IGETS is the International Geodynamics and Earth Tide Service of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG). The main objective of IGETS is to monitor temporal variations of the Earth gravity field through long‐term records from ground gravimeters, tiltmeters, strainmeters and other geodynamic sensors.
IGETS continues the activities of the Global Geodynamics Project (GGP) to provide support to geodetic and geophysical research activities using superconducting gravimeter (SG) data within the context of an international network. Furthermore, IGETS continues the activities of the International Center for Earth Tides (ICET), in particular, in collecting, archiving and distributing Earth tide records from long series of gravimeters, tiltmeters, strainmeters and other geodynamic sensors.
GFZ is the main Data Center and operates the IGETS data base of worldwide high precision SG records. EOST (Ecole et Observatoire des Sciences de la Terre, Strasbourg, France) is the secondary Data Center, The University of French Polynesia (Tahiti) and EOST (Strasbourg, France) are the two current Analysis Centers.
GFZ Data Services is a repository for research data and scientific software across the Earth System Sciences, hosted at GFZ. The curated data are archived, persistently accessible and published with digital object identifier (DOI). They range from large dynamic datasets from global monitoring networks with real-time aquisition, to international services in geodesy and geophysics, to the full suite of small and highly heterogeneous datasets collected by individual researchers or small teams ("long-tail data"). In addition to the DOI registration and data archiving itself, GFZ Data Services team offers comprehensive consultation by domain scientists and IT specialists. Among others, GFZ Data Services is data publisher for the IAG Services ICGEM, IGETS and ISG (IAG = Int. Association for Geodesy; ICGEM = Int. Center for Global Earth Models; IGETS = Int. Geodynamics and Earth Tide Service; ISG = Int. Service for the Geoid), the World Stress Map, INTERMAGNET, GEOFON, the Geophysical Instrument Pool Potsdam GIPP, TERENO, EnMAP Flight Campaigns, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research PIK, the Specialised Information Service for Solid Earth Geosciences (FID GEO) and hosts the GFZ Catalogue for the International Generic Sample Number IGSN.
Abstract: Assessing changes of mountain glaciers is of widespread interest but direct measurements are often impossible. By constantly monitoring the Earths gravitational field, the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) has revolutionized the way large mass changes can be detected on the Planet. Although several studies have now been using satellite-borne gravimetry data for estimating glacier changes, their validity remains largely unknown. This project aims at validating GRACE-derived estimates of mass changes of mountain glaciers by addressing the Tien Shan mountain range, Central Asia. For doing so, expertise in GRACE-data processing, and both glaciological and hydrological modeling is required. The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) is the ideal host institution for such a project.