Tongji-GRACE01: A GRACE-only static gravity field model recovered from GRACE Level-1B data using modified short arc approach

The modified short arc approach, where the position vector in force model are regarded as pseudo observation, is implemented in the SAtellite Gravimetry Analysis Software (SAGAS) developed by Tongji university. Based on the SAGAS platform, a static gravity field model (namely Tongji-GRACE01) complete to degree and order 160 is computed from 49 months of real GRACE Level-1B data spanning the period 2003–2007 (including the observations of K-band range-rate, reduced dynamic orbits, non-conservative accelerations and altitudes). The Tongji-GRACE01 model is compared with the recent GRACE-only models (such as GGM05S, AIUB-GRACE03S, ITG-GRACE03, ITG-GRACE2010S, and ITSG-GRACE2014S) and validated with GPS-leveling data sets in different countries. The results show that the Tongji-GRACE01 model has a considered quality as GGM05S, AIUB-GRACE03S and ITG-GRACE03. The Tongji-GRACE01 model is available at the International Centre for Global Earth Models (ICGEM) web page (http://icgem.gfz-potsdam.de/ICGEM/).