GSFC00 mean sea surface, gravity anomaly, and vertical gravity gradient from satellite altimeter data

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Abstract
A mean sea surface, GSFC00, and its derivatives, the altimetry gravity anomaly and vertical gravity gradient fields, were computed using sea surface heights of TOPEX, ERS, and Geosat satellite altimeter missions provided by the NASA Ocean Altimeter Pathfinder Project [Koblinsky et al., 1998]. A new estimation method, distinct from the GSFC98 mean sea surface computation [Wang, 2000a], was explored and used to reduce ocean variability in the mean sea surface heights. The gravity anomaly and vertical gravity gradient fields were then computed from the mean sea surface height implied geoid undulations. Validation of the GSFC00 mean sea surface and gravity anomaly was also performed.