Tags: European Space Agency, GOCE, Earth Observation
Publication: OurAmazingPlanet.com
Publication Date: 11/20/2012

ESA’s GOCE mission has delivered the most accurate model of the ‘geoid’ ever produced, which will be used to further our understanding of how Earth works. Image credit: ESA/HPF/DLR

The European Space Agency’s GOCE satellite has been incredibly valuable for geologists and climatologists, as well as for oil companies and government studies. Now, the satellite is lowering its orbit from 158 miles to 146 miles to create a new map. It is descending at approximately 980 feet per day and it is expected to reach its new orbit in February.

GOCE will continue to map the “geoid” of the Earth, a hypothetical surface around our planet at which Earth’s gravitational pull is always the same. On dense areas of the planet, the geoid moves away from the real surface of the planet and where gravity is weaker, it moves closer to it.

By mapping this geoid, GOCE is expected to help measure ocean circulation, sea-level changes and the mass of polar ice sheets.

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