Mean-Tide System

The mean-tide system includes the permanent part of both the direct tidal potential and the resulting permanent Earth deformation. It therefore represents the Earth including its permanent tidal bulge.

In geodesy, the mean-tide system is commonly used in classical height systems and geoid modeling. Differences between mean-tide and zero-tide systems can reach several millimeters in station coordinates and up to decimeters in geoid height, making explicit specification of the tide system essential in precise geodetic work.