Abstract
RECENTLY, Dr. Tuman1 compared the mean free air anomaly as calculated by Jeffreys2 with the satellite geoids calculated by Izsak3 and Kaula4, and on the basis of this suggested that the satellite geoid may have a westward drift. If I were to admit that Jeffreys's geoid of 1943 was adequate for a comparison with the satellite results I might accept that Dr. Tuman's work was meaningful, yet I would still maintain that it is remarkable that Dr. Tuman failed to use better solutions of satellite geoid than Izsak's 1963 solution (many have since been published, for example, by Izsak5, by Anderle6 and by Guier and Newton7). But I must reject that attitude which maintains that Jeffreys's solution of 1943 is adequate for such a comparison. The problem that Jeffreys dealt with was a statistical one. Without observations in vast oceanic areas at the time of his analysis, it was not possible for him to be certain of how much of the gravity anomaly should be attributed to terms of degrees 2 and 3 and how much of it should be attributed to those of higher degrees. The uncertainties in his longitudinal terms were thus considerable. It is significant that the general features of Jeffreys's geoid are compatible with those of the satellite geoid, but the reliability of its detailed features—for example, the longitudinal positions of the maxima and minima of the geoidal height—requires considerable care.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Tuman, V. S., Nature, 210, 826 (1966).
Jeffreys, H., Monthly Notices Roy. Astron. Soc., 5, 55 (1943).
Izsak, I. G., Nature, 199, 137 (1963).
Kaula, W. M., J. Geophys. Res., 68, 473 (1963).
Izsak, I. G., J. Geophys. Res., 69, 2621 (1964).
Anderle, R. J., J. Geophys. Res., 70, 2453 (1965).
Guier, W. H., and Newton, E. R., J. Geophys. Res., 70, 4613 (1965).
Kaula, W. M. K., Publ. No. 487, Inst. Geophys. and Planet. Phys., Univ. of California (1966).
Gaposchkin, E. M., paper presented at COSPAR Intern. Space Sci. Symp., Vienna (1966).
Vogel, A., Beitr. Geophys., 69, 150 (1960).
Egyed, L., Nature, 203, 67 (1964).
Wang, C. Y., J. Geophys. Res., 70, 5129 (1965).
Coode, A. M., and Runcorn, S. K., Nature, 205, 891 (1965).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
WANG, CY. “Westward Drift” of the Satellite Geoid. Nature 211, 504 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/211504b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/211504b0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.