The Integrated Global Geodetic Observing System (IGGOS) viewed from the perspective of history.pdfVIP

Journal of Geodynamics 40 (2005) 414–431 The Integrated Global Geodetic Observing System (IGGOS) viewed from the perspective of history G. Beutler a,?, H. Drewes b, A. Verdun a a Astronomical Institute, University of Berne, Sidlerstrasse 5, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland b Deutsches Geoda¨tisches Forschungsinstitut, Marstallplatz 8, D-80539 Munich, Germany Received 1 July 2003; accepted 21 June 2005 Abstract Towards the end of the 19th century, geodetic observation techniques allowed it to create geodetic networks of continental size. The insight that big networks can only be set up through international collaboration led to the establishment of an international collaboration called “Central European Arc Measurement”, the predecessor of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), in 1864. The scope of IAG activities was extended already in the 19th century to include gravity. At the same time, astrometric observations could be made with an accuracy of a few tenths of an arcsecond. The accuracy stayed roughly on this level, till the space age opened the door for milliarcsecond (mas) astrometry. Astrometric observations allowed it at the end of the 19th century to prove the existence of polar motion. The insight that polar motion is almost unpredictable led to the establishment of the International Latitude Service (ILS) in 1899. The IAG and the ILS were the tools (a) to establish and maintain the terrestrial and the celestial reference systems, including the transformation parameters between the two systems, and (b) to determine the Earth’s gravity ?eld. Satellite-geodetic techniques and astrometric radio-interferometric techniques revolutionized geodesy in the second half of the 20th century. Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) and methods based on the interferometric exploitation of microwave signals (stemming from Quasars and/or from satellites) allow it to realize the celestial reference frame with (sub-)mas accuracy, the global terrestrial reference frame with (sub-)cm