List of Sessions
Session chairs: Riccardo Barzaghi, Laura Sánchez, Hartmut Wziontek
Reference systems and frames in physical geodesy referring, mainly, on one hand to the geoid and physical heights and on the other hand to gravity itself, are a fundamental component of the dynamic component of geodesy. Major breakthroughs for the gravity and geoid community have been the definitions of the International Height Reference System (IHRS) as well as the International Terrestrial Gravity Reference System (ITGRS) and the development of their practical realizations, the International Height Reference Frame (IHRF) and the International Terrestrial Gravity Reference Frame (ITGRF). Concepts for gravity, geoid and potential determination have been developed and tested aiming at providing a roadmap for the definition and realization of physical heights and gravity reference into a worldwide frame. Both definitions lead to the linkage of local vertical and gravity datums to a global one, which is fundamental for monitoring sea level variations, as well as engineering and hydrological and cryosphere studies.
This session welcomes contributions on local, regional and global high-resolution geoid modeling, both in terms of developments in theory, processing methods, collocation with satellite, airborne, altimetry and shipborne data, etc.. Moreover, the session focuses on the unification of the existing height systems around the world, the realization of an international height reference system, refinement of standards and conventions for the definition and realization of height reference system, regional vertical datum and their unification, and strategies for collocation of vertical reference stations with existing reference frames (GGOS core stations, ITRF, gravity stations, existing levelling networks, etc.). Finally, the session welcomes contributions on the International Terrestrial Gravity Reference System/Frame (ITGRS/ITGRF), updates on the definition, standards and realization, inclusion of corrections for temporal gravity changes, international absolute gravimeter comparisons, consistency evaluation, correlations between measurements, uncertainty estimates, error modelling, colocation of absolute free-fall, superconducting and quantum gravity meters.
Session chairs: Jürgen Müller, Derek van Westrum, Sylvain Bonvalot
New developments are occurring at a rapid pace for both “classical” and quantum gravimetric sensors. Advancements in traditional terrestrial, airborne, UAV, shipborne and spaceborne gravity instrumentation offer considerable improvements in gravity networks and the monitoring of mass variations. MEMS sensors promise both small and robust instrumentation, while absolute quantum gravimeters will continue to expand and support the capabilities of current free-fall, superconducting and dynamic sensors. In the next decade, we expect to see continuous absolute instruments, mobile quantum instruments, combined gravimetric and gradiometric instruments, as well as routine deployment of inertial systems on moving platforms. Quantum sensors are also being investigated as payloads for dedicated space gravimetry/gradiometry missions.
In addition, linked optical atomic clocks will provide direct observations of geopotential differences. Clock networks can be used for establishing and connecting height systems in a new way, or to monitor point-wise mass variations complementary to the gravimetric techniques.
These advancements will support a vast range of research: hydrologic cycles, biologic processes, ice melt modelling, geophysical exploration, and geoid change to name just a few. Experts in geodesy, physics and other geosciences will need to provide updated analysis techniques and software tools to support the new technology. Certified comparisons of these instruments will have renewed importance as the realization of the International Terrestrial Gravity Reference System (ITGRS, replacing IGSN71) depends on them.
We welcome contributions on topics such as advances in instrumentation (gravimetry, gradiometry, geopotential measurements, vertical deflections), acquisition techniques, processing methods, as well as other novel data applications and modelling.
Session chairs: Srinivas Bettadpur, Roland Pail, Adrian Jäggi
The advent of the dedicated legacy satellite gravity missions of Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP), Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and Gravity Field and Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE), have brought new insights to both the static and time-variable representations of the Earth’s gravity field. Satellite gravimetry is unique in providing a global view of mass distribution and its variation in the system Earth. While the GRACE mission has paved the way for observing the time variable gravity field from space over the last two decades, the GOCE mission provided a consistent global model of the static gravity field. These complementary missions triggered a large number of new applications in the fields of oceanography, continental hydrology, polar and mountain glacier ice mass monitoring, solid Earth geophysics, geodetic height systems etc. GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO) has seamlessly integrated with the 15-year GRACE data record and has become indispensable for a wide variety of geophysical process and climate studies. New mission concepts, like NGGM/MAGIC, new accelerometers for satellite gradiometry, cold atom gravimetry, and new and enhanced processing technologies, shall substantially improve this knowledge with further increased spatial and temporal resolution. Hence, the community is already preparing for future gravity missions GRACE-FO, engaging in variety of studies on mission requirements, improved instrumentation, innovative satellite concepts, and new data processing strategies.
