Math 2.0

Geophysics Definition

Physical geodesy

Builds on GeodesyGeopotentialPotential theory

Definition

Physical geodesy is the branch of geodesy that determines the gravity field of the Earth and its relation to the figure of the Earth. Its central unknown is the gravity potential, the geopotential WW, as a function on and outside the Earth's surface. Its methods are those of potential theory, applied to measurements of gravity, of the direction of the plumb line and of satellite orbits.

Remarks

Example: determining the geoid from gravity measurements by Stokes' formula is a problem of physical geodesy. Non-example: computing the distance between two points of a given ellipsoid uses no gravity data; it belongs to geometric geodesy. Physical geodesy also provides orthometric heights, which are measured from the geoid along the plumb line.

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Geodesy, concept, no evidence levelGeodesyconceptGeopotential, concept, no evidence levelGeopotentialconceptPotential theory, concept, no evidence levelPotential theoryconceptPhysical geodesy, definition, no evidence levelPhysical geodesydefinition
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  1. Geodesy concept
  2. Geopotential concept
  3. Potential theory concept
  4. Physical geodesy definition

Further reading

  1. Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_geodesy
About this page
Tag5HE6079K1N
URIm2://5HE6079K1N
Kinddefinition
WritingW0 stub
MSC86A30, 86A20
DefinesPhysical geodesy
UsesGeodesy, Geopotential, Potential theory
Changed3 November 2026

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