Modeling environmental loading effects, Invited, Proceedings EGGS, Ed. H.-P. Plag and S. Zerbini

Temporal variations in the geographic distribution of atmospheric, hydrologic and oceanic mass load and deform the surface of the Earth. In many instances, the deformation is large enough to be detected with space based geodetic techniques as well as with terrestrial gravity observations. For example, atmospheric loading induced crustal deformations on the order of 20 mm are possible at high latitudes with accompanying changes in gravity of 6 μGals. Non-tidal ocean loading effects can typically cause 5 mm (2 mm root-mean-square, RMS) in vertical positioning at coastal geodetic sites with displacements of up to 10 mm possible. Deformation associated gravity changes are usually on the order of 2-3 μGals, however peak-to-peak changes of 5 μGals are also predicted. The effects of regional ground water variations on geodetic measurements are less well known. Model results indicate that annual changes in gravity and vertical positioning can be as large as 2 μGals and 5 mm for sites where there is significant annual snowfall. We present a review of work done to date to address these issues.