Effects of Gaussian filter in processing GRACE data: Gravity rate of change at Lhasa, southern Tibet

In this paper, the spatial gravity distribution over Tibetan Plateau and the gravity rate of change at Lhasa for different Gaussian filter radii are computed using GRACE data. Results show that the estimate of the gravity rate of change is spatialradius-dependent of the Gaussian filter. The GRACE-estimated gravity rate of change agrees well with the surface measured one. In other words, the GRACE-estimated gravity rate of change has a limited value as that obtained by surface measurement when the spatial filter radius reaches zero. Then numerical simulations are made for different spatial radii of the Gaussian filter to investigate its behaviors when applied to surface signals. Results show that the estimate of a physical signal is filter-radius dependent. If the computing area is equal to or less than the mass area, especially for a uniformly distributed mass, the estimate gives an almost correct result, no matter what filter radius is used. The estimate has large error because of the signal leakage caused by harmonic truncation if the computing area is much bigger than the mass distribution (or inverse for a small mass anomaly). If a mass anomaly is too small, it is difficult to recover it from space observation unless the filter radius is extremely small. If the computing point (or area) is outside the mass distribution, the estimated result is almost zero, particularly for small filter radii. These properties of the Gaussian filter are helpful in applying GRACE data in different geophysical problems with different spatial position and geometrical size. We further discuss physical sources causing the scalar gravity change at Lhasa. Discussions indicate that the gravity rate of change at Lhasa is not caused by the present-day ice melting (PDIM) (or Little Ice Age, LIA) effect because no ice melting occurs in Lhasa city and nearby. The gravity rate of change is attributable mainly to tectonic deformation associated with the Indian Plate collision. Simultaneous surface displacement, surface denudation, and GIA effects are not negligible.