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Definition and Proposed Realization of the International Height Reference System (IHRS)

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Abstract

Studying, understanding and modelling global change require geodetic reference frames with an order of accuracy higher than the magnitude of the effects to be actually studied and with high consistency and reliability worldwide. The International Association of Geodesy, taking care of providing a precise geodetic infrastructure for monitoring the Earth system, promotes the implementation of an integrated global geodetic reference frame that provides a reliable frame for consistent analysis and modelling of global phenomena and processes affecting the Earth’s gravity field, the Earth’s surface geometry and the Earth’s rotation. The definition, realization, maintenance and wide utilization of the International Terrestrial Reference System guarantee a globally unified geometric reference frame with an accuracy at the millimetre level. An equivalent high-precision global physical reference frame that supports the reliable description of changes in the Earth’s gravity field (such as sea level variations, mass displacements, processes associated with geophysical fluids) is missing. This paper addresses the theoretical foundations supporting the implementation of such a physical reference surface in terms of an International Height Reference System and provides guidance for the coming activities required for the practical and sustainable realization of this system. Based on conceptual approaches of physical geodesy, the requirements for a unified global height reference system are derived. In accordance with the practice, its realization as the International Height Reference Frame is designed. Further steps for the implementation are also proposed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam - Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ, Telegrafenberg, 14473, Potsdam, Germany

    Johannes Ihde & Christoph Foerste

  2. Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie, Richard-Strauss-Allee 11, 60598, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Johannes Ihde & Gunter Liebsch

  3. Deutsches Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut, Technische Universität München, Arcisstr. 21, 80333, Munich, Germany

    Laura Sánchez

  4. Politecnico di Milano 1863, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Ambietale, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milan, e in via Golgi, Italy

    Riccardo Barzaghi

  5. International Association of Geodesy, Arcisstr. 21, 80333, Munich, Germany

    Hermann Drewes

  6. Lehrstuhl für Astronomische und Physikalische Geodäsie, Technische Universität München, Arcisstr. 21, 80333, Munich, Germany

    Thomas Gruber & Roland Pail

  7. Bundesamt für Landestopografie swisstopo, Seftigenstrasse 264, 3084, Wabern, Switzerland

    Urs Marti

  8. University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada

    Michael Sideris

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  1. Johannes Ihde
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  2. Laura Sánchez
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  3. Riccardo Barzaghi
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  10. Michael Sideris
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Correspondence to Johannes Ihde.

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Johannes Ihde works presently at Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam - Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ, Potsdam, Germany. He worked at Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie, Frankfurt, Germany until June 2016

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Ihde, J., Sánchez, L., Barzaghi, R. et al. Definition and Proposed Realization of the International Height Reference System (IHRS). Surv Geophys 38, 549–570 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-017-9409-3

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