AUSGeoid2020 combined gravimetric–geometric model: location-specific uncertainties and baseline-length-dependent error decorrelation

Abstract

AUSGeoid2020 is a combined gravimetric–geometric model (sometimes called a “hybrid quasigeoid model”) that provides the separation between the Geocentric Datum of Australia 2020 (GDA2020) ellipsoid and Australia’s national vertical datum, the Australian Height Datum (AHD). This model is also provided with a location-specific uncertainty propagated from a combination of the levelling, GPS ellipsoidal height and gravimetric quasigeoid data errors via least squares prediction. We present a method for computing the relative uncertainty (i.e. uncertainty of the height between any two points) between AUSGeoid2020-derived AHD heights based on the principle of correlated errors cancelling when used over baselines. Results demonstrate AUSGeoid2020 is more accurate than traditional third-order levelling in Australia at distances beyond 3 km, which is 12 mm of allowable misclosure per square root km of levelling. As part of the above work, we identified an error in the gravimetric quasigeoid in Port Phillip Bay (near Melbourne in SE Australia) coming from altimeter-derived gravity anomalies. This error was patched using alternative altimetry data.