A METHOD TO VALIDATE GRAVIMETRIC-GEOID COMPUTATION SOFTWARE-BASED ON STOKESS INTEGRAL FORMULA

A method is presented with which to verify that the computer software used to compute a gravimetric geoid is capable of producing the correc t results, assuming accurate input data. The Stokes, gravimetric terra in correction and indirect effect formulae are integrated analytically after applying a transformation to surface spherical coordinates cent red on each computation point. These analytical results can be compare d with those from geoid computation software using constant gravity da ta in order to verify its integrity. Results of tests conducted with g eoid computation software are presented which illustrate the need for integration weighting factors, especially for those compartments close to the computation point.