Physical Geodesy

After the end of this course, students should be able to: 1. identify various height systems used in geodesy; 2. carry out gravity measurement, reduction and processing of gravity data; 3. demonstrate understanding of direct and inverse problems in geodesy; and 4. use and explain methods of determining the figure and gravity field of the earth.

The earth and its gravity field. Gravitation, gravity and potential. Geoidal undulation and deflections of the vertical, geo potential numbers, orthometric, dynamic and normal heights. Size and shape of the earth, geoid as figure of the earth and other approximations. Gravity observations, absolute and relative gravity values, gravity reduction and gravity anomalies. Inverse problem in physical geodesy. Gravimetric, astro-geodetic, astro-gravimetric and satellite altimetry methods of determining the figure of the earth.