Space Geodesy: Observing Global Changes

Abstract

Space geodesy and space geodetic applications are already so common in our everyday life that we even do not recognise them. Navigation satellites orbiting Earth allow us to measure our position everywhere within metres and applications using this precise positioning information are continuously increasing. Price of a simple navigator is already so low that they can be easily integrated in cars, mobile phones or any other device people may use or carry with them. Position-based applications like car or ship navigation, aviation or automatic announcements in trains are part of our daily life. Other products emerging in our everyday life are new precise maps or Internet based map applications which all are based on products of modern space geodesy. Surveyors in their cadastral measurements, researchers studying crustal movements or sea level rise as well use space geodetic techniques. Many scientific applications or observing techniques are more invisible or unknown to the great public but their results may touch all of us. Global change, especially measuring and understanding the sea level rise is crucial to millions of people living at the coastal areas. Let us have a glimpse in modern space geodesy and space geodetic applications that will lead us far beyond the wildest dreams of previous generation geodesists.