NASA Logo Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology View the NASA Portal
NASA Banner
NASA Banner
JPL HOME EARTH SOLAR SYSTEM STARS & GALAXIES TECHNOLOGY
NASA Banner
Instruments and Data Systems
Home
Contacts
Projects
<i>In Situ</i> Instruments Systems In Situ Instruments Systems
Active and Adaptive Optics Active and Adaptive Optics
Annual Review Annual Review
High Contrast Imaging High Contrast Imaging
Instrument and Science Software Systems Instrument and Science Software Systems
Instrument Autonomy Instrument Autonomy
Microdevices Microdevices
Stellar Interferometry Stellar Interferometry
Visible and Infrared Imaging and Spectrometers Visible and Infrared Imaging and Spectrometers
Instrument Systems Implementation Instrument Systems Implementation
Far IR and Microwave Imagers, Radiometers and Spectrometers Far IR and Microwave Imagers, Radiometers and Spectrometers
Instruments and Data Systems: Projects 
Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) Icon

Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE)

GRACE (the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) maps the Earth's gravity fields by making accurate measurements of the distance between the two satellites, using GPS and a microwave ranging system. It provides scientists from all over the world with an efficient and cost-effective way to map the Earth's gravity fields with unprecedented accuracy. The results from this mission have revealed detailed information about the distribution and flow of mass within the Earth and it's surroundings.

The gravity variations that GRACE studies include: changes due to surface and deep currents in the ocean; runoff and ground water storage on land masses; exchanges between ice sheets or glaciers and the oceans; and variations of mass within the Earth. Another goal of the mission is to create a better profile of the Earth's atmosphere.

Links

JPL Privacy Statement Sitemap Email Contact Form
USA.gov - Government made easy NASA Home Page