GRACE NON-TIDAL OCEAN GEOPOTENTIAL COEFFICIENTS JPL RELEASE 6.0 GAB

(GRACE_GAB_L2_GRAV_JPL_RL06)
Version6.0
Processing Level2
Start/Stop Date2002-Apr-04 to 2017-Jun-30
Short NameGRACE_GAB_L2_GRAV_JPL_RL06
DescriptionFOR EXPERT USE ONLY. This dataset contains estimates of geopotential field derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission measurements and a non-tidal oceanic model produced by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The data are in spherical harmonics averaged over approximately a month. The primary objective of the GRACE mission is to obtain accurate estimates of the mean and time-variable components of the gravity field variations. This objective is achieved by making continuous measurements of the change in distance between twin spacecraft, co-orbiting in about 500 km altitude, near circular, polar orbit, spaced approximately 200 km apart, using a microwave ranging system. In addition to these range change, the non-gravitional forces are measured on each satellite using a high accuracy electrostatic, room-temperature accelerometer. The satellite orientation and position (and timing) are precisely measured using twin star cameras and a GPS receiver, respectively. Spatial and temporal variations in the gravity field affect the orbits (or trajectories) of the twin spacecraft differently. These differences are manifested as changes in the distance between the spacecraft, as they orbit the Earth. This change in distance is reflected in the time-of-flight of microwave signals transmitted and received nearly simultaneously between the two spacecraft. The change in this time of fight is continuously measured by tracking the phase of the microwave carrier signals. The so called dual-one-way range change measurements can be reconstructed from these phase measurements. This range change (or its numerically derived derivatives), along with other mission and ancillary data, is subsequently analyzed to extract the parameters of an Earth gravity field model.
DOI10.5067/GRGAB-20J06
MeasurementOCEANS > OCEAN PRESSURE > WATER PRESSURE
SOLID EARTH > GRAVITY/GRAVITATIONAL FIELD > GRAVITY
Swath Width-1 km
Platform/Sensor
GRACE
Platform
Name: Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE)
Orbit Period: -1.0 minutes
/
KBR
SENSOR
Name: K-Band Ranging system (KBR)
Swath Width: -1.0 kilometers
Description: K-Band Ranging System uses K and Ka-band to measure the separation change between the two satellites.

ProjectGravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE)
Data ProviderPublisher: JPL
Creator: GRACE
Release Place: JPL PO.DAAC
Release Date: 2018-Jul-05
Resource: https://grace.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/grace/

FormatASCII
Keyword(s)gravity, GRACE, GAB, JPL, RL06
Questions related to this dataset? Contact podaac@podaac.jpl.nasa.gov
Resolution
Spatial Resolution: 500 Kilometers x 500 Kilometers
Temporal Resolution: Monthly - < Annual
 
Coverage
Region: GLOBAL
North Bounding Coordinate: 88 degrees
South Bounding Coordinate: -88 degrees
West Bounding Coordinate: -180 degrees
East Bounding Coordinate: 180 degrees
Time Span: 2002-Apr-04 to 2017-Jun-30
Granule Time Span: 2002-Apr-04 to 2017-Jun-29
Swath Width: -1 km
 
Projection
Projection Type: Spherical
Projection Detail: N/A
Ellipsoid: WGS 84
 
Citation is critically important for dataset documentation and discovery. Please cite the data as follows, and cite the reference papers when it is appropriate.
Citation GRACE. 2018. GRACE_GAB_L2_GRAV_JPL_RL06. Ver. 6.0. PO.DAAC, CA, USA. Dataset accessed [YYYY-MM-DD] at https://doi.org/10.5067/GRGAB-20J06

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For more information see Data Citations and Acknowledgments.
Journal Reference Bettadpur, S. 2018. Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Level-2 Gravity Field Product User Handbook. Center for Space Research at The University of Texas at Austin https://archive.podaac.earthdata.nasa.gov/podaac-ops-cumulus-docs/grace/open/docs/L2-UserHandbook_v4.0.pdf

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