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Equatorial radius of the Earth: A dynamical determination

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Bulletin Géodésique (1946-1975)

Abstract

An intrresting variation on the familiar method of determining the earth's equatorial radius ae, from a knowledge of the earth's equatorial gravity is suggested. The value of equatorial radius thus found is 6378,142±5 meters. The associated parameters are GM=3.986005±.000004 × 1020 cm3 sec-−2 which excludes the relative mass of atmosphere ≅10−6 ξ GM, the equatorial gravity γe 978,030.9 milligals (constrained in this solution by the Potsdam Correction of 13.67 milligals as the Potsdam Correction is more directly, orless indirectly, measurable than the equatorial gravity) and an ellipsoidal flattening of f=1/298.255.

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Khan, M.A. Equatorial radius of the Earth: A dynamical determination. Bull. Geodesique 109, 227–235 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02525572

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02525572

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