Consolidated science and user requirements for a next generation gravity field mission
Abstract
In an internationally coordinated initiative among the main user communities of gravity field products the
science and user requirements for a future gravity field mission constellation (beyond GRACE-FO) have been
reviewed and defined. This activity was realized as a joint initiative of the IAG (International Association of
Geodesy) Sub-Commissions 2.3 and 2.6, the GGOS (Global Geodetic Observing System) Working Group on
Satellite Missions, and the IUGG (International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics). After about one year of
preparation, in a user workshop that was held in September 2014 consensus among the user communities of
hydrology, ocean, cryosphere, solid Earth and atmosphere on consolidated science requirements could be achieved.
The consolidation of the user requirements became necessary, because several future gravity field studies
have resulted in quite different performance numbers as a target for a future gravity mission (2025+). Based on
limited number of mission scenarios which took also technical feasibility into account, a consolidated view on
the science requirements among the international user communities was derived, research fields that could not be
tackled by current gravity missions have been identified, and the added value (qualitatively and quantitatively) of
these scenarios with respect to science return has been evaluated. The resulting document shall form the basis for
further programmatic and technological developments.
In this contribution, the main results of this initiative will be presented. An overview of the specific requirements
of the individual user groups, the consensus on consolidated requirements as well as the new research
fields that have been identified during this process will be discussed.