This session solicits contributions on analysis techniques for past and current satellite gravimetry mission data (including GRACE/GRACE-FO, GOCE, and other LEO GPS data, combinations with other data types, etc.); NGGM/MAGIC science, applications and user community needs, future mission concepts and architectures (including satellite-to-satellite tracking, gradiometry, connections between applications and architectures, constellation design, etc.); and relevant instrumentation and technologies (e.g. inertial sensing, cold-atom interferometry, optical interferometry, cubesat/smallsat technologies etc.).
Session chairs: Pavel Novak, Mirko Reguzzoni, Ismael Foroughi
The integration of new observations and models derived from gravity field research improves our understanding of the Earth system, its subsystems, and their interconnections. These products provide the building blocks for innovative investigations of the solid Earth and reveal insights into the dynamics of the Earth’s crust and mantle, and their temporal variations.
In this session, we invite contributions to solutions of various formulations of the geodetic boundary-value problems with the aim of gravity field modelling on global and regional scales. Contributions describing recent developments in theory, processing methods, data integration, and software development are particularly welcome. This includes the downward continuation of satellite and airborne data, altimetry and shipborne data processing, DEM compilation, evaluation of gravitational topographic corrections, error propagation and uncertainty estimation, and other computational processes required for gravity field determination and its validation.
We also invite topics related to interpretations of the gravity field including its geophysical characteristics, anomalies and residuals, variations due to mass density distribution, connections with geodynamic processes, and their diverse applications such as crustal and mantle modelling, vertical datum unification, satellite altimetry, and more.
Session chairs: Annette Eicker, Carmen Blackwood, Rebecca McGirr
A wide range of Earth system processes cause transport and re-distribution of mass, including the melting of ice sheets and glaciers, sea level variations, river runoff, changes in precipitation, atmospheric circulation, evapotranspiration, soil moisture and groundwater, post-glacial rebound and flow in the Earth mantle. Observations of gravity and inferred estimates of mass change allow interpretation and direct understanding of these processes along with the combination and error budget closure with external information. Assimilation of mass change information into geophysical models allows disaggregation of signal into contributing processes and allows downscaling of geodetic contributions to other spatio-temporal scales of interest. Results from such analyses are applied towards climate studies, model validations, and understanding and assessments of natural hazards (e.g. earthquakes, flood, erosion, drought, etc.).
We invite contributions dealing with the interpretation, application and innovative use of gravity and inferred mass change for improved understanding of climate processes and natural hazards. Contributions that include the use of complimentary data (such as obtained from global GNSS networks, terrestrial gravimetry, InSAR, SLR, VLBI, and ocean bottom pressure sensors) are encouraged. We welcome contributions on the use of geodetic data sets for the improvement of geophysical and climate models – both in terms of model evaluation, calibration and data assimilation.
Session chairs: Sinem Ince, Daniela Carrión, Martin Sehnal
Geodesy and gravity field have developed during the last years from a niche field of scientific research to providing an abundance of data, models and products which have a direct impact not only on other fields of geosciences (e.g., hydrology, oceanography, geodynamics, climate research, atmosphere), but to the society itself. Especially in view of the exciting concepts for new sensors and new satellite gravity missions, which will offer enhanced spatial and temporal resolution, the future will soon see gravity-field related data and products including operational ones in e.g. meteorological research, early warning, extreme events management and mitigation. With the above in mind, management of this abundance of information, their proper recording, referencing and documentation, and increase in visibility is of utmost importance to facilitate their use by other scientific fields and contribute to their use by the stakeholders. In many cases, gravity field related products are underrepresented and miss the visibility, acknowledgement of the quality and importance that they convey. Thus, making efforts for promoting gravity related products is vital. This session welcomes contributions on existing and planned activities for the management of gravity related data and products which includes global and regional gravity field models as well as terrestrial and mobile gravity measurements, their archiving and organization, and dissemination. User requirements surveys and results, are as well very valuable to quantify the quality and impact of the gravity data and products, while current efforts and future plans for their inclusion in operational services are also welcome. Finally, reach to the society and stakeholders at global, regional and national levels and related efforts are envisaged.
