Duration: January 2007 - July 2008

in cooperation with:

Netherlands Institute for Space Research,
TU München, TU Delft, Univ. Stuttgart, Univ. Newcastle,
Univ. Luxemburg, AWI Bremerhaven, Univ. Bristol, Univ. Utrecht

supported by: European Space Agency (ESA)

Space-based observations of the time-variable gravity field have been demonstrated to be highly valuable for a broad range of oceanographic and hydrologic applications, rising the demand of designing potential follow-on missions. In order to evaluate various mission ideas, a combination of numerical models containing the dynamics of atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere, continental hydrosphere as well as ocean and solid earth tides are used to identify which signals can be sucessfully retrieved and to which extent the observations are affected by aliasing effects caused by the limited sampling abilities in time and space. Various simulation studies will be carried out in order to provide requirements for future satellite missions regarding measurement accuracy and sampling properties, that goes beyond the present abilities of CHAMP, GRACE and GOCE.

The section is in particular involved in providing high-resolution ocean mass anomalies as simulated with OMCT in order to describe the transient ocean dynamics in the modelled world. Additionally, expertise is provided regarding the combination of the individual model components, e.g., in questions of mass conservation in the modelled Earth system.