Preliminary comparisons of the WGS84(EGM 96) geoid with national vertical datums

Author

Fell, Patrick ; Tanenbaum, Mark

Author_Institution

Surface Warfare Center Div., NAVSEA, Dahlgren, VA, USA

Volume

1

fYear

2001

fDate

2001

Firstpage

571

Abstract

In fiscal year 2001, the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) initiated a project (i) to examine selected national vertical datums in order to evaluate their consistency with orthometric heights derived from Global Positioning System (WGS84) ellipsoid heights and EGM96 geoid heights and (ii) to address the potential for converting bathymetric depths from coastal hydrographic charts to WGS84 depths. This paper discusses preliminary findings obtained during the initial phases of the project. Systematic differences between the EGM96 geoid and various national vertical datums were determined and modeled. These models enable heights to be transformed between local vertical datums and WGS84. A concept for addressing hydrographic chart depth conversion based on GPS positioning of the chart datum (e.g., Mean Low Low Water) is also discussed

Keywords

bathymetry; geodesy; geophysical techniques; oceanographic techniques; topography (Earth); EGM 96; GPS; Global Positioning System; NIMA; National Imagery and Mapping Agency; WGS84; bathymetric depth; coast; coastal hydrographic chart; ellipsoid height; geoid; geoid height; marine geodesy; measurement technique; national vertical datum; ocean; orthometric heights; preliminary comparison; seafloor topography; Distortion measurement; Ellipsoids; Equations; Error correction; Focusing; Geodesy; Global Positioning System; Image converters; Sea measurements; Size control;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

OCEANS, 2001. MTS/IEEE Conference and Exhibition

Conference_Location

Honolulu, HI

Print_ISBN

0-933957-28-9

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/OCEANS.2001.968784

Filename

968784