Earth Sciences: Geodesy - Storming Media

Gravity and Crustal Structures in the Southern Beaufort Sea (North of Alaska).

SEP 1980

Authors: Peter Dehlinger; CONNECTICUT UNIV GROTON MARINE SCIENCES INST

The full text of this report is not available and therefore is not for sale. This information is provided for reference purposes only.

The purpose of this investigation was to (1) obtain geophysical measurements in open waters of the southern Beaufort Sea (north of Alaska), (2) determine from these measurements and from other data crustal structures that extend across the continental margin and into the adjacent abyssal plain, and (3) interpret the structural features in terms of the tectonic development of the region. The field work was conducted aboard U.S. Coast Guard cutters ...

Solution of Large-Scale Sparse Least Squares Problems Using Auxiliary Storage

11 AUG 1980

Authors: J. A. George; M. T. Heath; R. J. Plemmons; NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV RALEIGH DEPT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

MX Siting Investigation, Gravity Survey - Big Sand Springs Valley, Nevada

09 JUL 1980

Authors: FUGRO NATIONAL INC LONG BEACH CA

The gravity data for Big Sand Springs Valley shows steeply dipping faults forming a deep graben south and east of Squaw Hills. This graben appears to end near Portuguese Mountain. The eastern range-bounding fault, north of Portuguese Mountain, shows progressively less gravity effect as the valley shoals northward. The extreme south end of the valley is partially obscured by young volcanic flows, but the gravity gives some indication of a ...

MX Siting Investigation Gravity Survey - Hot Creek Valley, Nevada

09 JUL 1980

Authors: FUGRO NATIONAL INC LONG BEACH CA

Results of a gravity survey in the Hot Creek Valley of Central Nevada indicates that a major, steeply dipping, range-boarding normal fault system extends the full length of the valley on its western side. The deep-rock configuration on the eastern side of the valley is partially obscured by volcanic flows, but faults are presumed there, also. The offset northern part of the trough may represent a separate basin. (Author) ...

Time Delay of Terrestial Light Pulses Propagating through Clouds to Satellite Systems.

07 JUL 1980

203 pages

Authors: H. S. Stewart; L. B. Woolaver; H S S INC BEDFORD MASS

The full text of this report is available for sale.

A method is described and applied for interpreting optically filtered all sky photographs so as to generate curves of the time dependent probability that a photon emitted by an isotropic source near the earth's surface will reach a satellite at any elevation and azimuth in the sky. Two basic concepts are involved: first, that the probability at lambda = 0.76 micron for absorption of light by atmospheric oxygen is proportional ...

Horizontal Datums for Nautical Charts,

JUL 1980

Authors: Thomas J. Vogel; DEFENSE MAPPING AGENCY HYDROGRAPHIC/ TOPOGRAPHIC CENTER WASHINGTON DC

Marine navigation charts are based on many and varied geodetic datums in use throughout the world. These datums range from local datums to the DoD World Geodetic System (WGS) 1972. In many cases, the datums for adjoining charts will differ, although this difference will usually introduce only minor errors into the solution of navigational problems. There are times, however, when even small errors can be very disconcerting, if not dangerous, ...

Lumped Harmonics of 15th and 30th Order in the Geopotential, from the Resonant Orbit of 1971-54A.

JUL 1980

Authors: D. G. King-Hele; ROYAL AIRCRAFT ESTABLISHMENT FARNBOROUGH (ENGLAND)

The satellite 1971-54A entered a near-circular orbit with period 95.9 minutes and inclination 90.2 deg. Between 1972 and 1978 the orbit passed slowly through 15th-order resonance, when the track over the Earth repeats after 15 revolutions, and the 15th- and 30th-order harmonics in the geopotential may produce substantial orbital perturbations. The values of orbital inclination and eccentricity from 269 weekly US Navy orbits between November 1972 and January 1978 have ...

Elastic Deformations of a Rotating Spheroidal Earth Due to Surface Loads.

