Geophysical Modeling with Satellite Gravity Data: Eigen-6C4 vs. GGM Plus

Satellite data sets are an asset in global gravity collections; their characteristics vary in coverage and resolution. New collections appear often, and the user must adapt fast to their characteristics. Their use in geophysical modeling is rapidly increasing; with this in mind we compare two of the most densely populated sets: EIGEN-6C4 and GGMplus. We characterize them in terms of their frequency histograms, Free Air anomalies, power spectrum, and simple Bouguer anomalies. The nature of the digital elevation models used for data reduction is discussed. We conclude that the GGMplus data set offers a better spatial resolution. To evaluate their effect in geophysical modelling, we chose an inland region with a prominent volcanic structure in which we perform 3D inversions of the respective Bouguer anomalies, obtaining density variations that in principle can be associated with the geologic materials and the structure of the volcanic edifice. Model results are analyzed along sections of the inverted data; we conclude that the GGMplus data set offers higher resolution in the cases analyzed.