6.

WGS 84 GEOI D
6.1 General
I n geodet i c appl i cat i ons, t hr ee d i f f e r e n t sur f aces or ear t h
f i g u r e s ar e nor mal l y i nvol ved. I n a d d i t i o n t o t he ear t h' s nat ur al o r
physi cal sur f ace, t hese i ncl ude a geomet r i c or mat hemat i cal f i g u r e o f t he
ear t h t aken t o be an equi pot ent i al e l l i p s o i d of r e v o l u t i o n (Chapt er 3) ,
and a second equi pot ent i al sur f ace or f i g u r e o f t he ear t h, t he geoi d. The
geoi d i s def i ned as t h a t p a r t i c u l a r equi pot ent i al sur f ace o f t he ear t h
t h a t coi nci des wi t h mean sea l e v e l over t h e oceans and ext ends
h y p o t h e t i c a l l y beneat h a l l l and sur f aces. I n a mat hemat i cal sense, t he
geoi d i s al so def i ned as so many met ers above ( +N) o r bel ow ( - N) t h e
e l l i p s o i d ( Fi gur e 6.1). I n Fi gur e 6.1 and i n subsequent f i gur es and
equat i ons, t h e d i f f e r e n c e
v e r t i c a l i s i gnor ed due t o
The f i r s t d e f i n i t
n d i r e c t i o n between t he geodet i c normal and t he
i t s i n s i g n i f i c a n c e t o t he t o p i c di scussed here.
on o f t he geoi d has gr eat p r a c t i c a l i mport ance
si nce it r e f e r s t o t he hypot het i cal ext ensi on o f mean sea l e v e l ( t he
geoi d) beneat h l and surf aces. I n t h i s capaci t y, t he geoi d serves not onl y
as t he v e r t i c a l datum ( r ef er ence sur f ace) f o r hei ght-above-mean sea l e v e l
( h) val ues i n areas where el ev at i on dat a i s not av ai l abl e f r om
convent i onal l evel i ng, but i s f undament al t o t he det er mi nat i on o f t he
h-val ues t hemsel ves. Thi s i s apparent from t he Equat i ons
and Fi gur es 6.2 and 6.3, where:
H = geodet i c hei ght = hei ght above t he e l l i p s o i d *
N = geoi d hei ght
h = hei ght-above-mean sea l evel ,
Fi gur es 6.2 and 6.3 i l l u s t r a t e t he use o f geoi d hei ght s i n t he
det er mi nat i on o f h- val ues from geodet i c hei ght s der i ved usi ng s a t e l l i t e
r ecei ver s (e.g., NAVSTAR GPS r ecei ver s) l ocat ed on t he ear t h' s physi cal
sur f ace and aboard a vehi cl e oper at i ng near t he ear t h ( o r i n space),
r espect i vel y.
I n p a r t i c u l a r , it i s easy t o see from Fi gur e 6.2 how geoi d
hei ght s ( N) p o s i t i o n t he geoi d wi t h r espect t o t he e l l i p s o i d where t he
f or mer can t hen ser ve as t he v e r t i c a l datum f o r t he height-above-mean sea
l e v e l val ues whi ch t h e N-val ues al so hel ped det ermi ne. It i s har d t o
over - est i mat e t h e i mport ance o f t he geoi d i n t h i s dual r ol e. I n some
p a r t s o f t he worl d, t he el ev at i on dat a appeari ng on maps and char t s was
obt ai ned v i a t h i s geoi d- r el at ed approach.
