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Geodetics, or geodesy, is the science of studying Earth’s shape, gravity and its effect on phenomena such as polar motion, waterbody tides, and tectonic motion in three-dimensional space over time. Geodetic data has many uses including measuring the changes to Earth's tectonic plates following earthquakes and other crustal dynamics, tracking variations in ocean topography, and locating Earth's precise orientation in space. 

NASA gathers geodetic data by an assortment of methods and technologies, namely, Global Navigation Satellites Systems (GNSS), Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI), and the Doppler Orbitography and Radiopositioning by Integrated Satellite (DORIS) system.

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Access a range of webinars, tutorials, data recipes, and data stories to enhance your knowledge of Earth Observation data.
Crustal Dynamics Data Information System webinar banner image showing Global Navigation Satellite System data.avigation
GNSS Products at NASA's CDDIS for Disaster Monitoring, Crustal Deformation, Extreme Weather, and Other Applications
Learn about the NASA Making Earth System Data Records (ESDR) for Use in Research Environments (MEaSUREs) Extended Solid Earth Science ESDR System (ESESES) project, whose Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)-derived data products enable research on tectonic motion, crustal deformation, earthquakes, tsunamis, sea level rise, extreme weather, and more!
A graphic showing the locations of GNSS stations in North America, Central America, a portion of South America, Greenland, western Eurpoe, and western Africa.
No Longer Just an Experiment: 30 Years of the IGS
The International Global Navigation Satellite Systems Service (IGS), a voluntary federation of more than 200 self-funding entities, celebrates three decades of providing high-quality data.
A headshot of Dr. Yehuda Bock, Distinguished Researcher and Senior Lecturer at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics. Dr. Bock is standing before an ocean backdrop, wearing a brown suitcoat, dark gray shirt, and gray tie.
Data User Story: Dr. Yehuda Bock
Bock provides NASA's Crustal Dynamics Data Information System (CDDIS) with data products based on ground displacement data.
image of sea floor data
NASA Space Geodesy Data for Precise Orbit Determination of Altimeter Satellites
Over the last 25 years, ocean radar altimeter satellites have revolutionized our understanding of Earth's ocean. During this webinar we will describe how Precise Orbit Determination is at the heart of determining how the ocean surface changes over time.
Discover and Visualize Geodetics Data
NASA data help us understand Earth's changing systems in more detail than ever before, and visualizations bring these data to life, making Earth science concepts accessible, beautiful, and impactful.
Data visualization is a powerful tool for analysis, trend and pattern recognition, and communication. Our resources help you find world-class data visualizations to complement and enhance your research. We also have tools and tutorials to help you translate geodetics data into compelling visuals.
Geodetics Data and Tools
Geodetics Data Catalog
An exaggerated view of how the force of gravity differs across Earth
A geoid image of Earth showing Earth’s gravity field anomalies. This image, known as the Potsdam Gravity Potato, shows areas where Earth’s gravity field is higher (darker colors) and areas where the gravity field is lower (lighter colors). Image credit: NASA, CHAMP, GRACE, GFZ, and DLR.

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