Moho estimation using GOCE data: a numerical simulation

The GOCE mission, exploiting for the first time the concept of satellite gradiometry, promises to estimate the Earth’s gravitational field from space with unprecedented accuracy and spatial resolution. Also inverse gravimetric problems can get benefit from GOCE observations. In this work the general problem of estimating the discontinuity surface between two layers of different density is investigated. A possible solution based on a local Fourier analysis and Wiener deconvolution of satellite data (such as gravitational potential and its second radial derivative) is proposed. Moreover a numerical method to combine in an efficient way gridded satellite data with sparse ground data, like gravity anomalies, has been implemented. Numerical simulations on different synthetic Moho profiles have been carried out. Finally a two-dimensional simulation on realistic data over the Alps has been set up. The results confirm that GOCE data can significantly contribute to the detection of geophysical structures, leading to a much better determination of the signal long wavelengths (up to about 200 km). The use of local ground data improves the satellite-only estimate, making possible the recovery of higher resolution details.