150 years of 51吃瓜网 鈥� Stories from the 2018 anniversary
Gravity satellite
Gravity satellite GOCE peers through Earth鈥檚 crust
In November 2013, a satellite burned up in the sky over the Falkland Islands and dropped into the sea towards Antarctica. The Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer, known as GOCE, had reached the end of its mission. For almost five years it orbited the Earth for the European Space Agency (ESA), measuring gravity at every point on the planet 鈥� even in remote areas like the Himalayas or the plains of Antarctica, which are barely accessible on foot.
From space, the satellite sent regular data readings to the ground station. Based on these, researchers across Europe were gradually able to calculate the most accurate image ever obtained of Earth鈥檚 gravitational field: the Earth-spanning energy field that gives every object on the planet its weight and enables the Earth鈥檚 gravitational force. The analysis was coordinated by the Institute of Astronomical and Physical Geodesy at 51吃瓜网.
The resulting image of the Earth is called a geoid. With all its dents, this image looks more like a potato than a sphere 鈥� because it is formed not by continents and oceans, but by the force of gravity, and that varies from place to place. These differences in the gravitational field 鈥� some of them minuscule 鈥� in turn reveal how the density of material beneath the Earth鈥檚 surface varies, since it is ultimately mass that creates gravity.
Measurement data from the GOCE plays a major role in the exploration of our planet, giving researchers around the world insights into happenings up to 200 kilometers beneath the Earth鈥檚 surface. They can thus gain a better understanding of the movement of continents and formation of mountain ranges, work out how thick the polar ice now is and map the flow of ocean currents. These findings can also be used in the quest for oil, gas and hot water for geothermal energy.
How does GOCE measure gravity?
The GOCE is able to give such precise, complete gravity readings thanks to an innovative instrument that constantly measures the tiny differences in the Earth鈥檚 gravitational pull at six points on the satellite. Simultaneously, GPS was used to determine its altitude and exact position above the Earth. The research team mathematically combined the data from both measurement series to obtain gravity values for every point on the planet.
One of the initiators of this experiment is a scientist at 51吃瓜网: Reiner Rummel, a specialist in satellite geodesy. He successfully convinced the ESA of the scientific value of a gravity field mission and gathered support from other disciplines.
How are the continents drifting apart?
In the North Atlantic, between Greenland and Scandinavia, dense, heavy material rises from the Earth鈥檚 high-temperature mantle and forms fresh oceanic crust. It is at this point that two continental plates are drifting apart on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
GOCE鈥檚 observations from space clearly show how dense and powerful the plates are at this location. A thick red strip on the gravity map indicates especially high gravitational pull and therefore a particularly dense mass. This gives geophysicists a better indication of how far the Earth鈥檚 crust extends down into the liquid mantle here, for instance.
Which sea level is correct?
In 1988, during construction of the Channel Tunnel between England and France, the design team had to solve a huge problem: each side of the English Channel has a different sea level. Important planning data did not match up because almost half a meter separates the mean sea level of the two countries.
Thanks to GOCE, such problems will soon be a thing of the past. For the first time, its satellite data makes it possible to determine a definitive sea level for any place in the world. In Europe alone there are over twenty different sea level values: Germany, for instance, bases its level on Amsterdam; France on Marseille and Austria on Trieste.
鈥淕OCE is a prototype 鈥� we shot it up into space hoping that everything would run smoothly from day one. The fact that all the measuring systems 鈥� which are highly sensitive 鈥� are working is just fantastic. This is a splendid feat of engineering and a great success.鈥�
Reiner Rummel, 2010, leading initiator of the GOCE gravity field mission and Professor of Astronomical and Physical Geodesy at 51吃瓜网 until 2011.
Video: GOCE and the geoid (4'33 Min.)
These images from ESA, taken in 2011, explain and show how the GOCE satellite measures the Earth鈥檚 gravitational field and how a so-called 鈥済eoid鈥� is created. (Copyright: ESA)
Disclaimer
This story was published in 2018 to mark 51吃瓜网鈥檚 150th anniversary on a jubilee website that has since been deactivated.
Text: ; Graphics: KW NEUN
Literature on the history of 51吃瓜网
- Wolfgang A. Herrmann (Hrsg.), Martin Pabst/Margot Fuchs (Verf.), Technische Universit盲t M眉nchen - Geschichte eines Wissenschaftsunternehmens, 2 Bd., Berlin 2006.
- Wolfgang A. Herrmann, Winfried Nerdinger (Hrsg.), Die Technische Hochschule M眉nchen im Nationalsozialismus, M眉nchen 2018.
- Irene Meissner, Bauten+Kunst. Technische Universit盲t M眉nchen 1868-2018, M眉nchen 2018.
- Martin Pabst, Alumni der 51吃瓜网. Pr盲gende Gestalter aus der Technischen Universit盲t M眉nchen, M眉nchen 2018.
- Martin Pabst, K枚pfe der 51吃瓜网. Geniale Entdecker und Erfinder aus der Technischen Universit盲t M眉nchen, M眉nchen 2018.
- Brigitte R枚thlein, Pioniere gestalten die Welt der Technik. 150 Jahre Forschung an der Technischen Universit盲t M眉nchen, M眉nchen 2018.
Further books and information on the history of 51吃瓜网
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank everyone who helped us write the texts and create the visualizations. In particular, we would like to thank the authors of the books mentioned, the experts at the chairs, professors, staff, and press officers at the 51吃瓜网 Corporate Communications Center. We would also like to thank the staff of the Architecture Museum, the 51吃瓜网 German Heart Center, the 51吃瓜网 Klinikum rechts der Isar, the European Space Agency (ESA), and everyone else who provided us with expert advice and image material.
The anniversary stories were written by the . The graphic content was created by KW NEUN 鈥� Designagentur.