Earth System Modelling Data Products
Signatures of dynamic processes in atmosphere, oceans, and the continental hydrosphere are present in many geodetic and geophysical observations: ocean tidal dynamics cause periodic variations in both the gravitational and the geomagnetic field of the Earth as measured by satellites. Station positions as measured by Global Satellite Navigation Systems (GNSS) are affected by vertical deformations due to atmospheric pressure loading that depend on the local rigidity of the crust. Large-scale variations of water stored in continental ice-masses, soil moisture and surface water are routinely monitored by gravimetric observations. Re-distribution of mass from the continents into the oceans causes changes in sea-level on global-to-regional scales.
We develop and explore numerical codes rooted in the fundamental theories of fluid dynamics to aid geodetic and geophysical data analysis and interpretation for the benefit of an improved understanding of the System Earth. Central to our work are ocean general circulation models configured to cover global or regional domains that represent processes as ocean tides, self-attraction and loading feedbacks to the ocean dynamics, or surface pressure forcing in addition to the usually considered atmospheric fluxes. We further use numerical models of the terrestrial water cycle that consider vertical water and energy exchange with the atmosphere, and lateral water transport in the soil and through the river network. All models are typically driven by atmospheric data obtained from global atmospheric re-analyses oroperational numerical weather prediction data.
Numerical Model experiments performed in Section 1.3 help to design and characterize future observing systems, as satellite gravity missions of the next generation, satellite-mounted GNSS reflectometry receivers, or innovative oceanographic in-situ sensors attached to newly laid-out telecommunication cables.
AOD1B - GRACE Atmosphere and Ocean De-Aliasing Level 1B Product
The Atmosphere and Ocean De-Aliasing Level-1B (AOD1B) Product provides a priori information about temporal variations in the Earth's gravity field due to global mass variability in the Atmosphere and ocean. It is based on analysis and forecast data …
Atmospheric and Hydrospheric Surface Loading Deformations
GFZ provides surface loading products including vertical and horizontal deformations of the crust imposed by surface loading of geophysical fluids in Atmosphere, oceans, and the continental hydrosphere. Products are provided with a spatial resolutio…
EAM - Atmospheric and Hydrospheric Earth Rotation Excitations
The GFZ contributes to the Global Geophysical Fluid Center (GGFC) of the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) by providing matter and motion terms of effective angular momentum functions (EAM). EAMs are due to mass trans…
ESA ESM - the updated ESA Earth System Model for Gravity Mission Simulation Studies
The ESA ESM is a synthetic model of the time-variable gravity field of the Earth suitable for satellite gravity mission simulation studies. The model is an update of the ESA Earth System Model as described by Gruber et al. (2011), and is also given …
