On the topographic bias by analytical continuation in geoid determination

Abstract

We consider the topographic bias in gravimetric geoid determination when analytically downward continuing the disturbing potential from the Earth’s surface to sea level. The total bias is subdivided into those of the Bouguer shell or plate and the terrain. In this process, the potential of the Bouguer shell always has a downward continuation bias in the process, which increases with the square of the topographic height and typically exceeds 1–2 cm for elevations higher than 1 km. The main conclusion is that the terrain does not provide a potential bias except possibly for masses located inside a dome of height of about 0.4 times the height of the computation point, and base radius equal to the height of the computation point. This result implies that the potential of all terrain masses of arbitrary density located exterior to the Bouguer shell as well as those outside the dome are unbiasedly downward continued to sea level.