18 JUN 1980

Authors: Paolo Lanzano; John C. Daley; NAVAL RESEARCH LAB WASHINGTON DC

We have developed a differential system of equations for representing the deformations of a rotating elastic Earth which has a spheroidal shape and which is hydrostatically prestressed. Our system is meant to represent a more sophisticated model for the Earth's load tide than the ones hereto studied because of the inclusion of rotational terms. In this study, we have assumed that the rotational axis is fixed with respect to the ...

Microgravimetry and the Measurement and Application of Gravity Gradients,

JUN 1980

Authors: Dwain K. Butler; ARMY ENGINEER WATERWAYS EXPERIMENT STATION VICKSBURG MS

Gravimetry is the science which studies the earth's gravitational field in all its aspects. Applied gravimetry involves measurements of the vertical component of the gravitational field g sub z and the attempt to deduce geologic structure from the data. Any inversion of the gravity data to yield a possible causative mass (or density) distribution will be nonunique (as with inversions of all potential field data); however, by coupling geological constraints ...

Geoid Heights, Geoid Height Differences, and Mean Gravity Anomalies from 'Low-Low' Satellite-to-Satellite Tracking - An Error Analysis,

JUN 1980

Authors: Reiner Rummel; OHIO STATE UNIV COLUMBUS DEPT OF GEODETIC SCIENCE

The mathematical model for a simultaneous estimation of improved orbital parameters and an approximation of the earth's gravity field from range rate observations in an SST 'low-low' experiment is described. In a somewhat simplified model an error analysis for the estimation of geoid heights, geoid height differences 1 deg x 1 deg mean gravity anomalies is performed employing the least squares collocation method. Investigated is the dependence of the estimated ...

A General Surface Representation Module Designed for Geodesy,

JUN 1980

167 pages

Authors: Hans Suenkel; OHIO STATE UNIV COLUMBUS DEPT OF GEODETIC SCIENCE

Technological developments during the last decade have provided geodesists with the capability of obtaining enormous amounts of data on and outside the surface of the earth. In order to understand the general behavior of the data, a graphical representation of the data is useful. This type of representation can be obtained by using GSPP, Geodetic Science Plotting Package, a set of FORTRAN IV subroutines. This report describes the various algorithms ...

MX Siting Investigation Gravity Survey - Garden Valley, Nevada

30 MAY 1980

Authors: FUGRO NATIONAL INC LONG BEACH CA

Gravity measurements were made in Garden Valley for the purpose of estimating the overall shape of the structural basin, the thickness of alluvial fill, and the location of concealed faults. The estimates will be useful in modeling the dynamic response of ground motion in the basin and in evaluating groundwater resources. (Author)

MX Siting Investigation. Gravity Survey - Coal Valley, Nevada

30 MAY 1980

Authors: FUGRO NATIONAL INC LONG BEACH CA

Gravity measurements were made in Coal Valley for the purpose of estimating the overall shape of the structural basin, the thickness of alluvial fill, and the location of concealed faults. The estimates will be useful in modeling the dynamic response of ground motion in the basin and in evaluating groundwater resources. (Author)

MX Siting Investigation. Gravity Survey - Southern White River Valley, Nevada

22 MAY 1980

Authors: FUGRO NATIONAL INC LONG BEACH CA

Results of a gravity survey in the Southern White River Valley of Central Nevada indicates there are major ranges bounding normal fault systems on both sides of the valley. The major system on the east is the Egan fault and is generally close to the mountain block. The western fault system is several miles east of the mountain front. The primary graben block is calculated to be between 5600 feet ...

Earth's Rotation in 1975-1979 Based on Doppler Satellite Observations.

MAY 1980

Authors: Richard J. Anderle; NAVAL SURFACE WEAPONS CENTER DAHLGREN VA

Doppler observations of Navy Navigation Satellites have been used to determine changes in earth's rotation during the years 1975-1979. Annual and semiannual variations determined from the Doppler observations are not valid due to the neglect of the gravitational effects of atmospheric and ocean tides on the orbit of a satellite. However, variations with periods of 50 to 120 days are correlated well with astronomic results. These variations integrate to amplitudes ...

