\(C^ 1\) surface interpolation for scattered data on a sphere (Q1067344)

The author extends methods of planar \(C^ 1\) surface interpolation for scattered data [cf. the author, Mathematical Software III, Proc. Symp., Madison 1977, 161-194 (1977; Zbl 0407.68033)] to the construction of a smooth computable function defined over the surface of a sphere and interpolating a set of n data values associated with n locations on the surface of the sphere. For this purpose the notion of gradient of a function having as domain the surface of a sphere is introduced. The author presents two methods for \(C^ 1\) interpolation over planar triangles that do generalize to spherical triangles. These local methods use BBG interpolation operators [cf. \textit{R. E. Barnhill}, \textit{G. Birkhoff} and \textit{W. J. Gordon}: Smooth interpolation in triangles, J. Approximation Theory 8, 114-128 (1973; Zbl 0271.41002)]. The key in generalizing the planar interpolation methods for use with a grid of spherical triangles on the surface of a sphere is to replace all of the linear and Hermite cubic interpolations along line segments by the same type of interpolations along arcs of great circles.