GOCE

Earth Survey Satellite GOCE
Figure: Astrium

GOCE is the first satellite mission within the framework of the Living Planet Programme of ESA and will map Earth's gravity field in unprecedented detail. From the data obtained, the GFZ - German Research Centre for Geosciences will calculate its own, high resolution gravity field. These data result in a model which became popular as the “Potsdam Gravity Potato”.

GOCE will map the Earth's gravity field with a spatial resolution of approx. 100 km which is considerably more precise than all gravity satellite missions to date. One of the most important scientific goals of the GOCE mission will be the study of the global ocean currents.

The GFZ, which looks back on many years of experience in analysis of satellite-based gravity field, measurements participates in the evaluation of GOCE data as a co-operating partner within the framework of the so called High Level Processing Facility (HPF) under the Project Managment of the Technical University Munich and together with scientific institutions from Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands.