Linking the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) to the Integrated Global Observing Strategy Partnership (IGOS-P) through the Theme "Earth System Dynamics"

When setting up GGOS as a project, the IAG Executive Committee asked the GGOS Steering Committee to establish a relationship with the Integrated Global Observing Strategy Partnership (IGOS-P), aiming at the membership of GGOS in IGOS-P. IGOS-P addresses a number of problems and components of Earth observation systems in the frame of specific Themes. Many of the burning questions related to the water cycle, the climate, global change, and geohazards cannot be solved without sufficient knowledge of mass transports throughout the Earth system and the associated dynamics. All these processes affect the three fundamental geodetic quantities, namely the Earth's figure (geometry), its gravity field and its rotation. Consequently, GGOS is an unique contribution to the Global Earth Observing Systems of Systems (GEOSS) in its capability to provide detailed information on the dynamics of the solid Earth and its fluid envelops on all relevant spatial and temporal scales. Therefore, GGOS has proposed an 'Earth System Dynamics' Theme focusing on the definition and implementation of an observing system capable of monitoring the mass transports within the Earth system. The main goal of the suggested Theme is to develop the necessary science basis and to facilitate the implementation of GGOS. It will define the role of GGOS, the underlying strategy and its interface to the other components of EOSS. The Theme will strengthen the linkage between GGOS and its users and will ensure that GGOS be fully integrated in the frame of IGOS. GGOS will be the main driver of this theme, and through the interaction with the other IGOS-P themes, in particular the Ocean, Global Water Cycle, Geohazards, and Coastal Themes, will provide the means for the full exploitation of the geodetic contribution to all the other global observation systems. The Theme will ensure that GGOS meet the user requirements arising both from the other IGOS-P Themes and from the nine societal benefit areas identified by EOS-II.