to December 2008. After applying the combi- nation filter in WHU-Grace01s, the global temporal signals show obvious periodical change rules in the large-scale fiver basins. In terms of the degree variance, our solution is smaller at high degrees, and shows a good consistency at the rest of degrees with the Release 05 models from Center for Space Research （CSR）, GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam （GFZ） and Jet Pro- pulsion Laboratory 0PL）. Compared with other published models in terms of equivalent water height distribution, our solution is consistent with those published by CSR, GFZ, JPL, Delft institute of Earth Observation and Space system （DEOS）, Tongji University （Tongji）, Institute of Theoretical Geodesy （ITG）, Astronomical Institute in University of Bern （AIUB） and Groupe de Recherche de Geodesie Spatiale （GRGS}, which indicates that the accuracy of WHU-Grace01s has a good consistency with the previously published GRACE solutions.

Periodic orbits around areostationary points in the Martian gravity field

This study investigates the problem of areostationary orbits around Mars in three-dimensional space. Areostationary orbits are expected to be used to establish a future telecommunication network for the exploration of Mars. However, no artificial satellites have been placed in these orbits thus far. The characteristics of the Martian gravity field are presented, and areostationary points and their linear stability are cal- culated. By taking linearized solutions in the planar case as the initial guesses and utilizing the Levenberg-Marquardt method, families of periodic orbits around areo- stationary points are shown to exist. Short-period orbits and long-period orbits are found around linearly stable areostationary points, but only short-period orbits are found around unstable areostationary points. Vertical periodic orbits around both lin- early stable and unstable areostationary points are also examined. Satellites in these periodic orbits could depart from areostationary points by a few degrees in longitude, which would facilitate observation of the Martian topography. Based on the eigenval- ues of the monodromy matrix, the evolution of the stability index of periodic orbits is determined. Finally, heteroclinic orbits connecting the two unstable areostationary points are found, providing the possibility for orbital transfer with minimal energy consumption.

Monthly gravity field recovery from GRACE orbits and K-band measurements using variational equations approach

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment（GRACE） mission can significantly improve our knowledge of the temporal variability of the Earth＇s gravity field.We obtained monthly gravity field solutions based on variational equations approach from GPS-derived positions of GRACE satellites and K-band range-rate measurements.The impact of different fixed data weighting ratios in temporal gravity field recovery while combining the two types of data was investigated for the purpose of deriving the best combined solution.The monthly gravity field solution obtained through above procedures was named as the Institute of Geodesy and Geophysics（IGG） temporal gravity field models.IGG temporal gravity field models were compared with GRACE Release05（RL05） products in following aspects：（i） the trend of the mass anomaly in China and its nearby regions within 2005-2010; （ii） the root mean squares of the global mass anomaly during 2005-2010; （iii） time-series changes in the mean water storage in the region of the Amazon Basin and the Sahara Desert between 2005 and 2010.The results showed that IGG solutions were almost consistent with GRACE RL05 products in above aspects（i）-（iii）.Changes in the annual amplitude of mean water storage in the Amazon Basin were 14.7 ± 1.2 cm for IGG,17.1 ± 1.3 cm for the Centre for Space Research（CSR）,16.4 ± 0.9 cm for the GeoForschungsZentrum（GFZ） and 16.9 ± 1.2 cm for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory（JPL） in terms of equivalent water height（EWH）,respectively.The root mean squares of the mean mass anomaly in Sahara were 1.2 cm,0.9 cm,0.9 cm and 1.2 cm for temporal gravity field models of IGG,CSR,GFZ and JPL,respectively.Comparison suggested that IGG temporal gravity field solutions were at the same accuracy level with the latest temporal gravity field solutions published by CSR,GFZ and JPL.