************************************************************************ IERS Message No. 427 April 06, 2021 ************************************************************************ IAG 2021, GGOS Session 5.3 "Standardized geodetic products ..." Dear Colleagues, The IAG 2021 Scientific Assembly will be held June 28 - July 2. The First Circular is available at https://www.iag-aig.org/topic/286. The meeting was originally planned for hybrid format with in-person and in-virtual participation, but in view of the COVID-19 situation, it will now be held as a virtual meeting only. As you will see in the Circular, the schedule is very tight, the deadline for abstracts is the end of April. The meeting will accommodate both oral and poster presentations. In particular, we call your attention to session 5.3 "Standardized geodetic products for a reliable System Earth observation". Session Convenors: Detlef Angermann, Kosuke Heki, and Zhicai Li Session Abstract: The generation of geodetic products is making use of various geometric and gravimetric observation techniques located on the ground and in space. In order to fully benefit from the ongoing technological improvements of the observing systems, it is essential that the data analysis and product generation is based on the definition and application of common standards and conventions and a consistent representation and parameterization of the relevant quantities. This is of crucial importance to obtain highly accurate and consistent products for the time-varying gravitational field, Earth rotation and the shape of the Earth surface, as well as for the generation of highly precise and long-term stable geodetic reference frames as a fundamental basis. Towards this aim, a key objective of IAG's Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS), with support of the IAG Services, is the integration of the "three pillars" geometry, Earth rotation and gravity field, and to provide consistent products for Earth system studies and monitoring global change phenomena. This session will focus on recent activities towards the development of common standards and the generation of integrated products. Furthermore, this session will provide the platform to present and discuss the activities towards the definition of Essential Geodetic Variables (EGVs) that are crucial to characterizing the geodetic properties of the Earth and that are key to sustainable geodetic observations. This session solicits contributions focusing on aspects of: * Development of common standards for the generation of consistent geodetic products * Integration of geometric and gravimetric observations * Developments towards enhanced IAG/GGOS products needed for Earth sciences * Activities towards the definition of Essential Geodetic Variables (EGVs) We hope that you will consider participating in the IAG Assembly. Please share this circular to your community and with others who may be interested. With best regards, Detlef Angermann, Kosuke Heki, Zhicai Li (Convenors of GGOS Session 5.3) ************************************************************************ IERS Messages are edited and distributed by the IERS Central Bureau. If not stated otherwise, the IERS is only the distributor of the message and is not responsible for its content. To submit texts for distribution, please write to . To subscribe or unsubscribe, please create an IERS account or modify it: https://www.iers.org/Login/Login/EN/login_node.html or write to . Archives: http://www.iers.org/Messages ************************************************************************