geodetic
adjective
geo·det·ic
ˌjē-ə-ˈde-tik 
variants
or less commonly geodetical
: of, relating to, or determined by geodesy
Examples of geodetic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Long before the advent of advanced geodetic buoy systems, altimeters and satellites, our ancestors took a credible stab at defining a global mean sea level.
—
Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Einstein’s theory predicted that the orientation of the gyroscopes should slowly drift due to two phenomena: the geodetic effect, or Earth’s warping of space-time due to its mass, and frame-dragging, the tug on space-time that occurs as Earth rotates on its axis.
—Andrew Grant, Discover Magazine, 9 Jan. 2012
The clear signal — the geodetic fingerprint — of a large subduction earthquake would be the abrupt lowering of land behind the beaches when the upper plate got stretched like taffy, snapped to the west, and then sank below the tide line.
—Jerry Thompson, Discover Magazine, 12 Mar. 2012
However, studies of the land's surface around Rome by InSAR and geodetic surveys over the last ~50 years have shown 50 centimeters (~20 inches) of uplift in the parts of the Colli Albani that have seen previous eruptions.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 13 July 2016
If similar slickenlines are discovered for older faults, that won’t immediately translate to better risk assessments, cautions Laura Wallace, a geodetic scientist also at GNS Science.
—Paul Voosen, Science | AAAS, 23 Sep. 2020
David Mills, a mild-mannered geodetic engineer, and Edward Espenshade, the geographer, were more at ease with the G.I.s.
—Greg Miller, Smithsonian, 23 Oct. 2019
But because that approach doesn’t work on the open ocean, each continent remained isolated—there was no single geodetic network to link them together.
—Greg Miller, National Geographic, 28 Jan. 2017
Their main tool was something called HIRAN aerial geodetic surveying, which is nicely illustrated by a cartoon in the video (starting around the 3:55 mark).
—Greg Miller, National Geographic, 28 Jan. 2017
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Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Einstein’s theory predicted that the orientation of the gyroscopes should slowly drift due to two phenomena: the geodetic effect, or Earth’s warping of space-time due to its mass, and frame-dragging, the tug on space-time that occurs as Earth rotates on its axis.
—Andrew Grant, Discover Magazine, 9 Jan. 2012
The clear signal — the geodetic fingerprint — of a large subduction earthquake would be the abrupt lowering of land behind the beaches when the upper plate got stretched like taffy, snapped to the west, and then sank below the tide line.
—Jerry Thompson, Discover Magazine, 12 Mar. 2012
However, studies of the land's surface around Rome by InSAR and geodetic surveys over the last ~50 years have shown 50 centimeters (~20 inches) of uplift in the parts of the Colli Albani that have seen previous eruptions.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 13 July 2016
If similar slickenlines are discovered for older faults, that won’t immediately translate to better risk assessments, cautions Laura Wallace, a geodetic scientist also at GNS Science.
—Paul Voosen, Science | AAAS, 23 Sep. 2020
David Mills, a mild-mannered geodetic engineer, and Edward Espenshade, the geographer, were more at ease with the G.I.s.
—Greg Miller, Smithsonian, 23 Oct. 2019
But because that approach doesn’t work on the open ocean, each continent remained isolated—there was no single geodetic network to link them together.
—Greg Miller, National Geographic, 28 Jan. 2017
Their main tool was something called HIRAN aerial geodetic surveying, which is nicely illustrated by a cartoon in the video (starting around the 3:55 mark).
—Greg Miller, National Geographic, 28 Jan. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Geodetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/geodetic. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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