External calibration of GOCE SGG data with terrestrial gravity data: A simulation study

Terrestrial gravity anomalies selected from three extended continental regions having a smooth gravity field were used in order to determine the appropriate size of the area for gravity data collection as well as the required data-sampling for calibration of the GOCE satellite gravity gradient (SGG) data. Using Least Square Collocation (LSC), prediction of gravity gradient components was carried out at points on a realistic orbit. Based on the mean error estimation it was shown that up to 80% of the signal of the gravity gradient components, as it is expressed through the covariance function of the terrestrial gravity data, can be recovered in the case of an optimal size of the collection area and of the optimum resolution of the data. These optimal conditions e.g. for the Australian gravity field, correspond to an 10 degrees x 12 degrees area extend and a 5' data-sampling. It was also numerically demonstrated that it is possible to calibrate the GOCE SGG data for systematic errors such as bias and tilt.