Comparing GRACE-FO KBR and LRI Ranging Data with Focus on Carrier Frequency Variations

authored by

Vitali Müller, Markus Hauk, Malte Misfeldt, Laura Müller, Henry Wegener, Yihao Yan, Gerhard Heinzel

Abstract

The GRACE Follow-On satellite mission measures distance variations between its two satellites in order to derive monthly gravity field maps, indicating mass variability on Earth on a scale of a few 100 km originating from hydrology, seismology, climatology and other sources. This mission hosts two ranging instruments, a conventional microwave system based on K(a)-band ranging (KBR) and a novel laser ranging instrument (LRI), both relying on interferometric phase readout. In this paper, we show how the phase measurements can be converted into range data using a time-dependent carrier frequency (or wavelength) that takes into account potential intraday variability in the microwave or laser frequency. Moreover, we analyze the KBR-LRI residuals and discuss which error and noise contributors limit the residuals at high and low Fourier frequencies. It turns out that the agreement between KBR and LRI biased range observations can be slightly improved by considering intraday carrier frequency variations in the processing. Although the effect is probably small enough to have little relevance for gravity field determination at the current precision level, this analysis is of relevance for detailed instrument characterization and potentially for future more precise missions.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Gravitation Physics
QuantumFrontiers
PhoenixD: Photonics, Optics, and Engineering - Innovation Across Disciplines
CRC 1464: Relativistic and Quantum-Based Geodesy (TerraQ)

External Organisation(s)

Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute)
DLR-Institute for Satellite Geodesy and Inertial Sensing

Type

Article

Journal

Remote sensing

Volume

14

Pages

4335

ISSN

2072-4292

Publication date

01.09.2022

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14174335 (Access: Open)