AGU - Geodesy Section

Geodesy is a branch of geophysics that studies the geometrical, structural, and gravitational properties of the Earth, their time evolution, and the dynamic interactions of the solid Earth with other physical components of the Earth system (atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, and the core), at a wide range of temporal and spatial scales. Geodesists also study the corresponding topics for other planets in the solar system.

Observations and measurements are at the heart of geodesy. Measurements of the static Earth aimed at understanding its size, shape, and motion have been made for many centuries, earning geodesy the sobriquet of "oldest Earth science." In the last half century, space techniques using extraterrestrial components and measurements have revolutionized the research and applications of geodesy, hence the term "space geodesy." Space geodetic observations are used today to measure global, regional, and local crustal deformation and gravity variability associated with a wide variety of geophysical processes; to investigate mass motions inherent in the global water cycle; to monitor atmospheric water vapor and temperature; to study the dynamics and kinematics of glaciers and ice sheets; and to study changes in the planet's moment of inertia and rotation. Due to the wide application of space geodetic observations, space geodesy has today become the most interdisciplinary branch in all of geophysics.

AGUs Geodesy Section is proud to contribute to this heritage over the decades, in providing services and fostering interactions among geodesists as well as between geodesists and colleague in other discipline

Non-seasonal ocean bottom pressure (OBP) variability in the North Pacific extracted from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data from 2003 until April 2007. The largest variation is related to a trend from lower than normal OBP in 2003 to higher than normal OBP in 2006 and 2007, which is not predicted by data assimilating models, but is observed by two independent satellite measuring systems - GRACE and Jason-1 altimetry corrected for thermal expansion with Argo float data. The observations support a recent theory of an interannual fluctuation in the subtpolar gyre OBP associated with ENSO events. (Figure adapted from Chambers, D. P., and J. K. Willis (2008), Analysis of large-scale ocean bottom pressure variability in the North Pacific, J. Geophys. Res., 113, C11003, doi:10.1029/2008JC004930.) (Source: Don Chambers, winner of the 2008 Geodesy Section Award) Welcome to the Geodesy Section of the American Geophysical Union.


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Announcements Officers & committees Awards & Honors Meetings Journals Become a member Bylaws Links Main AGU page Home		Geodesy is a branch of geophysics that studies the geometrical, structural, and gravitational properties of the Earth, their time evolution, and the dynamic interactions of the solid Earth with other physical components of the Earth system (atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, and the core), at a wide range of temporal and spatial scales. Geodesists also study the corresponding topics for other planets in the solar system. Observations and measurements are at the heart of geodesy. Measurements of the static Earth aimed at understanding its size, shape, and motion have been made for many centuries, earning geodesy the sobriquet of "oldest Earth science." In the last half century, space techniques using extraterrestrial components and measurements have revolutionized the research and applications of geodesy, hence the term "space geodesy." Space geodetic observations are used today to measure global, regional, and local crustal deformation and gravity variability associated with a wide variety of geophysical processes; to investigate mass motions inherent in the global water cycle; to monitor atmospheric water vapor and temperature; to study the dynamics and kinematics of glaciers and ice sheets; and to study changes in the planet's moment of inertia and rotation. Due to the wide application of space geodetic observations, space geodesy has today become the most interdisciplinary branch in all of geophysics. AGUs Geodesy Section is proud to contribute to this heritage over the decades, in providing services and fostering interactions among geodesists as well as between geodesists and colleague in other discipline