EGVs – Essential Geodetic Variables

Essential Geodetic Variables (EGVs) are a defined set of key geometric and physical variables that characterize the Earth’s shape, gravity field, rotation, and mass redistribution in a globally consistent and sustainable framework. Developed by GGOS following the concept of Essential Climate Variables, the EGV framework organizes geodetic contributions into domains (Global, Land, Ocean) and subdomains (Geometric, Physical), supported by clearly defined geodetic products at different levels—from fundamental observations such as satellite orbits, station position time series, and gravity measurements to higher-level products including reference frames, regional gravity field and geoid models, sea level change, ice mass change, terrestrial water storage anomalies, and atmospheric parameters. In geodesy, EGVs provide a strategic structure that links space-geodetic techniques (GNSS, VLBI, SLR, DORIS, satellite gravimetry, altimetry) and terrestrial measurements to Earth system monitoring, climate research, hazard assessment, and global reference frame realization, ensuring long-term consistency, SI traceability, and interoperability within the global Earth observation system.

More info: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14621194