In Gauss' words, the geoid is "the mathematical figure of the Earth". This figure is an equipotential surface coincident with the idealized mean sea surface. The geoid can be computed from the geodetic boundary value problems that use gravity data as its boundary value. A geoid model computed using gravity data is called a gravimetric geoid. On the other hand, geoid height at bench marks can also be computed using data from spirit leveling and the Global Positioning System (GPS). A geoid model that is fixed to the GPS/leveling data is called a hybrid geoid. Both geoid models can serve as the zero-height-surface of a country's height system by selection. To satisfy this need, National Geodetic Survey has published a series of geoid models (https://geodesy.noaa.gov/GEOID). The vast majority of navigation and positioning applications utilize a hybrid geoid model with the latest model being GEOID18 for CONUS and Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands and GEOID12B for all other states and territories of the United States. The corresponding gravimetric geoid for these regions is xGEOID19B and USGG2012, respectively. All models are provided at 1 arc-minute resolution.

In Gauss' words, the geoid is "the mathematical figure of the Earth". This figure is an equipotential surface coincident with the idealized mean sea surface. The geoid can be computed from the geodetic boundary value problems that use gravity data as its boundary value. A geoid model computed using gravity data is called a gravimetric geoid. On the other hand, geoid height at bench marks can also be computed using data from spirit leveling and the Global Positioning System (GPS). A geoid model that is fixed to the GPS/leveling data is called a hybrid geoid. Both geoid models can serve as the zero-height-surface of a country's height system by selection. To satisfy this need, National Geodetic Survey has published a series of geoid models (https://geodesy.noaa.gov/GEOID). The vast majority of navigation and positioning applications utilize a hybrid geoid model with the latest model being GEOID18 for CONUS and Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands and GEOID12B for all other states and territories of the United States. The corresponding gravimetric geoid for these regions is xGEOID19B and USGG2012, respectively. All models are provided at 1 arc-minute resolution.

This 2' geoid height grid for the Principal Hawaiian Islands is distributed as a GEOID96 model. The computation used 61,000 terrestrial and marine gravity data held in the National Geodetic Survey gravity data base in July 1996. These data were augmented by gravity data contributions from NGA (former National Imagery and Mapping Agency (former Defence Mapping Agency)). By means of a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) technique, high frequency corrections were made to an underlying EGM96 geopotential model through a remove, compute, and restore process. The gravity values are based on the International Gravity Standardization Net 1971 (IGSN71). The geoid heights are referred to the Geodetic Reference System 1980 (GRS80) ellipsoid. Unlike the grid for the conterminous United States, this GEOID96 grid does not incorporate GPS on leveled benchmarks. This model is a gravimetric geoid in a geocentric, ITRF94(1996.0) reference frame. It is necessary to subtract 12.0 cm from these values to obtain the geoid undulation between the best-fit global geopotential surface and the GRS80 ellipsoid (both expressed in a tide free system). Additional information is available at: http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/GEOID/geoid.html We are particularly grateful to NGA (former National Imagery and Mapping Agency) for their assistance and their data contributions.

This 2' geoid height grid for the conterminous United States is the G96SSS model. The computation used about 1.8 million terrestrial and marine gravity data held in the National Geodetic Survey gravity data base in July 1996. These data were augmented by gravity data contributions from NGA (former National Imagery and Mapping Agency (former Defence Mapping Agency)). By means of a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) technique, high frequency corrections were made to an underlying EGM96 geopotential model through a remove, compute, and restore process. The gravity values are based on the International Gravity Standardization Net 1971 (IGSN71). The geoid heights are referred to the Geodetic Reference System 1980 (GRS80) ellipsoid. Unlike GEOID96, the G96SSS grid does not incorporate GPS on leveled benchmarks. The G96SSS model is a gravimetric geoid in a geocentric, ITRF94(1996.0) reference frame. It is necessary to subtract 12.0 cm from the G96SSS values to obtain the geoid undulation between the best-fit global geopotential surface and the GRS80 ellipsoid (both expressed in a tide free system). Additional information is available at: http://www.ngs.noaa.gov We are particularly grateful to NGA (former National Imagery and Mapping Agency) for their assistance and their data contributions.

