Determination of the Geoid

Conveys the results of a symposium on geodesy, covering global geopotential models; the role of topography in geoid computations; the geoid and the global positioning system; computation of geoids; improvements for geoid computations; and developments in the GEOMED project.

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Rapid growth of geodetic information provided by the Global Positioning System (GPS) and stringent requirements for a precise geoid in ocean areas for ocean circulation models have spurred interest in geoid studies. As a result, the International Geoid Commission was formed to provide a focus for this important research. "Determination of the Geoid: Present and Future" is the result of the first meeting of the Commission, held at the Instituto di Topografia, Fotogrammetria e Geofisica at the Politecnico di Milano, in June 1990. Six major topics are presented, global geopotential models, present and future; the role of topography in geoid computations; the geoid and the global positioning system; the state of computation of national or regional geoids; software and data improvements for geoid computations; and recent developments in the GEOMED (determination of the geoid in the mediterranean) project. This book of proceedings on geodesy, geophysics, geophysical observations, instrumentation and techniques is intended for the use of scientists, libraries and graduate students.