# GOCE Global Gravity Field Models and Grids
*data products*

## Specifications
- **level**: L2
- **distributor**: esa
- **gsd m**: {"native":100000}
- **file format**: TGZ and ICGEM IDF
- **access endpoint**: https://eocat.esa.int/eo-catalogue/series/eo%3AorganisationName/ESA%40ESRIN/GOCE_Global_Gravity_Field_Models_and_Grids?httpAccept=text%2Fhtml
- **access model**: restricted
- **licence**: ESA Earth Observation data terms; free for scientific and non-commercial users
- **cost model summary**: Free for scientific and non-commercial users under ESA access terms.
- **primary data portal url**: https://eocat.esa.int/eo-catalogue/series/eo%3AorganisationName/ESA%40ESRIN/GOCE_Global_Gravity_Field_Models_and_Grids?httpAccept=text%2Fhtml
- **use cases**: ["Static geoid modelling for ocean dynamic topography and sea-level studies","Regional gravity anomaly context for solid-Earth geophysics","Geological and mineral-prospectivity context when combined with magnetic, seismic, and surface geology layers","Height-system and geodetic reference work"]
- **practical limitations**: ["The product is a static gravity-field and geoid model; it does not provide monthly mass change.","Satellite gravity gradients are regional-scale constraints and do not replace airborne, ground, or borehole geophysics for local mineral targeting.","ESA access terms require an Earth Observation user account and scientific or non-commercial use basis."]
- **known artefacts**: ["Multiple generations and solution families exist; Release 6 should not be mixed with earlier releases without version tracking.","Polar and near-surface combined products may include auxiliary data outside the GOCE-only measurement band."]
- **deployment context**: orbital
- **entity type**: data_product
- **last verified date**: 2026-06-08
- **verified by**: agency-doc
- **claim status**: agency-sourced
- **provider**: esa
- **attributes**: {"level":"L2","distributor":"esa","gsd_m":"{\"native\":100000}","file_format":"TGZ and ICGEM IDF","access_endpoint":"https://eocat.esa.int/eo-catalogue/series/eo%3AorganisationName/ESA%40ESRIN/GOCE_Global_Gravity_Field_Models_and_Grids?httpAccept=text%2Fhtml","access_model":"restricted","licence":"ESA Earth Observation data terms; free for scientific and non-commercial users","cost_model_summary":"Free for scientific and non-commercial users under ESA access terms.","primary_data_portal_url":"https://eocat.esa.int/eo-catalogue/series/eo%3AorganisationName/ESA%40ESRIN/GOCE_Global_Gravity_Field_Models_and_Grids?httpAccept=text%2Fhtml","use_cases":"[\"Static geoid modelling for ocean dynamic topography and sea-level studies\",\"Regional gravity anomaly context for solid-Earth geophysics\",\"Geological and mineral-prospectivity context when combined with magnetic, seismic, and surface geology layers\",\"Height-system and geodetic reference work\"]","practical_limitations":"[\"The product is a static gravity-field and geoid model; it does not provide monthly mass change.\",\"Satellite gravity gradients are regional-scale constraints and do not replace airborne, ground, or borehole geophysics for local mineral targeting.\",\"ESA access terms require an Earth Observation user account and scientific or non-commercial use basis.\"]","known_artefacts":"[\"Multiple generations and solution families exist; Release 6 should not be mixed with earlier releases without version tracking.\",\"Polar and near-surface combined products may include auxiliary data outside the GOCE-only measurement band.\"]","deployment_context":"orbital"}
- **relevance**: in-scope

## Editorial
GOCE Global Gravity Field Models and Grids is an ESA Level 2 collection of static gravity-field products derived from the Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer mission.[^esa-goce-data-products][^esa-goce-gfg] The collection includes spectral representations of the gravity potential, gridded geoid heights, gravity anomalies, error information, and calibrated gravity gradients in multiple reference frames.[^esa-goce-data-products] Release 6 files include GOCE gravity-field model products and covariance products in packaged TGZ form, with coefficient files also exposed in ICGEM IDF format.[^esa-goce-gfg]

The product is a static geodetic and geophysical layer, not a time-variable mass-change product. It supports ocean dynamic topography and sea-level work by providing a geoid surface against which sea-surface height can be interpreted.[^esa-goce-geoid] It also supports regional solid-Earth and mineral-prospectivity studies as a gravity anomaly constraint that can be combined with magnetic, seismic, and geological layers.[^esa-goce-gfg] Spatial interpretation remains regional because the GOCE mission design targets geoid and gravity anomaly performance at about 100 km scale; local mineral targeting still requires higher-resolution airborne, ground, or borehole data.[^esa-goce-mission]

## Compositional position
- goce (missions) --[data_products_from_missions]--> GOCE Global Gravity Field Models and Grids
- sea-level (topics) --[topic_capabilities]--> GOCE Global Gravity Field Models and Grids
- minerals (topics) --[topic_capabilities]--> GOCE Global Gravity Field Models and Grids

## Sources
- [esa-goce-data-products] | GOCE Data products | https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/GOCE/Data_products | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-08
- [esa-goce-gfg] | GOCE Global Gravity Field Models and Grids | https://eocat.esa.int/eo-catalogue/series/eo%3AorganisationName/ESA%40ESRIN/GOCE_Global_Gravity_Field_Models_and_Grids?httpAccept=text%2Fhtml | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-08
- [esa-goce-geoid] | How gravity shapes Earth | https://visuals.earth.esa.int/data/geoid | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-08
- [esa-goce-mission] | GOCE mission overview | https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/GOCE | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-08

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Source: https://eo-atlas.org/data_products/goce-global-gravity-field-models
Maintainer: SpectraWorks B.V. (CC-BY 4.0)