Geopotential

The geopotential is the gravitational potential of the Earth, including the effect of the Earth’s rotation (centrifugal potential). It represents the potential energy per unit mass at a given point in the Earth’s gravity field and is commonly expressed in units of m²/s². Surfaces of constant geopotential are called equipotential surfaces.

In geodesy, the geopotential is a fundamental quantity for defining physical height systems, the geoid, and reference potential values (e.g., W₀). Differences in geopotential determine height differences in precise leveling and form the basis for the International Height Reference System (IHRS). Accurate modeling of the geopotential through terrestrial and satellite gravimetry is essential for gravity field determination and Earth system monitoring.