Gravity gradients from satellite altimetry

A method for the computation of second derivatives Tuu, Tvv, and Tzz of the disturbance gravity potential from altimetric geoid profiles is proposed. Both the high precision and the data density in profile direction are optimally used when determining the second derivatives Tuu from ascending and Tvv from descending tracks. The differentiation is performed with smoothing cubic B‐splines. At the intersection points of the profiles ∂(δg)/∂z = −Tzz is determined by Laplace's equation. No gridding of data is needed. The method has been tested with Seasat data in the North Atlantic. The signal rms is of Tuu, Tvv is 7.4#lb10−9 s−2 that of Tzz 10.2#lb10−9 s−2.