Details
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | e2024EA003630 |
Journal | Earth and Space Science |
Volume | 11 |
Issue number | 9 |
Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2024 |
Abstract
We investigate the benefits of future quantum accelerometers based on cold atom interferometry (CAI) on current and upcoming satellite gravity mission concepts. These mission concepts include satellite-to-satellite tracking (SST) in a single-pair (GRACE-like) and double-pair constellation as well as satellite gravity gradiometry (SGG, single satellite, GOCE-like). Regarding instruments, four scenarios are considered: current-generation electrostatic (GRACE-, GOCE-like), next-generation electrostatic, conservative hybrid/CAI and optimistic hybrid/CAI. For SST, it is shown that temporal aliasing poses currently the dominating error source in simulated global gravity field solutions independent of the investigated instrument and constellation. To still quantify the advantages of CAI instruments on the gravity functional itself, additional simulations are performed where the impact of temporal aliasing is synthetically reduced. When neglecting temporal aliasing, future accelerometers in conjunction with future ranging instruments can substantially improve the retrieval performance of the Earth's gravity field (depending on instrument and constellation). These simulation results are further investigated regarding possible benefit for hydrological use cases where these improvements can also be observed (when omitting temporal aliasing). For SGG, it is demonstrated that, with realistic instrument assumptions, one is still mostly insensitive to time-variable gravity and not competitive with the SST principle. However, due to the improved instrument sensitivity of quantum gradiometers compared to the GOCE mission, static gravity field solutions can be improved significantly.
Keywords
- cold atom interferometer (CAI), GOCE, GRACE, gravity field, quantum accelerometer, satellite gravity gradiometry (SGG), satellite-to-satellite tracking (SST), temporal aliasing
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Science(all)
- Environmental Science (miscellaneous)
- Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
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In: Earth and Space Science, Vol. 11, No. 9, e2024EA003630, 01.09.2024.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The Benefits of Future Quantum Accelerometers for Satellite Gravimetry
AU - Zingerle, P.
AU - Romeshkani, M.
AU - Haas, J.
AU - Gruber, T.
AU - Güntner, A.
AU - Müller, J.
AU - Pail, R.
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024. The Author(s).
PY - 2024/9/1
Y1 - 2024/9/1
N2 - We investigate the benefits of future quantum accelerometers based on cold atom interferometry (CAI) on current and upcoming satellite gravity mission concepts. These mission concepts include satellite-to-satellite tracking (SST) in a single-pair (GRACE-like) and double-pair constellation as well as satellite gravity gradiometry (SGG, single satellite, GOCE-like). Regarding instruments, four scenarios are considered: current-generation electrostatic (GRACE-, GOCE-like), next-generation electrostatic, conservative hybrid/CAI and optimistic hybrid/CAI. For SST, it is shown that temporal aliasing poses currently the dominating error source in simulated global gravity field solutions independent of the investigated instrument and constellation. To still quantify the advantages of CAI instruments on the gravity functional itself, additional simulations are performed where the impact of temporal aliasing is synthetically reduced. When neglecting temporal aliasing, future accelerometers in conjunction with future ranging instruments can substantially improve the retrieval performance of the Earth's gravity field (depending on instrument and constellation). These simulation results are further investigated regarding possible benefit for hydrological use cases where these improvements can also be observed (when omitting temporal aliasing). For SGG, it is demonstrated that, with realistic instrument assumptions, one is still mostly insensitive to time-variable gravity and not competitive with the SST principle. However, due to the improved instrument sensitivity of quantum gradiometers compared to the GOCE mission, static gravity field solutions can be improved significantly.
AB - We investigate the benefits of future quantum accelerometers based on cold atom interferometry (CAI) on current and upcoming satellite gravity mission concepts. These mission concepts include satellite-to-satellite tracking (SST) in a single-pair (GRACE-like) and double-pair constellation as well as satellite gravity gradiometry (SGG, single satellite, GOCE-like). Regarding instruments, four scenarios are considered: current-generation electrostatic (GRACE-, GOCE-like), next-generation electrostatic, conservative hybrid/CAI and optimistic hybrid/CAI. For SST, it is shown that temporal aliasing poses currently the dominating error source in simulated global gravity field solutions independent of the investigated instrument and constellation. To still quantify the advantages of CAI instruments on the gravity functional itself, additional simulations are performed where the impact of temporal aliasing is synthetically reduced. When neglecting temporal aliasing, future accelerometers in conjunction with future ranging instruments can substantially improve the retrieval performance of the Earth's gravity field (depending on instrument and constellation). These simulation results are further investigated regarding possible benefit for hydrological use cases where these improvements can also be observed (when omitting temporal aliasing). For SGG, it is demonstrated that, with realistic instrument assumptions, one is still mostly insensitive to time-variable gravity and not competitive with the SST principle. However, due to the improved instrument sensitivity of quantum gradiometers compared to the GOCE mission, static gravity field solutions can be improved significantly.
KW - cold atom interferometer (CAI)
KW - GOCE
KW - GRACE
KW - gravity field
KW - quantum accelerometer
KW - satellite gravity gradiometry (SGG)
KW - satellite-to-satellite tracking (SST)
KW - temporal aliasing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85202979000&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1029/2024EA003630
DO - 10.1029/2024EA003630
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85202979000
VL - 11
JO - Earth and Space Science
JF - Earth and Space Science
IS - 9
M1 - e2024EA003630
ER -