Session chairs: Riccardo Barzaghi, Laura Sánchez, Hartmut Wziontek
Reference systems and frames in physical geodesy referring, mainly, on one hand to the geoid and physical heights and on the other hand to gravity itself, are a fundamental component of the dynamic component of geodesy. Major breakthroughs for the gravity and geoid community have been the definitions of the International Height Reference System (IHRS) as well as the International Terrestrial Gravity Reference System (ITGRS) and the development of their practical realizations, the International Height Reference Frame (IHRF) and the International Terrestrial Gravity Reference Frame (ITGRF). Concepts for gravity, geoid and potential determination have been developed and tested aiming at providing a roadmap for the definition and realization of physical heights and gravity reference into a worldwide frame. Both definitions lead to the linkage of local vertical and gravity datums to a global one, which is fundamental for monitoring sea level variations, as well as engineering and hydrological and cryosphere studies.
This session welcomes contributions on local, regional and global high-resolution geoid modeling, both in terms of developments in theory, processing methods, collocation with satellite, airborne, altimetry and shipborne data, etc.. Moreover, the session focuses on the unification of the existing height systems around the world, the realization of an international height reference system, refinement of standards and conventions for the definition and realization of height reference system, regional vertical datum and their unification, and strategies for collocation of vertical reference stations with existing reference frames (GGOS core stations, ITRF, gravity stations, existing levelling networks, etc.). Finally, the session welcomes contributions on the International Terrestrial Gravity Reference System/Frame (ITGRS/ITGRF), updates on the definition, standards and realization, inclusion of corrections for temporal gravity changes, international absolute gravimeter comparisons, consistency evaluation, correlations between measurements, uncertainty estimates, error modelling, colocation of absolute free-fall, superconducting and quantum gravity meters.
Session chairs: Jürgen Müller, Derek van Westrum, Sylvain Bonvalot
New developments are occurring at a rapid pace for both “classical” and quantum gravimetric sensors. Advancements in traditional terrestrial, airborne, UAV, shipborne and spaceborne gravity instrumentation offer considerable improvements in gravity networks and the monitoring of mass variations. MEMS sensors promise both small and robust instrumentation, while absolute quantum gravimeters will continue to expand and support the capabilities of current free-fall, superconducting and dynamic sensors. In the next decade, we expect to see continuous absolute instruments, mobile quantum instruments, combined gravimetric and gradiometric instruments, as well as routine deployment of inertial systems on moving platforms. Quantum sensors are also being investigated as payloads for dedicated space gravimetry/gradiometry missions.
In addition, linked optical atomic clocks will provide direct observations of geopotential differences. Clock networks can be used for establishing and connecting height systems in a new way, or to monitor point-wise mass variations complementary to the gravimetric techniques.
These advancements will support a vast range of research: hydrologic cycles, biologic processes, ice melt modelling, geophysical exploration, and geoid change to name just a few. Experts in geodesy, physics and other geosciences will need to provide updated analysis techniques and software tools to support the new technology. Certified comparisons of these instruments will have renewed importance as the realization of the International Terrestrial Gravity Reference System (ITGRS, replacing IGSN71) depends on them.
We welcome contributions on topics such as advances in instrumentation (gravimetry, gradiometry, geopotential measurements, vertical deflections), acquisition techniques, processing methods, as well as other novel data applications and modelling.
Session chairs: Srinivas Bettadpur, Roland Pail, Adrian Jäggi
The advent of the dedicated legacy satellite gravity missions of Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP), Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and Gravity Field and Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE), have brought new insights to both the static and time-variable representations of the Earth’s gravity field. Satellite gravimetry is unique in providing a global view of mass distribution and its variation in the system Earth. While the GRACE mission has paved the way for observing the time variable gravity field from space over the last two decades, the GOCE mission provided a consistent global model of the static gravity field. These complementary missions triggered a large number of new applications in the fields of oceanography, continental hydrology, polar and mountain glacier ice mass monitoring, solid Earth geophysics, geodetic height systems etc. GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO) has seamlessly integrated with the 15-year GRACE data record and has become indispensable for a wide variety of geophysical process and climate studies. New mission concepts, like NGGM/MAGIC, new accelerometers for satellite gradiometry, cold atom gravimetry, and new and enhanced processing technologies, shall substantially improve this knowledge with further increased spatial and temporal resolution. Hence, the community is already preparing for future gravity missions GRACE-FO, engaging in variety of studies on mission requirements, improved instrumentation, innovative satellite concepts, and new data processing strategies.
