Determination of the degree 120 time-variable gravity field in the Sichuan-Yunnan region using Slepian functions and terrestrial measurements

The terrestrial time-variable gravity measurements are characterized by a high signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity to the sources of mass change in the Earth’s crust. These gravity data have many applications, such as surface deformation, groundwater storage changes, and mass migration before and after earthquakes. Based on repeated terrestrial gravity measurements at 198 gravity stations in the Sichuan-Yunnan region (SYR) from 2015 to 2017, we determine a time series of degree 120 gravity fields using the localized spherical harmonic (Slepian) basis functions. Our results show that adopting the first 6 Slepian basis functions is sufficient for effective localized Slepian modeling in the SYR. The differences between two gravity campaigns at the same time of year show an obvious correlation with tectonic features. The degree 120 time-variable gravity models presented in this paper will benefit the study of the regional mass migration inside the crust of the SYR and supplement the existing geophysical models for the China Seismic Experimental Site.