Status of the Vertical Geodetic Data at the Defense Mapping Agency Hydrographic/Topographic Center for Mexico and Central America,

MAY 1980

Authors: Hiram H. Skaggs Jr; DEFENSE MAPPING AGENCY HYDROGRAPHIC/ TOPOGRAPHIC CENTER WASHINGTON DC

Since 1946, the Defense Mapping Agency (DMA) has been participating with Mexico and each of the Central American countries, as a result of the collaborative program under the Inter American Geodetic Survey for the production of cartogrpahic, geodetic, and geophysical products. The geodetic leveling network, which developed from these mapping agreements with each country, now contains over 50,000 kilometers of leveling. Gravity observations have also been observed over a large ...

Geophysical Applications of Moving-Base Gravity Gradiometry.

15 APR 1980

Authors: R. D. Brown; PHOENIX CORP MCLEAN VA

The current state-of-the-art in gravity gradiometer development for moving platforms is more than adequate for geophysical survey application. An examination of the gravity gradients of several types of geological features shows that an aircraft mounted instrument with 10 Eotvos unit sensitivity and 10 second response time will be sufficient to measure geological anomalies with scale lengths as small as 5 km. Instruments under development at two different laboratories presently have ...

Comparison of Potential Coefficient Determinations with 5 deg and 1 deg Anomalies,

APR 1980

Authors: Richard H. Rapp; OHIO STATE UNIV COLUMBUS DEPT OF GEODETIC SCIENCE

Potential coefficients can be derived from mean gravity anomalies, satellite data analysis, or a combination of both data types. In using gravity data, a choice of the size of the mean anomaly block to use must be made. Usually this has been 5 deg equal area blocks as opposed to smaller size blocks such as 1 deg x 1 deg. Tests are described in this paper that have been made ...

MX Siting Investigation. Gravity Survey - Southern Snake Valley (Ferguson Desert), Utah

28 MAR 1980

Authors: FUGRO NATIONAL INC LONG BEACH CA

Results of a gravity survey in the Southern Snake Valley of West Central Utah shows the Ferguson Desert area to be a Basin and Range structural valley with a maximum thickness of alluvium of about 3000 feet. There are six inferred bedrock faults. Of these, the two most notable are north-south range bounding faults on the east side of the valley. (Author)

MX Siting Investigation Gravity Survey - Dry Lake Valley, Nevada

17 MAR 1980

Authors: FUGRO NATIONAL INC LONG BEACH CA

An Algorithm for Position Determination Using Loran-C Triplets with a Basic Program for the Commodore 2001 Microcomputer.

MAR 1980

Authors: Rex H. Shudde; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA

An algorithm for position determination using Loran-C triplets and an implementation of the algorithm in the BASIC language of the commodore 2001 microcomputer are presented. Modifications of the geodesic direct solution and reverse solution algorithms of P. D. Thomas are also presented; these modifications eliminate all the special positioning and quadrant determination requirements of the original algorithms. (Author)

A Procedure for River Crossing in Precise Leveling.

MAR 1980

Authors: Hugh N. Caddess; Mushtaq Hussain; DEFENSE MAPPING AGENCY HYDROGRAPHIC/ TOPOGRAPHIC CENTER WASHINGTON DC

A procedure for transferring precise level across a river based on simultaneous measurement of vertical angles to targets mounted on level rods, with a Wild T-3 theodolite, and successfully employed on the Senegal River Basin Survey Project, is described. Different methods available for computing the difference in elevation from observed vertical angles are discussed, and various checks in the intermediate and the final computed results are pointed out. The results ...

MX Siting Investigation Gravity Survey - Hamlin Valley, Nevada

07 FEB 1980

Authors: FUGRO NATIONAL INC LONG BEACH CA

A World Vertical Network.

FEB 1980

Authors: Oscar L. Colombo; OHIO STATE UNIV COLUMBUS DEPT OF GEODETIC SCIENCE

Gravimetric data, levelling, and precise position fixes using artificial satellites or the Moon could be combined to estimate the potential difference between benchmarks situated far apart to an accuracy of a few tenths of kgal m. This is substantially better than what can be obtained with tide gauges, which are affected by the stationary sea surface topography. A set of these benchmarks can link national and continental levelling nets into ...

