Comparing GRACE-FO KBR and LRI ranging data with focus on carrier frequency variations

Abstract

The GRACE Follow-On satellite mission measures distance variations between the two satellites in order to derive monthly gravity field maps, indicating mass variability on Earth on a few 100 km scale due to hydrology, seismology, climatology and others. This mission hosts two ranging instruments, a conventional microwave system based on K(a)-band ranging (KBR) and a novel laser ranging instrument (LRI), both relying on interferometric phase readout. In this paper we show how the phase measurements can be converted into range data using a time-dependent carrier frequency (or wavelength) that takes potential intraday variability in the microwave or laser frequency into account. Moreover, we analyze the KBR-LRI residuals and discuss which error and noise contributors limit the residuals at high and low Fourier frequencies. It turns out that the agreement between KBR and LRI biased range observations can be slightly improved by considering intraday carrier frequency variations in the processing. Although the effect is probably small enough to have little relevance for gravity field determination at the current precision level, the analysis is of relevance for detailed instrument characterization and potentially for future more precise missions.