Extending the Global Mass Change Data Record: GRACE Follow‐On Instrument and Science Data Performance

Felix W. Landerer(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Frank Flechtner(GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences), Himanshu Save(The University of Texas at Austin), F. Webb(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Tamara Bandikova(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Willy Bertiger(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Srinivas Bettadpur(The University of Texas at Austin), Sung Byun(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Christoph Dahle(GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences), Henryk Dobslaw(GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences), Eugene G. Fahnestock(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Nate Harvey(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Zhigui Kang(The University of Texas at Austin), Gerhard Kruizinga(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Bryant Loomis(Goddard Space Flight Center), Christopher McCullough(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Michael Murböck(GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences), Peter Nagel(The University of Texas at Austin), Meegyeong Paik(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Nadège Pie(The University of Texas at Austin), Steve Poole(The University of Texas at Austin), Dmitry Strekalov(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), M. E. Tamisiea(The University of Texas at Austin), Furun Wang(The University of Texas at Austin), M. M. Watkins(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Hui‐Ying Wen(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), D. N. Wiese(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Dah‐Ning Yuan(Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
Geophysical Research Letters
May 25, 2020
10.1029/2020gl088306
Cited by 742Open Access
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Abstract

Abstract Since June, 2018, the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow‐On (GRACE‐FO) is extending the 15‐year monthly mass change record of the GRACE mission, which ended in June 2017. The GRACE‐FO instrument and flight system performance has improved over GRACE. Better attitude solutions and enhanced pointing performance result in reduced fuel consumption and gravity range rate post‐fit residuals. One accelerometer requires additional calibrations due to unexpected measurement noise. The GRACE‐FO gravity and mass change fields from June 2018 through December 2019 continue the GRACE record at an equivalent precision and spatiotemporal sampling. During this period, GRACE‐FO observed large interannual terrestrial water variations associated with excess rainfall (Central US, Middle East), drought (Europe, Australia), and ice melt (Greenland). These observations are consistent with independent mass change estimates, providing high confidence that no intermission biases exist from GRACE to GRACE‐FO, despite the 11‐month gap. GRACE‐FO has also successfully demonstrated satellite‐to‐satellite laser ranging interferometry.

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