ACCURACY OF RELATIVE OCEANIC GEOID COMPUTATIONS

An error analysis based on a model which requires potential coefficients and gravity anomaly information for the computation of oceanic geoid undulations is developed. The rigorous models are presented and abandoned owing to the numerical difficulties associated with them. An approximate error model is developed in the frequency domain through which an idea is obtained as to the size and behaviour of the errors involved. The use of the method is demonstrated by obtaining data requirements for the realization of a 10cm relative oceanic geoid. Various data sets could result in the desired accuracy. One such set, indicative of the strictness of the requirements, involves gravity profile spacings of approximately 3km with observational noise not exceeding 0.5 mGal inside detailed data caps of 30o and potential coefficients of prescribed accuracy available to degree and order 70. -Author