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Assessment of temporal variations of geoid, ellipsoidal and orthometric heights at proposed IHRF sites using space geodetic data

  • Walyeldeen Godah EMAIL logo , Samuel Milki Yadeta , Malgorzata Szelachowska and Georgia Fotopoulos
Published/Copyright: May 23, 2025
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Journal of Applied Geodesy
From the journal Journal of Applied Geodesy Volume 20 Issue 1

Abstract

The determination of accurate geoid, ellipsoidal and orthometric heights is essential for applications related to surveying engineering, geodetic and geoscience research. The International Association of Geodesy (IAG) defined the International Height Reference System (IHRS) as the conventional gravity field-related global height system. The realization of the IHRS to establish an International Height Reference Frame (IHRF) and its temporal variations, is an ongoing geodetic task. The objective of this research is to assess temporal variations of geoid, ellipsoidal and orthometric heights at proposed IHRF sites using space geodetic data, namely Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), Doppler Orbitography and Radio-positioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS) and hydrological model. GRACE/GRACE-FO-based and GLDAS-based Global Geopotential Models were utilized to determine temporal variations of geoid height (ΔN) and time-dependent changes of ellipsoidal height (Δh) at proposed IHRF sites. Moreover, Δh at proposed IHRF sites were also obtained from GNSS, VLBI, SLR and DORIS solutions. Temporal variations of orthometric height (ΔH) at proposed IHRF sites were determined by combining ΔN and Δh. Results reveal that ΔN, Δh, and ΔH at proposed IHRF sites are not negligible as they can reach several centimetres in terms of seasonal variations and at the and 1 cm level annually. These ΔN, Δh, and ΔH would be required for the modernization and unification of international/national vertical datums in addition to contemporary requirements for precise height measurements.

Keywords: orthometric height; geoid height; ellipsoidal height; reference frame; space geodetic data; hydrological models
Corresponding author: Walyeldeen Godah, Institute of Geodesy and Cartography (IGiK), Centre of Geodesy and Geodynamics, 27 Modzelewskiego St., 02-679 Warsaw, Poland; and Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada, E-mail: 

Funding source: Narodowe Centrum Nauki

Award Identifier / Grant number: 2021/42/E/ST10/00218

  1. Research ethics: Not applicable.

  2. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  3. Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  4. Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.

  5. Conflict of interest: The author states no conflict of interest.

  6. Research funding: This research was funded by the National Science Center (NCN), Poland [grant number 2021/42/E/ST10/00218].

  7. Data availability: Not applicable.

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Received: 2025-02-09
Accepted: 2025-04-11
Published Online: 2025-05-23
Published in Print: 2026-01-23

© 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Review
  3. GNSS interferometric reflectometry as a passive remote sensing method for studying environmental phenomena
  4. Original Research Articles
  5. Assessment of orthometric height determination utilizing network of multi-baselines of GNSS Continuously Operating Reference Stations
  6. An autoregressive adaptive Kalman filter carrier tracking approach for mitigating ionospheric scintillation effects in GNSS receivers
  7. Intrinsic and extrinsic calibration of a UAV-based multi-sensor system
  8. Assessment of temporal variations of geoid, ellipsoidal and orthometric heights at proposed IHRF sites using space geodetic data
  9. Global equatorial F- and E-region ionospheric irregularities from COSMIC-RO and SCINDA-GNSS observations
  10. Evaluating stochastic models for estimating site velocity from daily and weekly GNSS time series in the stable region of the South American plate
  11. Regional assessment of high-degree combined global gravity field model for geoid modelling over Nigeria
  12. Linking persistent scatterers to airborne laser scanning points for identifying real objects reflecting SAR signal
  13. Statistical analysis of Precipitable Water Vapor and rainfall variability in different geographical conditions of the Indian region
  14. Assessing ground deformation monitoring techniques in Midvaal, South Africa
  15. Investigating the preparation phase of volcanic eruptions using Swarm and GPS-TEC satellite data: The case of the 29 May 2024 Iceland-Sundhnúkur volcanic eruption
  16. Developing Malaysia continuous hydrographic datum (MyCHD) by assimilating tide gauge, satellite altimeter, and global hydrodynamic model
https://doi.org/10.1515/jag-2025-0018
Keywords for this article
orthometric height; geoid height; ellipsoidal height; reference frame; space geodetic data; hydrological models

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Review
  3. GNSS interferometric reflectometry as a passive remote sensing method for studying environmental phenomena
  4. Original Research Articles
  5. Assessment of orthometric height determination utilizing network of multi-baselines of GNSS Continuously Operating Reference Stations
  6. An autoregressive adaptive Kalman filter carrier tracking approach for mitigating ionospheric scintillation effects in GNSS receivers
  7. Intrinsic and extrinsic calibration of a UAV-based multi-sensor system
  8. Assessment of temporal variations of geoid, ellipsoidal and orthometric heights at proposed IHRF sites using space geodetic data
  9. Global equatorial F- and E-region ionospheric irregularities from COSMIC-RO and SCINDA-GNSS observations
  10. Evaluating stochastic models for estimating site velocity from daily and weekly GNSS time series in the stable region of the South American plate
  11. Regional assessment of high-degree combined global gravity field model for geoid modelling over Nigeria
  12. Linking persistent scatterers to airborne laser scanning points for identifying real objects reflecting SAR signal
  13. Statistical analysis of Precipitable Water Vapor and rainfall variability in different geographical conditions of the Indian region
  14. Assessing ground deformation monitoring techniques in Midvaal, South Africa
  15. Investigating the preparation phase of volcanic eruptions using Swarm and GPS-TEC satellite data: The case of the 29 May 2024 Iceland-Sundhnúkur volcanic eruption
  16. Developing Malaysia continuous hydrographic datum (MyCHD) by assimilating tide gauge, satellite altimeter, and global hydrodynamic model
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