I n l and areas where heights-above-mean sea l e v e l ar e av ai l abl e
f r om convent i onal l evel i ng, t he geoi d, as det ermi ned her ei n, i s not needed
as t he v e r t i c a l datum ( r ef er ence sur f ace) f o r t hese h-val ues. I nst ead,
hei ght-above-mean sea l e v e l val ues ar e det ermi ned by convent i onal l e v e l i n g
f r om t he r e l a t i o n s h i p L6.11:
% When N i s negat i ve and t h e val ue of h i s pos i t i v e, but smal l er t han t h e
magni t ude o f N, t he geodet i c ( e l l i p s o i d a l ) hei ght o f a p o i n t i s nega-
t i v e . I n Fl or i da, f or example, t he WGS 84 El l i p s o i d , i f t r ansl ucent ,
woul d be v i s i b l e above a p o i n t (an obser ver ) on t he ear t h' s physi cal
sur f ace. (See Fi gur e 6.4.)
where
-
g = mean val ue o f g r a v i t y over t he plumb l i n e di st ance
between mean sea l e v e l and t he p o i n t where h i s
r equi r ed.
gi = magni t ude o f g r a v i t y measured a t l e v e l i n g s i t e i.
ahi = measurement o f t he di f f er enc e i n el ev at i on between
l e v e l i n g s i t e s i -1 and i.
Due t o unc er t ai nt i es i n bot h H and N, h-val ues det ermi ned by
Equat i on (6-2) ar e l ess accur at e t han t hose obt ai ned v i a convent i onal
l evel i ng, Equat i on ( 6- 3) . However, si nce h-val ues from convent i ona 1
l e v e l i n g ar e not av ai l abl e f o r much o f t he worl d, Equat i on (6-2) and t he
geoi d hei ght s c e n t r a l t o i t s use ar e ext r emel y val uabl e. Fi gur e 6.5
i l l u s t r a t e s h-val ues det ermi ned from t h e two t echni ques di scussed above.
I n addi t i on, Fi gur e 6.5 i l l u s t r a t e s why geoi d hei ght s need not be (and ar e
u s u a l l y not ) zer o a t coast l i nes where h = 0. Thi s quest i on i s sometimes
r ai s ed by t hose u n f a mi l i a r wi t h t he d e f i n i t i o n o f t he geoi d as bei ng so
many met ers above o r bel ow t he e l l i p s o i d and t he f ac t t h a t t he e l l i p s o i d
serves t o pl ace ( p o s i t i o n ) t he geoi d. Geoid hei ght s woul d be zer o a t t he
coast 1 i nes onl y i f t he e l 1 i p s o i d and geoi d i nt er sect ed ( or were t angent )
t her e.
6.2 Formul as and Repr esent at i ons
6.2.1 Formul as
Worl d Geodet i c System 1984 Geoid Hei ght s ar e c al c ul at ed
usi ng a spher i cal harmoni c expansi on and t he WGS 84 EGM t hr ough n=m=180.
The formula for calculating WGS 84 Geoid Heights has the form [6.1]*:
where
N = Geoid height
GM = The earth's gravitational constant; the product of
the uni versa1 gravitational constant (G) and the
mass of the earth (M). (The latter phrase is only
descriptive since the value of GM is determined as
a single entity not as a product of the parameters
G and M.)
r = Radius vector; radial or geocentric distance to the
computation point's location (on the el 1 ipsoid)
y = Ellipsoidal gravity (at the computation point on the
el 1 ipsoid) ; the value of theoretica 1 (normal )
gravity at (on) the surface of the ellipsoid
n,m = Degree and order, respectively, of the spherical
harmonic expansion
%ax = Maximum degree (and order) of the spherical harmonic
expansion
* Slightly modified. Also, see last paragraph of Section 6.2.2.
6 - 4
a = Semimajor ax i s o f t he e l l i p s o i d
- S
n,m; n,m
= Normal i zed g r a v i t a t i o n a l c o e f f i c i e n t s
4' = Geocent r i c l a t i t u d e ; t he angl e between t he pl ane o f
t h e geodet i c- equat or and t he r adi us vect or t hr ough
t he comput at i on poi nt , measured p o s i t i v e nor t h f r om
t h e equat or ( 0" t o 90'1, negat i ve sout h (0' t o -90")
A = Geocent r i c l ongi t ude (same as geodet i c l ongi t ude) ;
t h e angl e between t h e pl ane o f t he Zero Mer i di an, as
def i ned by t he BI H, and t he pl ane o f t he mer i di an
cont ai ni ng t he comput at i on p o i n t (measured i n t he
pl ane o f t he geodet i c equat or p o s i t i v e east ward f r om
0" t o 360')
P ( s i n 4 ' ) = Normal i zed associ at ed Legendre f unct i ons.