This 2' geoid height grid for the conterminous United States is the GEOID96 model. The computation used about 1.8 million terrestrial and marine gravity data held in the National Geodetic Survey gravity data base in July 1996. These data were augmented by gravity data contributions from NGA (former National Imagery and Mapping Agency (former Defence Mapping Agency)). By means of a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) technique, high frequency corrections were made to an underlying EGM96 geopotential model through a remove, compute, and restore process. The gravity values are based on the International Gravity Standardization Net 1971 (IGSN71). The geoid heights are referred to the Geodetic Reference System 1980 (GRS80) ellipsoid. GEOID96 incorporates the reference system relationship between NAD 83(86) and ITRF94(1996.0), the datum offset of NAVD 88, and the contributions from 2951 GPS on leveled benchmarks. Additional information is available at http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/GEOID/geoid.htmlWe are particularly grateful to NGA (former National Imagery and Mapping Agency) for their assistance and their data contributions.

This 2' geoid height grid for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands is distributed as a GEOID96 model. The computation used 26,000 terrestrial and marine gravity data held in the National Geodetic Survey gravity data base in July 1996 These data were augmented by gravity data contributions from NGA (former National Imagery and Mapping Agency (former Defence Mapping Agency)). By means of a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) technique, high frequency corrections were made to an underlying EGM96 geopotential model through a remove, compute, and restore process. The gravity values are based on the International Gravity Standardization Net 1971 (IGSN71). The geoid heights are referred to the Geodetic Reference System 1980 (GRS80) ellipsoid. Unlike the grid for the conterminous United States, this GEOID96 grid does not incorporate GPS on leveled benchmarks. This model is a gravimetric geoid in a geocentric, ITRF94(1996.0) reference frame. It is necessary to subtract 12.0 cm from these values to obtain the geoid undulation between the best-fit global geopotential surface and the GRS80 ellipsoid (both expressed in a tide free system). Additional information is available at: http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/GEOID/geoid.htmlWe are particularly grateful to NGA (former National Imagery and Mapping Agency) for their assistance and their data contributions.

The entire collection of GEOSAT ERM (Nov.'86 - Dec. '89) data over land and ice regions is held at the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC). These data will yield reasonable elevation values for land and ice regions of gently varying elevation. This data collection should not be used in regions of highly variable terrain. This satellite altimeter data base contains precise geoid and gravity anomaly profiles which were constructed from the average of 66 repeat cycles of GEOSAT. The data were developed by Professor David T. Sandwell at the University of California in San Diego. The data are contained in two files: (1) geo66asc.bin (2,383,232records) contains the ascending profiles which run southeast to northwest between 72S and 72N, and (2) geo66des.bin (2,397,888 records) contains all of the descending profiles. The dataparameters in addition to time and location are geoid height, gravity anomaly, and uncertainty in gravity anomaly. GEOSAT 66 was updated in 1994 to include the 3rd and last year of data. Thus 66 repeat cycles of data are included in the AVERAGE profile calculation. This satellite altimeter data base was contributed by NOS/Geoscience Laboratory and contains data collected during the first 18 months of the original "Geodetic Mission" of the U.S. Navy Geodetic Satellite (GEOSAT). These digital data are in the form of geophysical data records (GDRs) which are described in NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NGS-46. The data are observed over a tightly spaced (typically 2 or 3 km at 60 degrees latitude) ground track pattern, and are global in coverage. The Southern Ocean data contained in this subset of the original Geodetic Mission were declassified in 1990 and received at NGDC in mid 1991. GEOSAT GRAVITY ANOMALY GRID SOUTH OF 30 SOUTH K.M. Marks, DC McAdoo, and W.H.F. Smith The Geosciences Laboratory, ocean and Earth Sciences (NOAA), has produced a digital gravity anomaly grid computed from recently declassified Geosat Geodetic Mission data, combined with Exact Repeat Mission data, for the region between 30 S and 72 S latitudes. The grid spacing is 0.04 degrees in latitude, and 0.05 degrees in longitude. The grid file, g30_UNIX.BIN, is a binary file of two-byte signed integers, stored in raster scan line (bands of Latitude) order. There are 1051 scan lines with the first line at 30 S and the last at 72 S latitude. Each line has 7201 integers with the first element at 0 E longitude and the last element at 360 E longitude. Values equal to 32767 indicate land areas where Geosat gravity is unavailable; all other values should be multiplied by 0.01 to yield Free-Air Gravity anomalies in mGals. Data in g30__UNIX.BIN are in "normal" byte order (Sun, Mac, etc.); the equivalent file G30_DOS.DOS is in "swapped" byte order (DEC, PC, etc.). RAPP92: This data base was compiled by Dr. Richard H. Rapp, Ohio State University and was received in April, 1993. The data base consists of the following: One file containing a 0.125 degree grid of free-air gravity anomalies and their standard deviations between +/- 72 degrees latitude. The anomalies in the ocean areas have been derived from a combination of Geos-3, Seasat and Geosat altimeter data and the ETOP05U bathymetric data. Although gravity values are given for land areas they have been, primarily, computed from the OSU91A potential coefficient model that is complete to degree 360. One file containing a 0.125 degree gridded mean sea surface (in the mean tide system), in the same geographic region as the data given in the file above. One file containing 30-minute x 30-minute mean gravity anomalies and geoid undulations (in the tide free system), derived form OSU's 0.125 degree gridded point anomalies and geoid undulations. One file containing 1 degree x 1 degree mean gravity anomalies and geoid undulations (in the tide free system), as derived from the original gridded point values. Principal gravity parameters include mean gravity anomaly and mean geoid undulations. The gravity

