The Mass Change Designated Observable Study: Overview and Results

作者：D. N. Wiese, Bernard Bienstock, Carmen Blackwood, Jon Chrone, Bryant Loomis, Jeanne Sauber, Matthew Rodell, Rosemary R. Baize, David Bearden, Kelley Case, Scott Horner, S. B. Luthcke, J. T. Reager, Margaret Srinivasan, Lucia Tsaoussi, F. Webb, Amanda Whitehurst, Victor Zlotnicki · 发表于：Earth and Space Science · 年份：2022 · DOI：10.1029/2022ea002311 · 被引用次数：45 · 研究领域：Geophysics and Gravity Measurements、Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies、Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics

Abstract The 2017–2027 United States National Academy of Sciences Decadal Survey (DS) for Earth Science and Applications from Space identified Mass Change (MC) as one of five Designated Observables (DOs) having the highest priority in terms of Earth observations required to advance Earth system science over the next decade. In response to this designation, NASA initiated several multi‐center studies, with the goal of recommending observing system architectures for each DO for implementation within this decade. This paper provides an overview of the Mass Change Designated Observable (MCDO) Study along with key findings. The study process included: (a) generation of a Science and Applications Traceability Matrix (SATM) that maps required measurement parameters to the DS Science and Applications Objectives; (b) identification of three architecture classes relevant for measuring mass change: Precise Orbit Determination (POD), Satellite‐Satellite‐Tracking (SST) and Gravity Gradiometry (GG), along with variants within each architecture class; and (c) creation of a Value Framework process that considers science value, cost, risk, schedule, and partnership opportunities, to identify and recommend high value observing systems for further in‐depth study. The study team recommended the implementation of an SST architecture, and identified variants that simultaneously (a) satisfy the baseline measurement parameters of the SATM; (b) maximize the probability of providing overlap with the G...