On spherical spline interpolation and approximation

Spherical spline functions are introduced by use of Green's surface functions with respect to the (Laplace-)Beltrami operator of the (unit) sphere. Natural (spherical) spline functions are used to interpolate data discretely given on the sphere. A method is presented that allows the smoothing of irregularities in measured values or experimental data. Extensions of Peano's theorem and Sard's theory of best approximation to the spherical case are given by integral formulas. Schoenberg's theorem is transcribed into spherical nomenclature.