FOR 584:  Earth Rotation and Global Dynamic Processes

• Subject Area: Geosciences
• Term: from 2006 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5471782

The main objective of this Research Unit is to describe and explain the physical phenomena which contribute to variations of Earth rotation. Interactions and couplings of the various subsystems are taken into account to a much higher extent than in previous studies. The contributions of various groups and scientific disciplines enable a comprehensive and integral treatment of Earth rotation as well as a dedicated study and analysis of the dynamic processes involved.
The particular importance of this research programme is the integral treatment of Earth rotation based on existing or new observation data. Herein the interaction of modelling and data processing plays an important role. This integral treatment is only possible within the Research Unit using the demonstrated spectrum of competences. Comprehensive consistency is the key issue. The components of the Earth system (atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere), which are relevant for Earth rotation as well as their coupling and interaction, will be modelled consistently, covering time scales of some hours up to decades and longer. Furthermore, a new net-based information and communication system (ERIS) will be established, which shall be used as a research tool. Standards and interfaces required for the research work will also be defined here.
The projects will provide significant contributions to outstanding international activities such as the project GGOS (Global Geodetic Observing System), which has been established and coordinated by the International Association of Geodesy (IAG). GGOS will support the analysis and interpretation of all geodetic methods for observing the Earth system. The consistent modelling as well as the combination and integration of the various observation methods therefore present important contributions to global geodesy.
The programme is coordinated by Prof. J. Müller, University of Hanover (also speaker), Prof. H. Kutterer, University of Hanover, and Prof. M. Soffel, Technical University of Dresden.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• International Connection: Austria, Switzerland

Projects

• Combined analysis and validation of Earth rotation models and observations (Applicants Kutterer, Hansjörg ;  Schmidt, Michael ;  Seitz, Florian )
• Consistent post-Newtonian theory for nutation/precession in a realistic Earth model (Applicant Soffel, Michael H. )
• Earth Rotation and Global Dynamic Processes (Applicant Müller, Jürgen )
• Earth rotation and the ocean's circulation (Applicants Schröter, Jens ;  Thomas, Maik )
• Earth Rotation Information System: Development of a virtual Earth rotation system for geodetic and geoscience applications (ERIS) (Applicant Richter, Bernd )
• Integration of Earth rotation, geometry and gravity field using space geodetic observations (Applicants Angermann, Detlef ;  Rothacher, Markus )
• Interconnections between combined Length-of-Day and polar motion parameters concerning joint atmosphere-ocean-hydrosphere modes (Applicants Thomas, Maik ;  Ulbrich, Uwe )
• Investigation of sub-daily and episodic variations of Earth rotation observed by VLBI, ring laser gyroscopes and GNSS (Applicants Nothnagel, Axel ;  Rothacher, Markus ;  Schuh, Harald )
• Lunar Laser Ranging: Consistent modelling for geodetic and further scientific applications (Applicant Müller, Jürgen )
• Mass motion in the Earth's core and mantle and their influence on polar motion (Applicant Hagedoorn, Jan )
• Modelling of Episodic-Transient Signals in Measurements of Large Ring Lasers (Applicants Schreiber, Ulrich ;  Ulbrich, Uwe )

• Spokesperson: Professor Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Müller