G
Geodesy

Bits & Bites

Listening to reflections: What GNSS signals can tell us about a changing environment

May 29, 2026
Listening to reflections: What GNSS signals can tell us about a changing environment
Figure courtesy: Öykü Koç

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are best known for positioning, navigation, and monitoring Earth surface motions with high precision (see two of our previous posts on GNSS here and here). But did you know that the same satellite signals can also provide information about snow, soil moisture, or sea level, without installing any additional instruments? This idea lies at the heart of GNSS ...[Read More]

Bits and Bites of Geodesy – Satellite Gravimetry: Studying Earth’s water cycle from space

February 27, 2026
Bits and Bites of Geodesy – Satellite Gravimetry: Studying Earth’s water cycle from space
Figure courtesy: Öykü Koç

During winter, mountains gain mass because of snow covering the peaks. In spring, the snow melts and flows downstream until it reaches the ocean or evaporates into the atmosphere to reach back on the surface as rain or snow. The global water cycle is very complex and essential for life on our planet. Did you know we can measure how the water is distributed by measuring its mass from space? How can ...[Read More]

Bits and Bites of Geodesy – Trilateration on Vacation: How GNSS Locates You

July 25, 2025
Bits and Bites of Geodesy – Trilateration on Vacation: How GNSS Locates You
Figure courtesy: Öykü Koç

Summer vacations are finally here! Like every year, many of us are ready to travel and explore new and exciting destinations. And of course, the GPS on our phones will be an indispensable travel companion! Did you know that GPS (or GNSS) positioning is one of the traditional geodetic techniques? Come along to discover how this technique can find your location in the world and the various applicati ...[Read More]

Bits and Bites of Geodesy – From Wobble to Wander: Tracking Earth’s Shifting Rotation Axis

June 27, 2025
Bits and Bites of Geodesy – From Wobble to Wander: Tracking Earth’s Shifting Rotation Axis
Figure courtesy: Öykü Koç

When we think of Earth’s rotation, it is tempting to imagine a perfectly smooth spin. But in reality, Earth’s rotation is irregular and dynamic, and is influenced by forces inside and outside of our planet. To describe the changing orientation of the Earth in space over time Earth Orientation Parameters (EOPs) are measured with fundamental geodetic measuring techniques, e.g., Very Long Baseline In ...[Read More]