Analysis of the terrestrial global digital model using fractal geometry and harmonic expansion into spherical functions

During the implementation of space missions on study of the Solar system a large amount of information on planets geophysics and their morphological properties has been obtained, that could be investigated using fractal geometry. The present paper describes the analysis of the GDEM terrestrial digital model built from the ASTER's observations. GDEM is global digital elevation model and ASTER is advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer. ASTER was installed on the platform of Terra (NASA) orbiter. In our study we used robust methods and fractal analysis. The fractal dimension values for the terrestrial surface, which has a heterogeneous structure, are obtained. The fractal dimensions are determined for geographical latitudes. Independent estimates of the Earth's macrostructure that could be used for a new interpretation of geophysical processes have been obtained as well.