[IGSMAIL-6042]: GGOS Session at EGU

[Richard Gross]

******************************************************************************
IGS Electronic Mail      22 Dec 08:49:22 PST 2009      Message Number 6042
******************************************************************************

Author: Richard Gross

Dear Colleagues -

As part of the 2010 General Assembly of the European Geosciences  
Union that will be held in Vienna, Austria during 02-07 May 2010,  
C.K. Shum, Hans-Peter Plag, Markus Rothacher and I are convening  
session G1 on "The Global Geodetic Observing System: Providing  
Critical Observations of the Oceans". The description of the session  
is given below.

On behalf of the conveners I would like to draw your attention to  
this session and encourage you to participate in it.  We are  
developing a rich session that will explore the use of geodetic  
observations to gain greater understanding of the oceans. We hope  
that you will be able to join us in Vienna for this exciting  
session.  More information about the 2010 General Assembly of the EGU  
can be obtained from its web site at <http://meetings.copernicus.org/ 
egu2010/>.

Please note that the deadline for submitting abstracts is 18 January  
2010.

Hope to see you in Vienna!

Best regards,
Richard Gross, C.K. Shum, Hans-Peter Plag, Markus Rothacher

.................................

G1: The Global Geodetic Observing System: Providing Critical  
Observations of the Oceans

The tools of geodesy have the potential to transform the ocean  
observing system. Geodetic observations are unique in the way that  
they produce accurate, quantitative, and integrated observations of  
gravity, ocean circulation, sea surface height, ocean bottom  
pressure, and mass exchanges among the ocean, atmosphere, cryosphere,  
and land. Geodetic observations have made fundamental contributions  
to monitoring and understanding physical ocean processes. In  
particular, geodesy is the basic technique to enable determination of  
an accurate geoid model, allowing for the determination of absolute  
surface geostrophic currents, which are necessary to quantify heat  
transport of the ocean. The present geodetic satellites can measure  
total sea level and its mass component, both of which are vital for  
understanding global climate change. Continuation of current  
satellite missions and the development of new geodetic technologies  
can be expected to further support monitoring of the ocean. IAG's  
Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) provides the means for  
integrating the geodetic techniques that monitor Earth's time- 
variable surface geometry (including ocean and ice surfaces), gravity  
field, and rotation into a consistent system for measuring ocean  
surface topography, ocean currents, ocean mass, and ocean volume  
changes. This system depends on both globally coordinated ground- 
based networks of tracking stations as well as an uninterrupted  
series of satellite missions. This session will be a forum for  
discussing the critical oceanographic parameters currently observed  
by geodetic observational systems, and the requirements to continue  
such measurements.

Richard S. Gross
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Mail Stop 238-600
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109, USA
Tel.: +1 818-354-4010
Fax: +1 818-393-4965
E-mail: Richard.Gross at jpl.nasa.gov

C.K. Shum
The Ohio State University, Geodetic Science, School of Earth Sciences
221B Mendenhall Lab., 125 S. Oval Mall
Columbus, Ohio 43210-1398, USA
Tel.: +1 614-292-7118
Fax: +1 614-292-7688
E-mail: ckshum at osu.edu

Hans-Peter Plag
Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology and Seismological Laboratory
Universiy of Nevada, Reno
Mailstop 178
Reno, NV 89557, USA
Tel.: +1 775-784-6691
Fax: +1 775-784-1709
E-mail: hpplag at unr.edu

Markus Rothacher
Inst. of Geodesy and Photogrammetry
ETH Zurich
HPV G52, Schafmattstr. 34
CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
Tel.: +41-44-633-3375
Fax: +41-44-633-1066
E-mail: markus.rothacher at ethz.ch