Extended Applicability of the Spherical-Harmonic and Point-Mass Modeling of the Gravity Field,

FEB 1980

Authors: Georges Blaha; NOVA UNIV OCEAN SCIENCE CENTER DANIA FL

Recent research aimed at improving the knowledge of the earth's gravity field and its fundamental surface, the geoid, has been based to a large extent on a short-arc mode of satellite altimetry. The global geoidal parameters have consisted of spherical harmonic potential coefficients, and the local parameters have consisted of point mass magnitudes. It is shown that an adjustment solely in terms of the point masses is not desirable due ...

Odd Zonal Harmonics in the Geopotential, from Analysis of 28 Satellite Orbits.

FEB 1980

Authors: D. G. King-Hele; C. J. Brookes; G. E. Cook; ROYAL AIRCRAFT ESTABLISHMENT FARNBOROUGH (ENGLAND)

The geopotential is usually expressed as an infinite series of spherical harmonics, and the odd zonal harmonics are the terms independent of longitude and antisymmetric about the equator: they define the 'pear-shape' effect. The coefficients J3, J5, J7, ... of these harmonics have been evaluated by analysing the variations in eccentricity of 28 satellite orbits from near-equatorial to polar. Most of the orbits from our previous determination in 1973 are ...

MX Siting Investigation Gravity Survey - Whirlwind Valley, Utah

30 JAN 1980

Authors: FUGRO NATIONAL INC LONG BEACH CA

Accuracy of Mean Earth Ellipsoid Based on Doppler, Laser, and Altimeter Observations.

JAN 1980

Authors: Richard J. Anderle; NAVAL SURFACE WEAPONS CENTER DAHLGREN VA

The error in the mean earth ellipsoid computed on the basis of Doppler or laser observations of artificial earth satellites or radar altimeter observations of the ocean surface from a satellite depends upon instrument precision, on uncertainties in the specification of the earth's gravity field at both long and short wavelengths, on uncertainties in the origin of the coordinate system, on modeling errors in ionospheric (except laser) and tropospheric refraction, ...

An Application of Inertial Surveying for the Coast Guard.

JAN 1980

Authors: John J. Anthony; COAST GUARD WASHINGTON DC

Technological advances in both hardware and processor technology have spurred the adaptation of aircraft type inertial navigation systems to a sophisticated yet utterly practical tool for conducting surveys. The system, carried aboard a land vehicle or helicopter, is capable of rapidly performing position fixing over large areas in a minimum amount of time while providing survey grade output in real time. While inertial survey systems are being commercially exploited for ...

Mensuration Test using Digital Images,

1980

Authors: John E. Unruh; E. M. Mikhail; PURDUE UNIV LAFAYETTE IN SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Digital image files were written on photographic film using 25, 50, and 100 micrometer pixels. The resulting images were then measured monoscopically and stereoscopically. Measurement precisions associated with images having 25 and 50 micrometer pixel sizes were comparable. 100 micrometer pixel size had an adverse effect on measurement precision. (Author)

On the Compensation Mechanism of the Walvis Ridge

10 DEC 1979

Authors: C. L. Angevine; D. L. Turcotte; CORNELL UNIV ITHACA N Y DEPT OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES

A Fast Estimation Algorithm for Two-Dimensional Gravity Data (GEOFAST),

15 NOV 1979

Authors: Kevin S. Tait; ANALYTIC SCIENCES CORP READING MA

This report describes an algorithm for the efficient computation of minimum-variance estimates from large amounts of two-dimensional gravity data. The method (called GEOFAST for 'geodetic fast estimation') is based on the fast Fourier transform and takes advantage of the underlying structure of the statistical models in the frequency domain. An approximate solution is obtained in a number of computer operations proportional to N log sub 2, where N is the ...

Large-Scale Geodetic Least-Squares Adjustment by Dissection and Orthogonal Decomposition,

07 NOV 1979

Authors: Gene H. Golub; Robert J. Plemmons; STANFORD UNIV CA DEPT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

Large Scale Geodetic Least Squares Adjustment by Dissection and Orthogonal Decomposition.

