Results and Products

Results of the first phase of the Research Unit are:

  • Time averaged (static) uncertainty estimates for major ocean tides on global and regional scales for de-aliasing purposes (IP1)
  • Time-averaged (static) uncertainty information for AOD1B products (IP2)
  • High resolution short-term atmospheric and hydrological mass variations including error estimates to be used for de-aliasing and validation purposes (IP3)
  • Realization of a European test bed for de-aliasing studies and validation of GRACE/GRACE-FO products based on European SG and GNSS data (IP3)
  • Significantly improved GRACE and GRACE-FO gravity field models based on improved stochastic modeling and parametrization (exemplarily for 3 years) (IP4 and IP5)
  • Cross-calibration GRACE and GRACE-FO (IP4)
  • Optimized filter strategy for Level-2 GRACE and GRACE-FO products (IP6)
  • Quantification of impact of improved processing strategies on Next Generation Gravity Missions (IP6)

Cooperation within and across IPs has been fostered through an extensive scheme of exchange of results and methods between the various scientists.

The following table summarizes the deliverables defined for the first phase and shows also the level of compliance after 28 months. Details on the IP-specific achievements and results are given at the individual IP pages. The final data products of the different phase 1 IPs will be made available in fall 2022.

Del. Content Date Target IP
D1.1 Uncertainties of present-day ocean tide models M12 4,5
D1.2 New estimates of ocean and load tides M24 (draft),
M36 (final)
4,5
D2.1 Non-tidal atmosphere and ocean differences M6 (draft),
M12 (final)
3,5
D2.2 Stationary variance-covariance for A+O coefficients M24 (draft),
M36 (final)
4,5
D2.3 New AOD coefficients M24 (draft),
M36 (final)
4,5
D3.1 Alternative AO+H coefficients, high resolution over Europe M24 (A+H),
M36 (final)
4,5
D3.2 Ensemble of A+H coefficients for error representations M24 4,5
D3.3 Error PSD and variance-covariance for A+H coefficients M36 P2: 4,5
D3.4 Validation over Europe M24 (method),
M36 (results)
2,4,5
D4.1 Stochastic models and systematic instrument characterization for ACC, KBR and LRI M6 5,6
D4.2 Recommendations for individual tidal, non-tidal and empirical parametrization in combination with stochastic modelling and application to real data M18 5,6
D4.3 Baseline strategy for the treatment of background model errors M18 1,2,3,5,6
D4.4 Recommendation regarding methodology for combined tidal, non-tidal and empirical parametrization in combination with stochastic modelling, as well as an impact analysis of individual and combined effects and quantification of improvements. M32 (draft),
M36 (final)
1,2,3,5,6
D4.5 Temporal gravity field models for selected months M32 (draft),
M36 (final)
1,2,3,5,6
D5.1 Dominant parameter and background model errors M18 1,2,3,4,6
D5.2 Time-variable gravity from 3 years of GRACE/GRACE-FO real data with improved error estimates M32 (draft),
M36 (final)
4,6
P2: 2,6
D6.1 Data set consisting of 3 years (2 for GRACE and 1 for GRACE-FO) of post-processed global gravity field models with realistic error estimates, including a report on the assessment and quantification of the filter effects. M36 P2: 2
D6.2 Report containing the evaluation and conclusive summary of results of Phase 1, an identification of research topics to be addressed in Phase 2, and recommendations to external entities. M36 P2: 2
D6.3 Report containing the main NGGM simulation results and the assessment of the impact of new methodological developments achieved in this RU. M36 P2: 2

Table 1: Deliverables agreed upon within the RU in the first phase. In the first column, the first digit of each ID indicates the IP responsible for generating the product. Target IP describes the IPs that are going to use those deliverables for subsequent investigations. P2 indicates that the deliverable is going to be used by given IPs in the second phase only. Already generated deliverables are marked in bold letters.