n,m
I n addi t i on, t he f ol l owi ng mat hemat i cal expr essi ons ar e needed t o
suppor t t he c a l c u l a t i o n o f geoi d hei ght s usi ng Equat i on ( 6- 4) :
e' = F i r s t e c c e n t r i c i t y squared
2 2
e2 = ( a -b )/ a2; [ numer i cal val ue pr ovi ded bel ow]
b = Semiminor ax i s of t he e l l i p s o i d
t an Q' = (1-e2) t an +
+' = Ar ct an [ ( l - e 2 ) t an $1
4 = Geodet i c l a t i t u d e ; t he angl e between t he pl ane o f
t he geodet i c equat or and t h e normal t o t he e l l i p s o i d
t hr ough t he comput at i on poi nt , measured p o s i t i v e
nor t h from t he geodet i c equat or ( 0 t o 90),
negat i ve sout h ( 0" t o -90').
l +k s i n 4
2
Y = Ye ( 6- 7)
2 2
(1-e s i n +)
y = Theor et i cal g r a v i t y c al c ul at ed usi ng t he WGS 84
El l i p s o i d a l Gr av i t y Formul a
' e
= Equat or i al gr av i t y ; val ue o f t h e o r e t i c a l (normal )
g r a v i t y on t he sur f ace o f t he e l l i p s o i d a t t he
geodet i c equat or ( +OO); [ numer i cal val ue pr ovi ded
bel ow i n equat i on f o r y, Sect i on 6.2.21
k = A const ant ; [ numer i cal val ue pr ovi ded bel ow i n
equat i on f or Y, Sect i on 6.2.23.
For m=o :
PnSo ( s i n 4' ) = (2n + 1)li2 Pn, o(si n 4' )
Pn,,(sin 4 ' ) = Legendre Pol ynomi al
-
2
1 dn ( s i n 4 ' - l ) n
- -
znn! d ( s i n +' ) n
For mfo :
P,,,(sin 4 ' ) = Associ at ed Legendre f unc t i on
6 - 6
dmpn( si n 4 ' )
= ( COS
d ( s i n
6.2.2 I nput Data
The f o l l o wi n g WGS 84 numer i cal dat a i s needed t o proceed
wi t h t he c a l c u l a t i o n o f WGS 84 Geoid Hei ght s u t i l i z i n g t he above f or mul as:
8 3
GM = 3986005 x 10 m s" ( i ncl udes t he mass o f t he
ear t h' s atmosphere)
m = met ers
s = seconds
7: S
n,m ' n,m
= A t o t a l o f 32755 g r a v i t a t i o n a l c o e f f i c i e n t s . These
c o e f f i c i e n t s , when suppl emented wi t h GM, compri se
t he WGS 84 Ear t h Gr av i t at i onal Model (EGM). The
WGS 84 EGM i s c l ' as s i f i ed CONFIDENTIAL wi t h t he
except i on o f t he c o e f f i c i e n t s t hr ough n=m=18 whi ch
ar e UNCLASSIFIED. NOTE: For c a l c u l a t i n g WGS 84
Geoid Hei ght s, t he 5 Z,O, T 4,0, 7: 6,0, 7: 8,0, and
'c 10,o
c o e f f i c i e n t s must be r epl aced by t he
quant i t i es :
The five preceding coefficient differences were formed
using the relationship
%n , 0
-
- %n,0 (Dynamic) - rZny0 ("Geometric")
where
' 2 , ,O
(Dynamic) = WGS 84 EGM coefficients
'2n, o
("Geometric" ) = Computed using in Equation (3-62) the defining
parameter 7: and e2 of the WGS 84 Ellipsoid.
