The antarctic geoid project: Status report and next activities

Abstract

The Antarctic Geoid Project (AntGP) forms the Commission Project 2.4 within the lAG Subcommission 2.4 Regional Geoid Determination. The main scientific goal of AntGP is to compile gravity data for the entire Antarctic, thus to fill in the southern polar gap and to improve the terrestrial gravity data coverage. A completed Antarctic gravity dataset will substantially contribute to the determination of the global gravity field in combination with the new satellite missions and will serve as an excellent basis for regional and continental geoid improvement. Therefore, efforts have to be made to compile already existing data and to promote new gravity observation campaigns. Under Antarctic conditions, airborne gravimetry has proved the most powerful technique. Also, the connection of the different gravity surveys to a common gravity datum has to be made. Reference stations observed with absolute gravity meters should play an important role for this task. The paper will review the status of AntGP and the work done so far. Special attention will be given to pointing out the liaison to initiatives within the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). The activities to be undertaken within the near future will be outlined as well.