Mass distribution and mass transport in the Earth system

Kusche, Jürgen; Klemann, Volker; Bösch, Wolfgang

doi:10.1016/j.jog.2012.03.003

Cited by 36 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) has provided valuable information about the global integral effects of mass redistributions within the Earth system [ Kusche et al ., and the references in it]. Yet, GRACE‒derived gravity field solutions display errors due to instrument noise (K‒band ranging system and GPS) [ Sheard et al ., ], anisotropic spatial sampling of the mission [ Schrama et al ., ; Sneeuw et al ., ], and temporal aliasing caused by incomplete reduction of short‒term mass variations by models [ Flechtner et al ., ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparisons of atmospheric data and reduction methods for the analysis of satellite gravimetry observations

et al. 2013

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[1] The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) derived gravity solutions contain errors mostly due to instrument noise, anisotropic spatial sampling, and temporal aliasing. Improving the quality of satellite gravimetry observations, in terms of using more sensitive sensors and/or increasing the spatial isotropy, has been discussed in the context of the designed scenarios of future satellite gravimetry missions. Temporal aliasing caused by incomplete reducing of background models, however, is still a factor that affects the quality of the gravity field solutions. This paper specifically explores the possible physical, geometrical, and numerical modifications of the three-dimensional (3-D) integration approach to eliminate the high-frequency atmospheric effects from satellite gravimetry observations. The new modified 3-D approach is then applied to compute new sets of atmospheric dealiasing products, using atmospheric fields from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) operational analysis model and ERA-Interim reanalysis. Impacts of modifications are compared to the prelaunch baseline and the current error-curve of GRACE as well as an error-curve of a Bender-type multiorbit satellite configuration. Specifically, we found that using latitude-dependent radius, latitude-and altitude-dependent gravity accelerations along with numerical modifications have a considerable impact on the 3-D integral. Comparing the new products to those of GRACE Atmosphere and Ocean Dealiasing level-1B shows a nonnegligible difference with respect to the prelaunch baseline of GRACE and a possible Bender-type mission up to harmonic degrees 13 and 50, respectively. A big difference is also found between the derived dealiasing products from ECMWF operational analysis and ERA-Interim indicating the importance of input parameters on the final atmospheric dealiasing products.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparisons of atmospheric data and reduction methods for the analysis of satellite gravimetry observations

et al. 2013

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“…From the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission (Tapley et al 2004), new fundamental insights into the changing mass distribution have been achieved in the last decade (for a recent review the reader is referred to Cazenave and Chen (2010), which provides an extensive review of results concerning mass distribution that has been compiled from a large number of research papers. Recent results are also presented in Kusche et al (2012)). The GRACE mission has been extremely valuable in providing insight into continental hydrology (see the recent reviews by Frappart and Ramillien 2012;Güntner 2008;Ramillien et al 2008;Schmidt et al 2008), with a focus on large-scale seasonal signals, and the effects of hydrometeorological extremes such as droughts and floods.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…The concept builds on previous studies, in particular from Beutler et al (2003), Flury and Rummel (2005), Koop and Rummel (2008), and the Graz workshop ''Towards a roadmap for future satellite gravity missions'' (2009). As such, it represents a broader perspective on satellite gravimetry.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Earth System Mass Transport Mission (e.motion): A Concept for Future Earth Gravity Field Measurements from Space

et al. 2012

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In the last decade, satellite gravimetry has been revealed as a pioneering technique for mapping mass redistributions within the Earth system. This fact has allowed us to have an improved understanding of the dynamic processes that take place within and -012-9209-8 between the Earth's various constituents. Results from the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission have revolutionized Earth system research and have established the necessity for future satellite gravity missions. In 2010, a comprehensive team of European and Canadian scientists and industrial partners proposed the e.motion (Earth system mass transport mission) concept to the European Space Agency. The proposal is based on two tandem satellites in a pendulum orbit configuration at an altitude of about 370 km, carrying a laser interferometer inter-satellite ranging instrument and improved accelerometers. In this paper, we review and discuss a wide range of mass signals related to the global water cycle and to solid Earth deformations that were outlined in the e.motion proposal. The technological and mission challenges that need to be addressed in order to detect these signals are emphasized within the context of the scientific return. This analysis presents a broad perspective on the value and need for future satellite gravimetry missions.

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“…GRACE's unique products along with complementary observations (e.g., satellite altimetry) and modeling techniques (e.g., land surface model, 'LSM,' simulations) can be used for basin scale water balance studies (see, e.g., Kusche et al 2012;Schumacher et al 2016;Wouters et al 2014 for a review). For example, GRACE and LSM were applied in Voss et al (2013) to monitor groundwater variability over the Tigris-Euphrates river basin, and in Joodaki et al (2014) to estimate anthropogenic contributions to groundwater loss over Iran.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Large-Scale Total Water Storage and Water Flux Changes over the Arid and Semiarid Parts of the Middle East from GRACE and Reanalysis Products

et al. 2016

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Previous studies indicate that water storage over a large part of the Middle East has been decreased over the last decade. Variability in the total (hydrological) water flux (TWF, i.e., precipitation minus evapotranspiration minus runoff) and water storage changes of the Tigris-Euphrates river basin and Iran's six major basins (Khazar, Persian, Urmia, Markazi, Hamun, and Sarakhs) over 2003-2013 is assessed in this study. Our investigation is performed based on the TWF that are estimated as temporal derivatives of terrestrial water storage (TWS) changes from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) products and those from the reanalysis products of ERA-Interim and MERRA-Land. An inversion approach is applied to consistently estimate the spatio-temporal changes of soil moisture and groundwater storage compartments of the seven basins during the study period from GRACE TWS, altimetry, and land surface model products. The influence of TWF trends on separated water storage compartments is then explored. Our results, estimated as basin averages, indicate negative trends in the maximums of TWF peaks that reach up to -5.2 and -2.6 (mm/month/year) over 2003-2013, respectively, for the Urmia and Tigris-Euphrates basins, which are most likely due to the reported meteorological drought. Maximum amplitudes of the soil moisture compartment exhibit negative trends of -11.1, -6.6, -6.1, -4.8, -4.7, -3.8, and -1.2 (mm/year) for Urmia, Tigris-Euphrates, Khazar, Persian, Markazi, Sarakhs, and Hamun basins, respectively. Strong groundwater storage decrease is found, respectively, within the Khazar -8.6 (mm/ year) and Sarakhs -7.0 (mm/year) basins. The magnitude of water storage decline in the Urmia and Tigris-Euphrates basins is found to be bigger than the decrease in the monthly accumulated TWF indicating a contribution of human water use, as well as surface and groundwater flow to the storage decline over the study area.

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Mass distribution and mass transport in the Earth system

Cited by 36 publications

References 28 publications

Comparisons of atmospheric data and reduction methods for the analysis of satellite gravimetry observations

Comparisons of atmospheric data and reduction methods for the analysis of satellite gravimetry observations

Earth System Mass Transport Mission (e.motion): A Concept for Future Earth Gravity Field Measurements from Space

Large-Scale Total Water Storage and Water Flux Changes over the Arid and Semiarid Parts of the Middle East from GRACE and Reanalysis Products

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