290
(These "geometr ica 1 ly-determi ned" even degree
zonal gravitational coefficients are insignifi-
cantly small for other than the five coefficients
computed. )
6.2.3 Representations
The geoid is usually depicted as a contour chart which
shows the deviations of the geoid from the ellipsoid selected as the
mathematical figure of the earth. A worldwide WGS 84 Geoid Height Contour
Chart was developed using in Equations (6-4) to (6-11) the above WGS 84
numerical data and the WGS 84 EGM coefficients through n=m=180. A
worldwide 1x10 grid of WGS 84 Geoid Heights was calculated and then
contoured using a five meter contour interval to form the chart. This
contour chart and other WGS 84-related geoid height graphics are contained
in 16.21. A 10xlOO grid of WGS 84 Geoid Heights (n=m=180) is provided in
C6.31 [6.4] along with a contour chart developed by contouring at a five
meter contour interval a worldwide 1x10 grid of WGS 84 Geoid Heights
truncated at (n=m=18).
WGS 84 Geoid Heights are available to DoD requesters in
representations other than contour charts of various contour intervals and
scales. WGS 84 Geoid Heights can be provided on magnetic tape for a
specified grid interval or for sites of interest. A Geoid Height Computer
Program (n=m=180) capable of calculating both gridded and random point
geoid heights can also be made available (along with appropriate
documentation and test cases). (See Section 6.5. )
6.3 Geoid Height Interpolation Method
A basic objective with respect to WGS 84 Geoid Heights is that
they be based on a utilization of the complete n=m=180 WGS 84 EGM.
Adherence to this objective is necessary to ensure that WGS 84 Geoid
Heights calculated by different organizations for the same locations are
in agreement. For some situations or applications, should it be
impractical from either a computer storage or computer time standpoint to
calculate geoid heights using the n=m=180 expansion, adherence to the
desired expansion can be maintained by interpolating from a pre-computed
grid of geoid heights calculated using the n=m=180 WGS 84 EGM. Such an
interpolation can be conducted with minimal (and acceptable) accuracy
degradation by choosing a small enough grid interval. Use of a 30'x301
grid of geoid heights will provide interpolated values of sufficient
accuracy for most applications.
A brief investigation of various grid sizes and geoid height
interpolation methods was conducted before coming to the above
conclusion. The criteria for selecting a geoid height interpolation
method are that it be economical to use, easy to implement, provide good
accuracy, and produce consistent values along the grid boundaries. The
investigation of interpolation techniques involved two methods, a
Weighting Function Method [6.5] and a Bi-Linear Interpolation Method
[6.6]. Since the Bi-Linear Interpolation Method provided interpolated
values that were more accurate than those obtained using the Weighting
Function Method, and adequately met all the criteria for selecting an
interpolation method, the Bi-Linear Interpolation Method was selected as
t h e geoi d hei ght i n t e r p o l a t i o n scheme t o use wi t h a gr i dded s e t o f WGS 84
Geoi d Hei ght s.
The Geoi d Hei ght Bi - Li near I n t e r p o l a t i o n Method has t he f or m
N(9, A) = a. + al X + a2Y + a3XY ( 6- 12)
where
I nf or mat i on i s pr ovi ded i n Fi gur e 6.6 on t he coor di nat e syst em associ at ed
wi t h t h e Geoi d Hei ght Bi - Li near I n t e r p o l a t i o n Method.
