Airborne geoid determination

Airborne geoid mapping techniques may provide the opportunity to improve th e geoid over vast areas of the Earth, such as polar areas, tropical jungles and mountainous areas, and provide an accurate "seam-less" geoid model acr oss most coastal regions. Determination of the geoid by airborne methods re lies on the development of airborne gravimetry, which in turn is dependent on developments in kinematic GPS. Routine accuracy of airborne gravimetry a re now at the 2 mGal level, which may translate into 5-10 cm geoid accuracy on regional scales. The error behaviour of airborne gravimetry is well-sui ted for geoid determination, with high-frequency survey and downward contin uation noise being offset by the low-pass gravity to geoid filtering operat ion. In the paper the basic principles of airborne geoid determination are outlined, and examples of results of recent airborne gravity and geoid surv eys in the North Sea and Greenland are given.