Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | e2025EA004417 |
| Journal | Earth and Space Science (ESS) |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 31 Dec 2025 |
Abstract
Accurate monitoring of the Earth's gravity field is crucial for understanding mass redistribution processes related to climate change, hydrology, and geodynamics. The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and its successor, GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO), have provided invaluable satellite gravimetry data through low-low satellite-to-satellite tracking (LL-SST). However, the precision of gravity field recovery is significantly affected not only by data gaps in the accelerometer (ACC) measurements, but also by potential failures or limitations in their performance. To mitigate these issues, accelerometer data transplantation has been employed, leveraging the similarity in non-gravitational accelerations experienced by both satellites. This study presents an in-depth assessment of transplant noise and evaluates advanced accelerometer configurations, including Cold Atom Interferometry (CAI) accelerometers and hybrid electrostatic-quantum accelerometer setups for future satellite gravimetry missions. Through closed-loop LL-SST simulations, we compare four different accelerometer configurations, ranging from conventional electrostatic accelerometers (EAs) to fully hybrid CAI-EA setups. Results indicate that a dual hybrid accelerometer configuration offers the highest accuracy in gravity field recovery, while a transplant-based hybrid approach significantly enhances the performance of non-gravitational force modeling without requiring additional instrumentation. The findings underscore the potential of quantum accelerometery and transplant methodologies for future satellite gravimetry missions, offering a cost-effective solution to improve gravity field recovery, while benefitting from new sensor types.
Keywords
- cold atom interferometer (CAI), data transplant, GRACE, gravity field, quantum accelerometer
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Science(all)
- Environmental Science (miscellaneous)
- Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
- General Earth and Planetary Sciences
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: Earth and Space Science (ESS), Vol. 13, No. 1, e2025EA004417, 31.12.2025.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Accelerometer data transplant for future satellite gravimetry
AU - Romeshkani, Mohsen
AU - Müller, Jürgen
AU - Ebadi, Sahar
AU - Knabe, Annike
AU - Schilling, Manuel
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2025. The Author(s).
PY - 2025/12/31
Y1 - 2025/12/31
N2 - Accurate monitoring of the Earth's gravity field is crucial for understanding mass redistribution processes related to climate change, hydrology, and geodynamics. The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and its successor, GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO), have provided invaluable satellite gravimetry data through low-low satellite-to-satellite tracking (LL-SST). However, the precision of gravity field recovery is significantly affected not only by data gaps in the accelerometer (ACC) measurements, but also by potential failures or limitations in their performance. To mitigate these issues, accelerometer data transplantation has been employed, leveraging the similarity in non-gravitational accelerations experienced by both satellites. This study presents an in-depth assessment of transplant noise and evaluates advanced accelerometer configurations, including Cold Atom Interferometry (CAI) accelerometers and hybrid electrostatic-quantum accelerometer setups for future satellite gravimetry missions. Through closed-loop LL-SST simulations, we compare four different accelerometer configurations, ranging from conventional electrostatic accelerometers (EAs) to fully hybrid CAI-EA setups. Results indicate that a dual hybrid accelerometer configuration offers the highest accuracy in gravity field recovery, while a transplant-based hybrid approach significantly enhances the performance of non-gravitational force modeling without requiring additional instrumentation. The findings underscore the potential of quantum accelerometery and transplant methodologies for future satellite gravimetry missions, offering a cost-effective solution to improve gravity field recovery, while benefitting from new sensor types.
AB - Accurate monitoring of the Earth's gravity field is crucial for understanding mass redistribution processes related to climate change, hydrology, and geodynamics. The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and its successor, GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO), have provided invaluable satellite gravimetry data through low-low satellite-to-satellite tracking (LL-SST). However, the precision of gravity field recovery is significantly affected not only by data gaps in the accelerometer (ACC) measurements, but also by potential failures or limitations in their performance. To mitigate these issues, accelerometer data transplantation has been employed, leveraging the similarity in non-gravitational accelerations experienced by both satellites. This study presents an in-depth assessment of transplant noise and evaluates advanced accelerometer configurations, including Cold Atom Interferometry (CAI) accelerometers and hybrid electrostatic-quantum accelerometer setups for future satellite gravimetry missions. Through closed-loop LL-SST simulations, we compare four different accelerometer configurations, ranging from conventional electrostatic accelerometers (EAs) to fully hybrid CAI-EA setups. Results indicate that a dual hybrid accelerometer configuration offers the highest accuracy in gravity field recovery, while a transplant-based hybrid approach significantly enhances the performance of non-gravitational force modeling without requiring additional instrumentation. The findings underscore the potential of quantum accelerometery and transplant methodologies for future satellite gravimetry missions, offering a cost-effective solution to improve gravity field recovery, while benefitting from new sensor types.
KW - cold atom interferometer (CAI)
KW - data transplant
KW - GRACE
KW - gravity field
KW - quantum accelerometer
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105026355140&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1029/2025EA004417
DO - 10.1029/2025EA004417
M3 - Article
VL - 13
JO - Earth and Space Science (ESS)
JF - Earth and Space Science (ESS)
SN - 2333-5084
IS - 1
M1 - e2025EA004417
ER -