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German Geodetic Commission
The objectives of the German Geodetic Commission (Deutsche Geodätische Kommission, DGK) include
- scientific research in all fields of geodesy
- participation in national and international research projects
- representation of geodesy in national and international bodies and accomplishment of commitments of the Federal Republic of Germany in the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) within the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG)
- advancement and coordination of geodetic research in the Federal Republic of Germany
- advancement and coordination of studies at the universities of the Federal Republic of Germany
- publication of research results
The Commission's research is carried out in particular by the German Geodetic Research Institute (Deutsches Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut, DGFI) which is affiliated to the DGK. The long-term research programme of DGFI deals with the general subject "Geodetic research for the observation and analysis of the System Earth". It is divided into four focal points:
- earth system observation
- earth system analysis
- international services and projects
- information services and scientific transfer
"System" is here understood as a physically defined domain comprising the solid, fluid and gaseous elements inside the earth, on the earth's surface and in the near outer space, which are in permanent interaction between each other. Geodesy observes and represents continuously and with high precision effects of these interactions on the earth's shape (e.g. deformations), the gravity field (e.g. changes of the gravity potential) and the orientation in space (e.g. variations of earth rotation). Herewith it provides the basis for the requirements of precise positioning and navigation, surveying and geo-information, and the validation of geophysical models, e.g. for geodynamics and global change, as well as for many other areas in science and practice.
DGFI participates intensively in international scientific services and maintains information systems in the Internet. Apart from the DGFI research, the German Geodetic Commission deals with other focal themes in its various working groups.
You can find further information on the web sites of the Deutsche Geodätische Kommission and the Deutsches Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut.
Changes of the sea surface in two subsequent periods derived from observations of satellite altimetry showing large geographic and temporal variations.