New datasets from CHAMP, GRACE, and GRACE-FO satellite missions

What is it about?

We present new neutral mass density and crosswind observations for the CHAMP, GRACE, and GRACE-FO missions, filling the last gaps in our database of accelerometer-derived thermosphere observations. For consistency, we processed the data over the entire lifetime of these missions, noting that the results for GRACE in 2011–2017 and GRACE-FO are entirely new.

Featured Image

Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash

Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash

Why is it important?

We aim to provide the scientific community with the most complete, consistent, and accurate database of thermosphere density and crosswind observations derived from accelerometer measurements. The results presented here have filled the remaining gaps in our database, which is an important milestone in achieving this goal. In particular, we have produced the first GRACE-FO neutral mass density dataset extended the GRACE neutral mass density observations from 2009 until decommissioning in 2017 and generated a new GRACE crosswind dataset. The latter is published only for 2002–2003 and October 2011 to October 2017 due to teh signal-to-noise ratio.