This 2' x 4' geoid height grid for Alaska is distributed as a GEOID96 model. The computation used 1.1 million terrestrial and marine gravity data held in the National Geodetic Survey gravity data base in July 1996 These data were augmented by gravity data contributions from NGA (former National Imagery and Mapping Agency (former Defence Mapping Agency)). By means of a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) technique, high frequency corrections were made to an underlying EGM96 geopotential model through a remove, compute, and restore process. The gravity values are based on the International Gravity Standardization Net 1971 (IGSN71). The geoid heights are referred to the Geodetic Reference System 1980 (GRS80) ellipsoid. Unlike the grid for the conterminous United States, this GEOID96 grid does not incorporate GPS on leveled benchmarks. This model is a gravimetric geoid in a geocentric, ITRF94(1996.0) reference frame. It is necessary to subtract 12.0 cm from these values to obtain the geoid undulation between the best-fit global geopotential surface and the GRS80 ellipsoid (both expressed in a tide free system). Additional information is available at: http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/GEOID/geoid.html We are particularly grateful to NGA (former National Imagery and Mapping Agency) for their assistance and their data contributions.

The Global Multi-resolution Terrain Elevation Data 2010 (GMTED2010) provides a new level of detail in global topographic data. Previously, the best available global DEM was GTOPO30 with a horizontal grid spacing of 30 arc-seconds. The GMTED2010 product suite contains seven new raster elevation products for each of the 30-, 15-, and 7.5-arc-second spatial resolutions and incorporates the current best available global elevation data. The new elevation products have been produced using the following aggregation methods: minimum elevation, maximum elevation, mean elevation, median elevation, standard deviation of elevation, systematic subsample, and breakline emphasis. Metadata have also been produced to identify the source and attributes of all the input elevation data used to derive the output products. Many of these products will be suitable for various regional continental-scale land cover mapping, extraction of drainage features for hydrologic modeling, and geometric and radiometric correction of medium and coarse resolution satellite image data. The global aggregated vertical accuracy of GMTED2010 can be summarized in terms of the resolution and RMSE of the products with respect to a global set of control points (estimated global accuracy of 6 m RMSE) provided by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). At 30 arc-seconds, the GMTED2010 RMSE range is between 25 and 42 meters; at 15 arc-seconds, the RMSE range is between 29 and 32 meters; and at 7.5 arc-seconds, the RMSE range is between 26 and 30 meters. GMTED2010 is a major improvement in consistency and vertical accuracy over GTOPO30, which has a 66 m RMSE globally compared to the same NGA control points. In areas where new sources of higher resolution data were available, the GMTED2010 products are substantially better than the aggregated global statistics; however, large areas still exist, particularly above 60 degrees North latitude, that lack good elevation data. As new data become available, especially in areas that have poor coverage in the current model, it is hoped that new versions of GMTED2010 might be generated and thus gradually improve the global model.

This data contains a set of geodetic control stations maintained by the National Geodetic Survey. Each geodetic control station in this dataset has either a precise Latitude/Longitude used for horizontal control or a precise Orthometric Height used for vertical control, or both.The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) serves as the Nation's depository for geodetic data. The NGS distributes geodetic data worldwide to a variety of users. These geodetic data include the final results of geodetic surveys, software programs to format, compute, verify, and adjust original survey observations or to convert values from one geodetic datum to another, and publications that describe how to obtain and use Geodetic Data products and services.