Accuracy i n v e s t i g a t i o n s o f t he Geoi d Hei ght Bi - Li near
I n t e r p o l a t i o n Method were i n i t i a t e d by comput i ng WGS 84 Geoi d Hei ght s on a
wor l dwi de 30' x301 g r i d (259,200 val ues) , and a t t he cent er p o i n t o f each
301x30' quadr angl e (259,200 val ues) , t o ser ve as t r u t h dat a. From t h i s
dat a set , " t r u e " WGS 84 Geoi d Hei ght s were sel ect ed f o r t he f o u r cor ner s
o f each 1x10 quadr angl e and t hen used wi t h t he Bi - Li near I n t e r p o l a t i o n
Method t o i n t e r p o l a t e geoi d hei ght s a t t he cent er p o i n t o f each 30' x301
c e l l wi t h i n t h e 1x10 quadrangl e. The cent er p o i n t geoi d hei ght s (259,200
val ues) , each i n t e r p o l a t e d usi ng f o u r 1x10 cor ner val ues, were t hen
compared wi t h t h e " t r ue" , pr ev i ous l y computed, cent er poi nt , WGS 84 Geoi d
Hei ght s. The root-mean-square (RMS) of t he di f f er ences was f0.25 meter,
wi t h t he l a r g e s t p o s i t i v e and negat i ve di f f er ences bei ng 4.16 and -3.53
met ers, r e s p e c t i v e l y ( Tabl e 6.1). Next, t he f our " t r ue" WGS 84 Geoi d
Hei ght s pr ev i ous l y computed f o r t he cor ner s o f each 308x30' quadr angl e
were used wi t h t h e Bi - Li near I n t e r p o l a t i o n Method t o al s o i n t e r p o l a t e
geoi d hei ght s a t t he cent er p o i n t of each 301x30' quadrangl e. As bef or e,
t he i n t e r p o l a t e d cent er p o i n t geoi d hei ght s (259,200 val ues) were compared
wi t h t h e pr ev i ous l y computed, s i mi l a r l y l ocat ed, " t r ue" WGS 84 Geoid
Hei ght s. The RMS of t he di f f er ences was t 0. 09 met er, wi t h t he l ar ges t
p o s i t i v e and negat i ve di f f er enc es bei ng 1.55 and -1.34 met ers,
r e s p e c t i v e l y ( Tabl e 6.2). From Tabl e 6.2, i t i s al s o not ed t h a t onl y 32
o f t hese geoi d hei ght di f f er ences ar e l ar ger t han 1 met er. Tabl e 6.3 and
Fi gur e 6.7 show t h e i r geogr aphi cal d i s t r i b u t i o n . Due t o t he l oc at i on and
smal l number o f i n t e r p o l a t e d geoi d hei ght s ( 32) t h a t d i f f e r f r om t h e i r
t r u e val ues by more t han a meter, it was concl uded t h a t a 30' x301 g r i d of
geoi d hei ght s and t h e Bi - Li near I n t e r p o l a t i o n Method can be used t o
i n t e r p o l a t e WGS 84 Geoi d Hei ght s t o an i n t e r p o l a t i o n e r r o r accept abl e f o r
most appl i c at i ons when t he s l i g h t l y more accur at e d i r e c t c a l c u l a t i o n o f
geoi d hei ght s usi ng Equat i on ( 6- 4) i s not p r a c t i c a l .
6.4 Anal vsi s/ Accur acv o f WGS 84 Geoi d
A wor l dwi de lo x lo g r i d o f WGS 84 Geoid Hei ght s was computed and
compared wi t h a s i mi l a r g r i d o f WGS 72 Geoi d Hei ght s r ef er enced t o t he
WGS 72 El l i p s o i d . A cont our c har t o f t hese geoi d hei ght di f f er enc es i s
a v a i l a b l e i n 16.21. The RMS di f f er enc e was f4.6 met ers, wi t h t he l ar ges t
p o s i t i v e and negat i ve di f f er ences bei ng 24 and -23.5 meters,
r es pec t i v el y . These and a d d i t i o n a l s t a t i s t i c s f r om t he compari son ar e
l i s t e d i n Tabl e 6.4. Not e f r om Tabl e 6.4 t h a t 13,841 o f t he 64,800 geoi d
hei ght di f f er ences, or 21.36 per cent o f t he di f f er ences, ar e l ar ger t hen 5
met ers.
