Geoid computations using ring integration: gridded versus point data

Abstract

Gravimetric geoid heights were generated at GPS control stations through the ring integration software, using both point anomalies and their gridded versions. In this way, the propagation of errors through to the geoid solution, due to inaccurate representation of the anomalies by the grid, could be assessed. The use of gridded data was found to improve upon solutions gained from point data, especially in areas of sparse data. The accuracy of the ring technique was also tested, by comparison with a geoid generated by the Fourier method from an earlier study in the Merlinleigh Basin in Western Australia.Using the same data as the earlier study, the ring method returned estimates of the geoid height at the control stations in good agreement with those from the Fourier study.