NOV 1979

Authors: Gene H. Golub; Robert J. Plemmons; STANFORD UNIV CALIF DEPT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

Very large scale matrix problems currently arise in the contex of accurately computing the coordinates of points on the surface of the earth. Here geodesists adjust the approximate values of these coordinates by computing least squares solutions to large sparse systems of equations which result from relating the coordinates to certain observations such as distances or angles between points. The purpose of this paper is to suggest an alternative to ...

Finite Element Models of the Earth's Gravity Field.

05 OCT 1979

Authors: Remi C. Engels ; John L. Junkins; VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INST AND STATE UNIV BLACKSBURG DEPT OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE AND MECHANICS

Methods are developed and demonstrated for constructing piecewise local models for gravity anomalies. The approach is shown to be computationally more efficient (by a factor of about 20) than competing methods. The report includes software listings and test cases. (Author)

Three-Dimensional Edge Waves on Curved Topographies.

OCT 1979

Authors: Richard Paul Shaw; STATE UNIV OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO DEPT OF ENGINEERING SCIENCE AEROSPACE ENGINEERING AND NUCLEAR ENGINEERING

Exact solutions are found to the linearized three dimensional equations for free surface gravity waves trapped against a straight coastline with a variable (perpendicular to the coastline) topography. Three families of topographies are found, one concave upwards and two convex upwards, which will support these edge waves as separable solutions to the original equations. For a given topography, specified by an initial slope, h sub o, a typical water depth, ...

Finite-Amplitude Solitary Water Waves.

OCT 1979

Authors: C. J. Amick; J. F. Toland; WISCONSIN UNIV-MADISON MATHEMATICS RESEARCH CENTER

This paper considers the existence problem for solutions of the free boundary value problem which arises from the question of the existence of solitary gravity waves, moving without changes of form, and with constant velocity, on the surface of ideal fluid in a horizontal canal of finite depth. The analysis imposes no restriction on either the slope or the amplitude of the wave, and we prove that there exists a ...

Astronomic Position Accuracy Capability Study.

OCT 1979

Authors: Paul F. Gilbert; James K. Barton; DEFENSE MAPPING AGENCY HYDROGRAPHIC/ TOPOGRAPHIC CENTER WASHINGTON DC

Both First-Order (FO) and Modified First-Order (MFO) astronomic position accuracy figures were determined in this study. Only qualified and experienced observers using refined techniques with Wild T-4 theodolites were evaluated. Only FK4 stars were observed. The Sterneck method of astronomic latitude observaton and reduction was employed. Astronomic longitude observations and reduction techniques used the meridian transit method. (Author)

Concepts in Geodetic Reference Frames.

OCT 1979

Authors: Helmut Moritz; OHIO STATE UNIV COLUMBUS DEPT OF GEODETIC SCIENCE

The report reviews conceptual aspects and problems arising in a precise definition of reference frames for the purpose of geodesy and geodynamics. The concepts: physical, conventional, and average system are introduced. Inertial systems are discussed from the point of view of classical mechanics and of the theory of relativity. The concept of celestial pole, which plays a fundamental role in a precise definition of precession, nutation and polar motion, is ...

Surface Harmonic Expansions and Mean Gravity Anomalies.

SEP 1979

Authors: John V. Shebalin; NAVAL SURFACE WEAPONS CENTER DAHLGREN LAB VA

The determination of surface harmonic expansion coefficients from mean gravity anomaly value is discussed. An orthogonal collocation method for optimally determining these coefficients is presented. In addition, well known approximate methods for coefficient determination are also considered. (Author)

Potential Coefficient and Anomaly Degree Variance Modelling Revisited,

SEP 1979

Authors: Richard H. Rapp; OHIO STATE UNIV COLUMBUS DEPT OF GEODETIC SCIENCE

The decay of the power spectrum of the earth's gravitational potential is modeled using the GEM 10B solution of NASA and a solution complete to degree 180 at OSU. The modelling was first done using the form of A/lb where A and B were parameters determined by various adjustment techniques. For degrees 3 through 36, the best estimate of A is .0000106 and B = 2.17 based on the GEM ...

