Activities of the Polish research gSDroups concerning gravity field modelling and gravimetry in a period of 2015–2018 are reviewed and summarised in this paper. The summary contains the results of research on the evaluation of GOCE-based global geopotential models (GGMs) in Poland and geoid modelling. Extensive research activities are observed in the field of absolute gravity surveys, in particular for the maintenance of national gravity control in Poland, Sweden, Denmark, the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland as well as for geodynamics with special emphasis on metrological aspects in absolute gravimetry. Long term gravity variations were monitored in two gravimetric laboratories: the Borowa Gora Geodetic-Geophysical Observatory, and Jozefoslaw Astrogeodetic Observatory with the use of quasi-regular absolute gravity measurements as well as tidal gravimeter records. Gravity series obtained were analysed considering both local and global hydrology effects. Temporal variations of the gravity field were investigated using data from GRACE satellite mission as well as SLR data. Estimated variations of physical heights indicate the need for kinematic realization of reference surface for heights. Also seasonal variability of the atmospheric and water budgets in Poland was a subject of investigation in terms of total water storage using the GLDAS data. The use of repeatable absolute gravity data for calibration/validation of temporal mass variations derived from satellite gravity missions was discussed. Contribution of gravimetric records to seismic studies was investigated. The bibliography of the related works is given in references.

The GOCE (Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer) has significantly upgraded the knowledge on the Earth gravity field. In this contribution the accuracy of height anomalies determined from Global Geopotential Models (GGMs) based on approximately 27 months GOCE satellite gravity gradiometry (SGG) data have been assessed over Poland using three sets of precise GNSS/levelling data. The fits of height anomalies obtained from 4th release GOCE-based GGMs to GNSS/levelling data were discussed and compared with the respective ones of 3rd release GOCE-based GGMs and the EGM08. Furthermore, two highly accurate gravimetric quasigeoid models were developed over the area of Poland using high resolution Faye gravity anomalies. In the first, the GOCE-based GGM was used as a reference geopotential model, and in the second – the EGM08. They were evaluated with GNSS/levelling data and their accuracy performance was assessed. The use of GOCE-based GGMs for recovering the long-wavelength gravity signal in gravimetric quasigeoid modelling was discussed.

The summary of research activities concerning gravity field modelling and gravimetric works performed in Poland in the period of 2011–2014 is presented. It contains the results of research on geoid modelling in Poland and other countries, evaluation of global geopotential models, determination of temporal variations of the gravity field with the use of data from satellite gravity space missions, absolute gravity surveys for the maintenance and modernization of the gravity control in Poland and overseas, metrological aspects in gravimetry, maintenance of gravimetric calibration baselines, and investigations of the non- tidal gravity changes. The bibliography of the related works is given in references.

A number of new satellite-only Global Gravity Models (GGMs) become progressively available based on the CHAMP and GRACE satellite mission data. These models promise higher (compared to older GGMs) accuracy in the determination of the low and medium harmonics of the Earth's gravity field. In the present study, the latest GGMs generated from CHAMP and GRACE data (namely EIGEN2, EIGEN3p, GGM0IC, GGM0IS and GRACED IS) have been studied with respect ro their accuracy and performance when used in gravity field approximation. A spectral analysis of the new models has been carried out, employing their degree and error-degree variances. In this way, their performance against each other and with respect to EGM96 was assessed, and the parts of the gravity field spectrum that each model describes more accurately have been identified. The results of the analysis led to the development of a combined geopotential model, complete to degree and order 360, whose coefficients were those of CHAMP until degree 5, then GRACE until degree 116, and EGM96 for the rest of the spectrum. Finally, a validation of all models (the combined included) has been performed by comparing their estimates against GPS/levelling data in land areas and TOPEX/Poseidon sea surface heights in marine regions. All rests have taken place over Greece and the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. From the results obtained it was concluded that the combined GGM developed provides more accurate results (compared to EGM96), in terms of the differences with the control datasets, at the level of 1-2 cm geoid and 1-2 mGal for gravity (ICT). Furthermore, the absolute geoid accuracy that the combined GGM offers is 12.9 cm (ICT) for 11 = 120, 25 cm for 11 = 200 and 33 cm for n = 360, compared to 29 cm, 36 cm and 42 cm for EGM96, respectively.