The RMS WGS 84 Geoid Hei ght , t aken wor l dwi de on t he basi s o f a
lo x lo gr i d, i s 30.5 met ers. Thi s RMS val ue i ndi c at es how wel l t he
WGS 84 El l i p s o i d , t aken as t he mat hemat i cal f i g u r e o f t he ear t h, f i t s t he
e a r t h ' s mean sea l e v e l sur f ace.
It is generally acknowledged that the most accurate geoid heights
available today from an absolute accuracy standpoint are satellite-derived
geometric geoid heights. These geoid heights are obtained by expressing
Equation (6-1) in the form
In the context of this discussion:
N = satellite-derived geometric geoid height
H = satellite-derived geodetic height
h = height-above-mean sea level value obtained via
conventional leveling.
From the error relationship
and the lack of correlation between the errors ( E ) in H and h, assumed
random:
If H is laser derived, aH is approximately fl meter. For
Doppler-derived WGS 84 H-values, determined via satellite point posi-
tioning, "H ranges from fl to f4 meters. See Equations (9-2), (9-4), and
(9-6). The absolute error in h (ah) at well-surveyed satellite tracking
sites is on the order of fl to f2 meters. Using these values for OH and
in Equation (6-211, and rounding to the nearest meter:
oN = +1 to f4 meters. (6-22)
Therefore, Equation (6-22) establishes fl meter (one sigma) as the current
absolute accuracy threshold, at well-surveyed tracking stations, for
satellite-derived geometric geoid heights (relative to the WGS 84
El 1 ipsoid).
The preceding accuracy information was utilized through
geoid height comparisons, Doppler-derived and laser-derived WGS 84 geome-
tric geoid heights versus WGS 84 (n=m=180) Geoid Heights, to establish the
accuracy threshold for WGS 84 Geoid Heights E6.21. The WGS 84 Geoid
Heights have an error range of f2 to a6 meters (one sigma), and are known
to accuracies of f2 to f3 meters over approximately 55 percent of the
earth. Approximately 93 percent of the earth has WGS 84 Geoid Heights of
accuracy better than f4 meters. A worldwide WGS 84 Geoid Height Accuracy
Graphic and error analysis particulars are available in [6.2].
6.5 Availability of WGS 84 Geoid Height Data
WGS 84 Geoid Height data and products that can be provided to
requesters include:
- A worldwide WGS 84 Geoid Height Contour Chart (developed by
contouring a 1x10 grid of values), contour interval = 5 meters. If
needed, contour charts of various physical size can be provided based on
other contour intervals and scales, and for specific geographic areas.
- A magnetic tape containing the worldwide 1x10 grid of WGS 84
Geoid Heights used in developing the worldwide WGS 84 Geoid Height Contour
Chart.
- A magnetic tape containing a worldwide 3O1x30' grid of WGS 84
Geoid Heights, plus a Bi-Linear Interpolation Method for interpolating
WGS 84 Geoid Heights at random points. As stated previously, this
interpolation scheme has an interpolation error (RMS difference) of f 0.09
meter based on a comparison between 259,200 true and interpolated WGS 84
Geoi d Hei ght s. Onl y 32 geoi d hei ght di f f er ences exceeded 1 met er, t he
l ar ges t d i f f e r e n c e bei ng 1.55 met ers.
- A Computer Program f o r c a l c u l a t i n g WGS 84 Geoid Hei ght s a t a
s p e c i f i e d g r i d i n t e r v a l or a t random poi nt s. Associ at ed document at i on and
appr opr i at e t e s t cases ar e i ncl uded.
Requests f o r WGS 84 Geoid Hei ght dat a and pr oduct s shoul d be
f or war ded t o t h e address pr ovi ded i n t h e PREFACE.
