GRACE重力卫星揭示的水储量季节性变化

利用覆盖时间段为2004年1月至2009年10月共70个月的美国NASA和德国DLR联合研制的“重力场恢复与气候实验”卫星（GRACE）时变重力场数据，估计了非洲、中国以及亚马逊流域水储量的季节性变化。结果表明：非洲北部、南部、中国南部、亚马逊流域水储量变化的季节性幅度分别为10．5cm±2．1cm、16．2cm±2．9cm、8．3cm±1．5cm、30．5cm±5．6cm。研究证实了GRACE重力卫星在监测水质量变化，乃至于一个相对较小的区域的水质量变化方面的潜能。文章的结果有助于水资源管理以及预防和缓解灾害性事件等工作的决策；此外，改进的以监测地表质量变化、全球性气候改变、灾害性事件等为目标的GRACE类型的探测计划，将促进对水文学、海洋动力学以及地球物理学等的理解。

GRACE Mission Revealed the Seasonal Changes of Water Storage

Using 70 months of gravity field models of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment(GRACE) in the period from January 2004 to October 2009, this study estimates the seasonal changes of water storage in water thickness in Africa, China and Amazon. Annual amplitudes of 10.5cm±2.1cm, 16.2cm±2.9cm, 8.3cm±1.5cm and 30.5cm±5.6cm in equivalent height of water thickness are found in northern Africa, southern Africa, southern China and Amazon respectively. The study has proved the potentials of GRACE mission in monitoring mass variations even in a relatively small area. The results will be helpful for the management of water resources, as well as the policy-decision of preventing and alleviating the hazards. And it is expected that the advanced GRACE-like mission in support of monitoring of mass redistribution, global change and natural hazards will promote better understanding of hydrology, ocean dynamics, geophysics and so on.