NOV 30, 2014  

NOV 23, 2014       NOV 16, 2014       NOV 9, 2014       NOV 2, 2014       OCT 26, 2014       OCT 19, 2014      OCT 12, 2014         EARLIER

 

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Gravity field and steady-state Ocean circulation Explorer (GOCE)

To map in detail the Earth's gravity field from a satellite orbit, GOCE’s primary instrumentation was a highly sensitive gravity gradiometer consisting of three pairs of accelerometers which measured gravitational gradients along three orthogonal axes. And doing this with an unprecedented accuracy of 10-5 m·s-2 (1 mGal), GOCE was able to determine the geoid (the theoretical surface of equal gravitational potential on the Earth) with an accuracy of 1 to 2 cm! Among the main goals of the project are: (1) a better understanding of the physics of the Earth's interior to gain new insights into the geodynamics associated with the lithosphere, mantle composition and rheology, uplift and subduction processes; (2) a better understanding of the ocean currents and heat transport; (3) a global height-reference system, which can serve as a reference surface for the study of topographic processes and sea-level change; (4) better estimates of the thickness of polar ice-sheets and their movement.

If you are still with me after above sciento-techno language, let me tell you that some very important usage of GECO’s type of data acquisition for some reason are not mentioned to public. Namely, gravitation is an interaction of your mass with some other mass. So, the data could indicate to you what natural resources your friends and enemies have under the ground, The data could tell you if another submarine is approaching your submarine regardless how quiet she is. The data could tell you that your spaceship is closing on another spaceship which is otherwise invisible (because it does not reflect or emit any light except when it’s shooting at you). Same for some other masses of interest.

GOCE satellite data

 

WEBSITE  EDITOR:
Krešimir J. Adamić