6.6 Comments
Due t o t he absence o f t i d e gauges and ot her r e l a t e d probl ems,
much of t h e wor l d t oday does not have an accur at e v e r t i c a l datum
( r ef er ence) f o r e l e v a t i o n dat a. Al so, t hose v e r t i c a l datums t h a t do e x i s t
ar e not consi st ent wi t h one anot her . Much has been wr i t t e n i n t h e l a s t
few year s about t he need f o r a new accur at e wor l dwi de v e r t i c a l datum.
Such a datum can e a s i l y be est abl i shed by usi ng t he WGS 84 Geoi d t o
pr ovi de c o a s t l i n e val ues ( geoi d hei ght s) a t s i t e s (h=O) f r om whi ch
convent i onal l e v e l i n g can proceed and, where such l e v e l i n g i s absent ,
e l e v a t i o n dat a can be est abl i shed f r om Equat i on ( 6- 2) where such h- val ues
ar e aut omat i c al l y r e l a t e d t o t h e WGS 84 Geoi d and t he WGS 84 El l i p s o i d .
Wi t h t h i s approach, t h e WGS 84 El l i p s o i d can ser ve as t he r ef er ence f or
e l e v a t i o n dat a ( as i t now ser ves as t h e r ef er ence f o r hor i z ont al
p o s i t i o n s ) , whi l e a t t he same t i me t he concept o f hei ghts-above-mean sea
l e v e l i s r et ai ned. Al t hough i n t he l i t e r a t u r e some r esear cher s propose
abandoni ng use o f t he geoi d, it i s i mpor t ant f or some v e r t i c a l p o s i t i o n i n g
appl i c at i ons t h a t mean sea l e v e l be r et ai ned a t t h i s t i me. For example,
a i r c r a f t equi pped wi t h bar omet r i c a l t i me t e r s measure t h e i r hei ght above
mean sea l e v e l .
REFERENCES
6.1 Hei skanen, W.A. and H. Mo r i t z ; Phy s i c al Geodesy; W.H. Freeman and
Company; San Fr anci sco, Ca l i f o r n i a ; 1967.
6.2 Suppl ement t o Depart ment o f Defense Wor l d Geodet i c System 1984
Techni cal R e ~ o r t : Pa r t 111 - Non- Rel easabl e WGS 84 Geoid. Ear t h
- - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Gr a v i t a t i o n a l Model , and Datum S h i f t I n f o r ma t i o n and/ or Gr aphi cs
(U) ; DMA TR 8350.2-C; Headquar t er s, Def ense Mappi ng Agency;
-
Washi ngton, DC; 1 December 1987; c l a s s i f i e d CONFIDENTIAL.
6.3 Suml ement t o De ~ a r t me n t o f Def ense Wor l d Geodet i c Svstem 1984
Techni cal Repor t : Pa r t I 1 - Par amet er s, Formul as, and Gr aphi cs f o r
t h e P r a c t i c a l Ap p l i c a t i o n o f WGS 84; DMA TR 8350.2-8; Headquar t er s,
Def ense Mappi ng Agency; Washi ngt on, DC; 1 December 1987.
6.4 De ~ a r t me n t o f Def ense Wor l d Geodet i c Svstem 1984 - I t s D e f i n i t i o n
and Re l a t i o n s h i p s Wi t h Local Geodet i c Systems; DMA TR 8350.2;
Headquar t er s, Def ense Mappi ng Agency; Washi ngt on, DC;
30 September 1987.
6.5 Junki ns, J.L.; Mi l l e r , G.W.; and J. R. J a n c a i t i s ; "A Wei ght i ng
Func t i on Approach t o Model i ng o f I r r e g u l a r Sur f aces" ; Jour nal o f
Geophysi cal Research; Vol . 78, No. 11; 10 A p r i l 1973.
6.6 Mo r i t z , H. ; " I n t r o d u c t i o n t o I n t e r p o l a t i o n and Appr oxi mat i on" ;
A D D r ~ ~ i m a t i ~ n Methods i n Geodesv: H. Mo r i t z and H. Sunkel
( Ed i t o r s ) : Her ber t Wichmann ( Pu b l i s h e r ) ; Kar l sr uhe, Feder al
Republ i c o f Germany; 1978.
