Earth radius

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Since the Earth, like all planets, is not a perfect sphere, the radius of Earth can refer to various values. The radius of the Earth at a point on the surface is the distance from the center of the Earth to the mean sea level at that point. This value varies from about 6,356.750 km — 6,378.135 km (3,949.901 mi — 3,963.189 mi), values between the polar radius and the equatorial radius (with few exceptions). The radius of the Earth can also refer to other fixed radii as well as to various mean radii, outlined below. For all planets the sources of the distortion from spherical are rotation, variation of mass density within the planet, and tidal forces. [1]

Contents

[edit] Introduction

Rotation of a planet causes it to approximate an oblate ellipsoid/spheroid with a bulge at the equator and flattening at the North and South Poles, so that the equatorial radius a is larger than the polar radius b by approximately aq where the oblateness constant q is

q=\frac{a^3 \omega^2}{GM}\, ,\!

where ω is the angular frequency, G is the gravitational constant, and M is the mass of the planet. [2] For the Earth q^{-1}\approx 289, which is close the measured inverse flattening f^{-1}\approx 298.257. Additionally, the bulge at the equator shows slow variations. The bulge had been declining, but since 1998 the bulge has increased, possibly due to redistribution of ocean mass via currents. [3]

The variation in density and crustal thickness causes gravity to vary on the surface, so that the mean sea level will differ from the ellipsoid. This difference is the geoid height, positive above or outside the ellipsoid, negative below or inside. The geoid height variation is under 110 m on Earth. The geoid height can have abrupt changes due to earthquakes (such as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake) reduction in ice masses (such as Greenland). [4]


The tides from the gravity of the Moon and Sun cause the surface of the Earth to rise and fall by tenths of meters at a point over a nearly 12 hr period.

Therefore, the values defined below are based on a "general purpose" model, refined as globally precisely as possible within 5 m of reference ellipsoid height, and to within 100 m of mean sea level (neglecting geoid height).

Additionally, the radius can be estimated from the curvature of the Earth at a point. Like a torus the curvature at a point will be largest (tightest) in one direction (North-South on Earth) and smallest (flattest) perpendicularly (East-West). The corresponding radius of curvature depends on location and direction of measurement from that point. A consequence is that a that distance to the true horizon at the equator is slightly shorter in the north/south direction than in the east-west direction.

In summary, Local variations in terrain prevent the definition of a single absolutely "precise" radius. One can only find mathematically precise values based on a given model. Since the estimate by Eratosthenes, a plethora of models have been created, some accommodating or based on regional topography. The advancements in measuring technology, now including satellites, mean that different reference ellipsoid models have made their way into general usage over the years, providing slightly different values.

(Note: Earth radius is sometimes used as a unit of distance, especially in astronomy and geology. It is usually denoted by RE.)

[edit] Fixed radii

The following radii are fixed, and do not include a variable location dependence.

[edit] Equatorial radius: a

The Earth's equatorial radius, or semi-major axis, is the distance from its center to the equator and equals 6,378.135 km (˜3,963.189 mi; ˜3,443.917 nmi). At 0° S 121.83° E, the geoid height rises to 63.42 m above the reference ellipsoid (WGS-84), giving a total radius of 6,378.200 km. The equatorial radius is often used to compare Earth with other planets.

[edit] Polar radius: b

The Earth's polar radius, or semi-minor axis, is the distance from its center to the North and South Poles, and equals 6,356.750 km (˜3,949.901 mi; ˜3,432.370 nmi). The geoid height (WGS-84) at the North Pole is 13.6 m above the reference ellipsoid, and at the South Pole 29.5 m below the reference, giving the more exact 6,356.766 km and 6,356.723 km, respectively.

[edit] Radii with location dependence

Radius at geodetic latitude in black.
Radius at geodetic latitude in black.

[edit] Radius at a given geodetic latitude

The Earth's radius at geodetic latitude, \phi\,\!, is:

R(\phi)=\sqrt{\frac{(a^2\cos(\phi))^2+(b^2\sin(\phi))^2}{(a\cos(\phi))^2+(b\sin(\phi))^2}};\,\!

[edit] Radius of curvature

These are based on a oblate ellipsoid.

Eratosthenes used two points, one exactly north of the other. The points are separated by distance D, and the vertical directions at the two points are known to differ by angle of θ, in radians. A formula based on Eratosthenes method is

R= \frac{D}{\theta};\,\!

which gives an estimate of radius based on the north-south curvature of the Earth. In particular the Earth's radius of curvature in the (north-south) meridian at \phi\,\! is:

M=M(\phi)=\frac{(ab)^2}{((a\cos(\phi))^2+(b\sin(\phi))^2)^{3/2}};\,\!

