Evaluation of Selected Global Geopotential Models for Regional Applications in Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55779/ng62631Keywords:
Geoid undulation, Global Geopotential Models, GNSS/levelling, Gravity anomalies, Residual Terrain Model (RTM), Spectral Enhancement Method (SEM)Abstract
The advent of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) has significantly advanced geomatics by facilitating efficient data acquisition. However, deriving accurate orthometric heights from GNSS-based ellipsoidal heights remains challenging, particularly in regions lacking reliable geoid models. Global Geopotential Models (GGMs) are widely used to support the development of local and regional geoids, with geoid height signals typically classified into short-, medium-, and long-wavelength components, the latter being represented by GGMs. This study evaluates selected GGMs to identify the most suitable model for geoid determination, vertical datum unification, and gravity field refinement in Nigeria. Eleven high-degree and order GGMs were assessed through comparison with terrestrial gravity data and GNSS/levelling-derived geoid heights. The Spectral Enhancement Method (SEM) was applied using the Residual Terrain Model (RTM) for high-degree models, and a combination of RTM and EGM2008 coefficients for lower-degree models. The results indicate that high-degree GGMs generally provide a better fit to terrestrial data than lower-degree models. Among the evaluated models, XGM2019e_2159, EGM2008, and SGG-UGM-2 showed the best overall performance and are therefore recommended for geodetic and geophysical applications in the study area.
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