Long-wavelength, medium-wavelength, and short-wavelength information of gravity field, what are these? What part of earth give rise to such different wavelength information?
The long-wavelength, medium-wavelength, and short-wavelength parts of the gravity field refer to the different scales at which the Earth’s gravity field can be measured. The Earth’s gravity field is not uniform, but varies depending on the distribution of mass within the Earth. The long-wavelength part of the gravity field is associated with large-scale features such as the Earth’s overall shape and the distribution of continents and oceans. The medium-wavelength part is associated with smaller-scale features such as mountain ranges and ocean trenches. The short-wavelength part is associated with even smaller-scale features such as individual mountains or valleys. These different scales of measurement can provide valuable information about the Earth’s internal structure and processes.
Let me answer this question, taking the GOCE gravity field mission as the reference:
- The long-wave frequency components in the Earth's gravitational field result from orbital disturbances determined by GPS (High-Low-SST observation mode).
- The short wavelengths (detail structures) are determined from the gravity gradients (second derivatives of the gravitational potential) measured by SGG-Satellite Gravity gradiometers via Low-Low-SST observation mode.
Don't know in detail, which compartments of the Earth within, or on/above the surface are responsible for which wavelength parts, but, yes of course, due to mass redistribution and mass transport in the atmosphere, continental hydrosphere, and oceans, gives you the different wavelength information.
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