A World Geodetic System from Gravimetry

Recent studies of the Australian Geodetic Datum indicated that it is possible to establish a world geodetic system from the gravity data available at the present time. The necessary formulae for doing so are developed in such a manner that it is possible for each major datum to be fixed independently in relation to the system provided the global gravity field was represented by an adequate combination of satellite data and surface gravimetry. The major uncertainty is one of zero degree, being equivalent to that which exists in the knowledge of the dimensions of that ellipsoid which has the same volume as the geoid. The permanence of such a system is also discussed.