If one point had appeared due east of the other, one finds the approximate curvature in east-west direction. [5] The Earth's radius of curvature in the prime vertical, which is perpendicular, or normal, to M at geodetic latitude \phi\,\! is: [6]

N=N(\phi)=\frac{a^2}{\sqrt{(a\cos(\phi))^2+(b\sin(\phi))^2}};\,\!

Note that N=R at the equator.

The Earth's mean radius of curvature (averaging over all directions) at latitude \phi\,\! is:

R_a=\sqrt{MN}=\frac{a^2b}{(a\cos(\phi))^2+(b\sin(\phi))^2};\,\!

The Earth's radius of curvature along a course at geodetic bearing (measured clockwise from north) \alpha\,\!, at \phi\,\! is: [7]

R_c=\frac{{}_{1}}{\frac{\cos(\alpha)^2}{M}+\frac{\sin(\alpha)^2}{N}}.\,\!

The Earth's equatorial radius of curvature in the meridian is:

\frac{b^2}{a}\,\!= 6335.437 km

The Earth's polar radius of curvature is:

\frac{a^2}{b}\,\!= 6399.592 km

[edit] Mean radii

[edit] Quadratic mean radius: Qr

The ellipsoidal quadratic mean radius provides the best approximation of Earth's average transverse meridional radius and radius of curvature:

Q_r=\sqrt{\frac{3a^2+b^2}{4}};\,\!

It is this radius that would be used to approximate the ellipsoid's average great ellipse (i.e., this is the equivalent spherical "great-circle" radius of the ellipsoid).
For Earth, Qr equals 6,372.795477598 km (˜3,959.871 mi; ˜3,441.034 nmi).

[edit] Authalic mean radius: Ar

Earth's authalic ("equal area") mean radius is 6,371.005076123 km (˜3,958.759 mi; ˜3,440.067 nmi). This number is derived by square rooting the average (latitudinally cosine corrected) geometric mean of the meridional and transverse equatorial, or "normal" (i.e., perpendicular), arcradii of all surface points on the spheroid, which can be reduced to a closed-form solution:

A_r=\sqrt{\frac{a^2+\frac{ab^2}{\sqrt{a^2-b^2}}\ln{\left(\frac{a+\sqrt{a^2-b^2}}b\right)}}{2}}=\sqrt{\frac{A}{4\pi}};\,\!

where A is the authalic surface area of Earth. This would be the radius of a hypothetical perfect sphere which has the same, geometric mean oriented surface area as the spheroid.

[edit] Volumetric radius: Vr

Another, less utilized, sphericalization is that of the volumetric radius, which is the radius of a sphere of equal volume:

V_r=\sqrt[3]{a^2b};\,\!

For Earth, the volumetric radius equals 6,370.998685023 km (˜3,958.755 mi; ˜3,440.064 nmi).

[edit] Meridional Earth radius

Another radius mean is the meridional mean, which equals the radius used in finding the perimeter of an ellipse. It can also be found by just finding the average value of M:

M_r=\frac{2}{\pi}\int_{0}^{90^\circ}\!M(\phi)\,d\phi\;\approx\left[\frac{a^{1.5}+b^{1.5}}{2}\right]^{1/1.5};\,\!

For Earth, this works out to 6367.446988834 km (˜3,956.548 mi; ˜3,438.146 nmi).

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ The center of the Earth is somewhat model dependent. Exceptions to the cited range will occur near the South Pole and along the equator. Also, differences due to variation of mass density within the planet and tidal forces require data for the entire surface of the Earth and are not included here. For detail see Figure of the Earth, Geoid, and Earth tide.
  2. ^ This follows from the International Astronomical Union definition rule (2): a planet assumes a shape due to hydrostatic equilibrium where gravity and centrifugal forces are nearly balanced. IAU 2006 General Assembly: Result of the IAU Resolution votes
  3. ^ Satellites Reveal A Mystery Of Large Change In Earth's Gravity Field, Aug. 1, 2002, Goddard Space Flight Center.
  4. ^ NASA's Grace Finds Greenland Melting Faster, 'Sees' Sumatra Quake, December 20, 2005, Goddard Space Flight Center.
  5. ^ East-west directions can be misleading. Point B which appears due East from A will be closer to the equator than A. Thus the curvature found this way is smaller than the curvature of a circle of constant latitude, except at the equator. West can exchanged for east in this discussion.
  6. ^ N is defined as the radius of curvature in the plane which is normal to both the surface of the ellipsoid at, and the meridian passing through, the specific point of interest.
  7. ^ A related application of M and N: if two nearby points have the difference in latitude of d\phi\,\! and longitude of d\lambda\,\! (in radians) with mean latitude \phi\,\!, then the distance D between them is
    D\approx\sqrt{(Md\phi)^2+(N\cos\phi d\lambda)^2}.\,\!
    The quantities inside the parentheses are approximately Dcosα and Dsinα, respectively. Thus dφ and dλ be estimated from D, M, and N.
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