Coordination Funds

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Heiner Igel
• Subject Area: Geophysics ; Geodesy, Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing, Geoinformatics, Cartography ; Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 553176123

Laser optical technologies for the measurement of rotational motions on local and global scales are on the verge of achieving sensitivities that make them attractive for complementing classic approaches such as space geodetic methods (e.g., Very Long Baseline Interferometry, satellite or lunar laser ranging) in geodesy or ground motion measurements using standard seismometers in geophysics. The additional, ground-based observables have tremendous potential to advance science questions associated with the estimation of polar motion, length-of-day (LoD) variations, understanding and inverting terrestrial, oceanic, volcanic, and planetary seismic wave fields, as well as monitoring their environmental, structural, and tectonic causes. This research unit will build on decades of world leading research in the field of ring laser (and other optic) technologies and their applications in geodesy and geophysics involving research groups in photonics, geodesy and geophysics. The ultimate goal is to establish high-sensitivity rotation sensing into the standard work flows of the estimation of Earth Orientation Parameters (EOPs) in geodesy and the observations and modelling of broadband terrestrial and planetary seismic wavefields (where appropriate). We propose 1) to develop and apply optical technologies that allow unprecedented levels of short- and long-term stability and sensitivity for rotational motion sensing for both geodesy and geophysics (portable sensors), 2) understand and correct for the coupling of atmospheric and hydrological processes into crustal deformation, and 3) use the multi-component observations to better understand the impact of global mass transfer on Earth’s rotation in the field of geodesy, and exploit the potential of additional rotation sensing in seismology for seismic source characterization, tomography, and wavefield characterization.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 5939: RING: Rotational Motions in Physics, Geophysics, and Geodesy