Terms of Reference
Reference systems and frames are of primary importance for many Earth science researches and applications, satellite navigation as well as for practical applications in geo-information. A precisely defined reference frame is needed for the quantification of, e.g. Earth rotation and its gravity field, sea level variation, tectonic motion and deformation, post-glacial rebound, geocenter motion, large scale deformation due to Earthquakes, local subsidence and other ruptures and crustal dislocations. Commission 1 activities and objectives are to deal with theoretical aspects of reference systems and the practical applications for their realizations as well as applied researches. Commissions 1 will closely interact with the 3 other IAG Commissions, ICCT, Services and GGOS components where reference system aspects are of concern. A close cooperation will be enforced with international entities that operate and finance space geodesy observatories in order to take all possible measure allowing improving the quality and distribution of the current co-location sites (Figure 1), which constitute the main foundation of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF)
- Figure 1. Currently operating co-location sites (September, 2007)
Commission 1 is a joint commission with Sub-commission B2 of the Scientific Commission B of the ICSU Committee on Space Research (COSPAR).
