EO·Atlas
Satellite gravimetry
Retrieves time-variable gravity-field and mass-change signals by tracking changes in distance between two co-orbiting satellites, as in GRACE and GRACE-FO.
Satellite gravimetry is the method used when the target is mass redistribution rather than surface appearance. A pair of satellites follows the same orbit; changes in the pull of Earth's gravity alter their separation, and precision inter-satellite ranging turns those distance changes into monthly gravity-field and equivalent-water-height maps. It resolves basin-to-global mass signals such as ice-sheet mass, groundwater and terrestrial water storage, and ocean-mass sea-level components. It is weak for local detail: spatial resolution is coarse, leakage corrections matter near coasts and small basins, and the retrieval depends on geophysical background corrections.
- K-band Ranging Instrument (KBR)
via GRACE
KBR microwave inter-satellite ranging demonstrated on GRACE and reused on GRACE-FO for satellite gravimetry.
- SuperSTAR Accelerometer
via GRACE
Onboard electrostatic accelerometers support GRACE and GRACE-FO satellite gravimetry by observing non-gravitational acceleration for force correction.
- GRACE-FO Laser Ranging Interferometer (LRI)
via GRACE-FO
GRACE-FO LRI demonstrates laser inter-satellite ranging for satellite gravimetry.
None on record.
Determines the static gravity field and fine geoid by measuring gravity gradients directly with an onboard gradiometer, as demonstrated by GOCE.
- [1]GRACE-FO Mission Overview, NASA/JPLagency doc2026-06-08Describes paired GRACE-FO satellites, approximately 220 km separation, precise microwave ranging, accelerometers, and monthly gravity-field maps showing mass movement.
- [2]Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), NASA/JPLagency doc2026-06-08Mission overview: GRACE measured gravity changes with twin spacecraft and supported ice mass, sea level, groundwater, drought, and solid-Earth applications.
- [3]Applications and Challenges of GRACE and GRACE Follow-On Satellite Gravimetrypeer reviewed2026-06-08Review of GRACE/GRACE-FO satellite gravimetry applications and limitations for cryosphere, hydrology, oceans, and solid Earth.
Edited from public sources by SpectraWorks editorial. See the data dictionary for field definitions.
How to cite this page
Plain text
Satellite gravimetry. EO-Atlas, SpectraWorks B.V. https://eo-atlas.org/topics/methodologies/satellite-gravimetry (CC BY 4.0)
BibTeX
@misc{eoatlas:topics:methodologies:satellite-gravimetry,
title = {Satellite gravimetry},
author = {{EO-Atlas}},
publisher = {SpectraWorks B.V.},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
url = {https://eo-atlas.org/topics/methodologies/satellite-gravimetry}
}