Optimal Estimation from Data Regularly Sampled on a Sphere with Applications in Geodesy.

SEP 1979

Authors: Oscar L. Colombo; OHIO STATE UNIV COLUMBUS DEPT OF GEODETIC SCIENCE

The size of the variance-covariance matrix of the data, used to obtain minimum variance estimators for collocation, is as large as the number of observations in the data set. For some arrangements of the data, such as the usual 'equal angle' (or 'regular') grid, the matrix presents a very strong Toeplitz-circulant structure that can be exploited to reduce computing in setting-up and inverting the matrix. This reduction can be quite ...

Accuracy Estimates of 1 deg x 1 deg Mean Anomaly Determinations from a High-Low SST Mission.

SEP 1979

Authors: Richard H. Rapp; D. P. Hajela; OHIO STATE UNIV COLUMBUS DEPT OF GEODETIC SCIENCE

The method of least squares collocation is used to estimate the accuracy and correlation of 1 degree x 1 degree anomalies that could be determined from a high-low satellite to satellite tracking mission. The observed data is taken to be the line of sight acceleration which can be computed from the range rate data. Variables considered in this study were: a) the spherical distance from the center of the 1 ...

Geodesy and Mapping (Selected Articles),

16 AUG 1979

Authors: Barbara Kolaczek; Roman Galas; Marcin Barlik; Magdalena Dukwicz; Aniela Makowska; FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY DIV WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH

Analysis of Laser Ranging and VLBI Observations for Geodetic Purposes.

10 AUG 1979

Authors: I. I. Shapiro ; C. C. Counselman ; T. A. Herring; MASSACHUSETTS INST OF TECH CAMBRIDGE DEPT OF EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES

From three (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) VLBI experiments carried out in 1977 and 1978, the distances between the antenna at Onsala (Sweden) and radio telescopes at Haystack (Massachusetts), Green Bank (West Virginia) and Owens Valley (California) have been determined with formal standard errors as small as a few centimeters and repeatability generally within the 99% confidence interval of the root-sum-squares of these standard errors. Overall it appears that subdecimeter precision ...

Geodesy and Cartography (Selected Articles),

10 AUG 1979

Authors: Janusz Sledzinski; Jan Krynski; FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY DIV WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH

Modeling and Error Analysis of a Superconducting Gravity Gradiometer.

AUG 1979

Authors: Kai Yuen Wang; STANFORD UNIV CALIF GUIDANCE AND CONTROL LAB

The demand for higher accuracy in inertial navigation systems has pushed the development of more accurate accelerometers and gyroscopes. Inertial navigation systems (INS) can now be built with error stemming mainly from the uncertainty of the vertical along the flight path (Savet, 1970). The deflection of the vertical is produced by mass anomalies on the surface of the earth. The error can be corrected by measuring the gravity gradient and ...

Inertial Geodesy,

25 JUL 1979

Authors: H. Moritz; FOREIGN TECHNOLOGY DIV WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB OH

An Efficient Geodesic Path Solution for Prolate Spheroids

JUL 1979

25 pages

Authors: Nan Wang; W. D. Burnside; OHIO STATE UNIV COLUMBUS ELECTROSCIENCE LAB

A major task in the application of the geometrical theory of diffraction (GTD) to the problem of electromagnetic radiation from a general convex surface is to determine the unique geodesic path that starting from the source location traverses the surface and has a tangent at some point along the path which in the desired radiation direction. In this report a numerically efficient and accurate scheme has been developed for solving ...

Extension of Ground Control with Moving Airborne Targets.

JUN 1979

Authors: Donald I. Zulch; Robert H. Brock Jr; STATE UNIV OF NEW YORK COLL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND FORESTRY SYRACUSE

A method of extending geodetic control to geographical areas in which control is sparse or nonexistent makes use of unique combination of aerotriangulation and distance measuring technology. Aircraft or drones are flown over a designated area under control of a radial electronic navigation system. A second higher flying aircraft containing an accurately calibrated metric camera is controlled over the same area and aerial photographs are taken in sequence. Imagery includes ...