The Double Pass Method for More Precise Determinations of Longitude and Geoidal Height Using the Transit System of Navigational Satellites,

摘要

Using the Stansell (1970) elevation correction for navigational satellites together with the double pass method of Anderle (1971) and Greely (1971) but for individual navigational satellites on two consecutive passes, it is shown that uncertainties in longitude position can be reduced to the order of 10 to 18 m for land stations with just a few observations, and less than 4 m for dock-side ship stations taken over a period of a week. It is also shown that the method allows identification of satellites not giving reliable data and permits conclusions to be reached as to the cause of an apparent error dependence on surface elevation noted above 1000 m in the Andean region of Colombia, South America, reported by Woollard and Thompson (1974). An additional advantage of the double pass method brought out is that it allows geoidal heights to be determined for remote islands with the same degree of reliability as their position and comparable to the best, continental determinations of geoidal height using standard geodetic measurements. (Author)