Glacial isostatic adjustment from terrestrial and space observing systems

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Climate, environment, ecosystems, human society and their interrelationships from the global perspective are of profound importance and significance nowadays. It is remarkable that still very little is known about our climate and its long-term changes as they relate not only to the atmospheric masses but to the arctic regions and the oceans as well. There is strong evidence that the polar regions of the Earth are the most sensitive showing the fastest warming rates than any other region on Earth. In recent years, the general emphasis of Earth sciences has moved towards Climate Change and the study of our planet as one system. We need a much better understanding of the Earth, and how it is affected even by minute changes in the atmosphere, oceans and arctic regions. The only way to observe the Earth frequently and globally is to use satellite missions that "see" our planet from really far away. This "remote sensing" of the Earth is the subject of Space Geodesy that is, the science of measuring the Earth using satellite technology. We need many different satellites to measure the various characteristics of the Earth, such as its gravity, magnetism, ocean circulation and state, atmospheric properties and dynamics, deformations and many others. Because these characteristics are all interrelated, we need to device complicated mathematical theories and methods to study and understand them. So far, we have primarily been studying each of these characteristics separately, which provides us only with limited knowledge and understanding. The approach of unifying them in a comprehensive manner is known as "integration of theories and techniques" and requires the contribution of scientists from different disciplines to achieve it. This is called "multidisciplinary approach" and it is very challenging. This research proposes to do exactly this: Start integrating different theories, systems and observations to enhance our understanding of the Earth processes and climate change that will lead to socioeconomic prosperity and better and safer communities.