Tabl e 6.1
WGS 84 Geoid Hei ght Di f f er ences
- True ( Cal cul at ed) Values Minus Val ues I nt er pol at ed f r om a 1x10 Gr i d -
Range o f
Geoi d Hei ght Di f f er ences
( Met er s )
Lar gest Di f f er ence
RMS Di f f er ence
Frequency
Po s i t i v e
Di f f er ences Di f f er ences
I Mean Di f f er ence 0.00002 rn I
I Number o f Di f f er ences 259,200 I
Tabl e 6.2
WGS 84 Geoi d Hei ght Di f f er enc es
- True ( Cal cul at ed) Val ues Mi nus Val ues I n t e r p o l a t e d f r om a 3O1x30' Gr i d -
Range o f
Geoi d Hei ght Di f f er enc es
( Met er s)
Lar gest Di f f er enc e
Frequency o
Po s i t i v e
Di f f er enc es
RMS Di f f er enc e
Di f f er enc es
Negat i ve
if f er ences
Mean Di f f er enc e 0.000001 m
Number o f Di f f er enc es
Table 6.3
Distribution of Geoid Height Differences Greater Than One Meter
- True (Calculated) Values Minus Values Interpolated from a 30' x 30' Grid* -
2 Points > I 1.0 I
[-I .04 -1 .OOI
25 Points > 1 1.0 I
[-I .23 1 .55I
5 Points > I 1.0 I
1-1.34 -1 .OOI
Geodetic Longitude 360"
*259,2OO Va 1 ues Compared.
Tabl e 6.4
Geoi d Hei ght Di f f er enc es
- WGS 84 Mi nus WGS 72* -
Range o f
Geoi d Hei ght Di f f er enc es
( Met er s)
Frequency
0 f
Occurrence
Per cent
o f
Tot al Val ues (64,800)
I
Lar gest Po s i t i v e Di f f er enc e = 24.0 m I RMS Di f f er enc e = f 4. 6 m
Lar gest Negat i ve Di f f er enc e = -23.5 m I Mean Di f f e r e n c e ; 0. 0001m
*wGS 72 Geoi d Hei ght s Ref er enced t o WGS 72 E l l i p s o i d
Figure 6.1. Relationship Between the Earth's Physical Surface, the Mean Sea Level
Surface of the Earth (or Geoid), and the Earth's Mathematical Figure
(an Ellipsoid)
G round-Based Satellite
H =Geodetic Height
N =Geoid Height
h = Height-Above-
Mean Sea Level
Figure 6.2. Satellite-Derived Height-Above-Mean Sea Level Values (Terrestrial Points)
Satellite-Derived Coordinates
T o(lY1Z) - (rn, H,
P = Aircraft (e.g.)
' ~art h' r Topographic
Surface
H = Geodetic Height
N = Geoid Height
h = Height-Above-
Mean Sea Level
Figure 6.3. Satellite-Derived Height-Above-Mean Sea Level Values (Spatial Objects)
Point P
(i, = 29" N, X = 278"E (82"W)
(Marion County, Florida)
Figure 6.4. Illustration of a Negative WGS 84 Geodetic He~ght ( H)
Topographic
Surface
hl(P) f h*(P)
Oh1(P) <Oh2h2(V
'Th rrh = Errors in hl, h2 at P
1' 2
Figure 6.5. TwoTechniques for Obtaining Height Above Mean Sea Level Values
N~(@~,X,,) = Geoid Height t o be Interpolated at
Point P
N 21N31N4 = Available Gri d Point Geoid Heights
X,Y = Non-Dimensional Coordinates of Point P
[Equations (6.17), (6.18)]
Figure 6.6. Coordinate System Associated With Geoid Height
Bi-Linear Interpolation Scheme
Figure 6.7. Location of Geoid Height Differences Greater Than 1 Meter (True Minus Interpolated
From a 30fx30' Grid)