The Influence of Distant Zones on Stokes' Equation Considering the Removal of Lower-Degree Harmonics from S(Psi) or Delta.

摘要

The expected error in the computation of geoid undulations using Stokes' equation due to neglected distant zones is analyzed considering the removal of lower-degree harmonics from limited gravity anomaly data and from Stokes' kernel. Evaluation of the derived error equations assuming Kaula's rule for anomaly degree variances indicates that if the lower-degree components of geoid undulation are assumed known, removal of an equivalent number of such harmonics from the anomaly data alone produces the least-expected error for cap radii of less than 60 deg.