This session solicits contributions on analysis techniques for past and current satellite gravimetry mission data (including GRACE/GRACE-FO, GOCE, and other LEO GPS data, combinations with other data types, etc.); NGGM/MAGIC science, applications and user community needs, future mission concepts and architectures (including satellite-to-satellite tracking, gradiometry, connections between applications and architectures, constellation design, etc.); and relevant instrumentation and technologies (e.g. inertial sensing, cold-atom interferometry, optical interferometry, cubesat/smallsat technologies etc.).
Session chairs: Pavel Novak, Mirko Reguzzoni, Ismael Foroughi
The integration of new observations and models derived from gravity field research improves our understanding of the Earth system, its subsystems, and their interconnections. These products provide the building blocks for innovative investigations of the solid Earth and reveal insights into the dynamics of the Earth’s crust and mantle, and their temporal variations.
In this session, we invite contributions to solutions of various formulations of the geodetic boundary-value problems with the aim of gravity field modelling on global and regional scales. Contributions describing recent developments in theory, processing methods, data integration, and software development are particularly welcome. This includes the downward continuation of satellite and airborne data, altimetry and shipborne data processing, DEM compilation, evaluation of gravitational topographic corrections, error propagation and uncertainty estimation, and other computational processes required for gravity field determination and its validation.
We also invite topics related to interpretations of the gravity field including its geophysical characteristics, anomalies and residuals, variations due to mass density distribution, connections with geodynamic processes, and their diverse applications such as crustal and mantle modelling, vertical datum unification, satellite altimetry, and more.
Session chairs: Annette Eicker, Carmen Blackwood, Rebecca McGirr
A wide range of Earth system processes cause transport and re-distribution of mass, including the melting of ice sheets and glaciers, sea level variations, river runoff, changes in precipitation, atmospheric circulation, evapotranspiration, soil moisture and groundwater, post-glacial rebound and flow in the Earth mantle. Observations of gravity and inferred estimates of mass change allow interpretation and direct understanding of these processes along with the combination and error budget closure with external information. Assimilation of mass change information into geophysical models allows disaggregation of signal into contributing processes and allows downscaling of geodetic contributions to other spatio-temporal scales of interest. Results from such analyses are applied towards climate studies, model validations, and understanding and assessments of natural hazards (e.g. earthquakes, flood, erosion, drought, etc.).
We invite contributions dealing with the interpretation, application and innovative use of gravity and inferred mass change for improved understanding of climate processes and natural hazards. Contributions that include the use of complimentary data (such as obtained from global GNSS networks, terrestrial gravimetry, InSAR, SLR, VLBI, and ocean bottom pressure sensors) are encouraged. We welcome contributions on the use of geodetic data sets for the improvement of geophysical and climate models – both in terms of model evaluation, calibration and data assimilation.
Session chairs: Sinem Ince, Daniela Carrión, Martin Sehnal
Geodesy and gravity field have developed during the last years from a niche field of scientific research to providing an abundance of data, models and products which have a direct impact not only on other fields of geosciences (e.g., hydrology, oceanography, geodynamics, climate research, atmosphere), but to the society itself. Especially in view of the exciting concepts for new sensors and new satellite gravity missions, which will offer enhanced spatial and temporal resolution, the future will soon see gravity-field related data and products including operational ones in e.g. meteorological research, early warning, extreme events management and mitigation. With the above in mind, management of this abundance of information, their proper recording, referencing and documentation, and increase in visibility is of utmost importance to facilitate their use by other scientific fields and contribute to their use by the stakeholders. In many cases, gravity field related products are underrepresented and miss the visibility, acknowledgement of the quality and importance that they convey. Thus, making efforts for promoting gravity related products is vital. This session welcomes contributions on existing and planned activities for the management of gravity related data and products which includes global and regional gravity field models as well as terrestrial and mobile gravity measurements, their archiving and organization, and dissemination. User requirements surveys and results, are as well very valuable to quantify the quality and impact of the gravity data and products, while current efforts and future plans for their inclusion in operational services are also welcome. Finally, reach to the society and stakeholders at global, regional and national levels and related efforts are envisaged.