World Geodetic Datum 2000

 Based on the current best estimates of fundamental geodetic parameters {W ₀,GM,J ₂,Ω} the form parameters of a Somigliana-Pizzetti level ellipsoid, namely the semi-major axis a and semi-minor axis b (or equivalently the linear eccentricity ) are computed and proposed as a new World Geodetic Datum 2000. There are six parameters namely the four fundamental geodetic parameters {W ₀,GM,J ₂,Ω} and the two form parameters {a,b} or {a,ɛ}, which determine the ellipsoidal reference gravity field of Somigliana-Pizzetti type constraint to two nonlinear condition equations. Their iterative solution leads to best estimates a=(6 378 136.572±0.053)m, b=(6 356 751.920 ± 0.052)m, ɛ=(521 853.580±0.013)m for the tide-free geoide of reference and a=(6 378 136.602±0.053)m, b=(6 356 751.860±0.052)m, ɛ=(521 854.674 ± 0.015)m for the zero-frequency tide geoid of reference. The best estimates of the form parameters of a Somigliana-Pizzetti level ellipsoid, {a,b}, differ significantly by −0.39 m, −0.454 m, respectively, from the data of the Geodetic Reference System 1980. Received: 1 February 1999 / Accepted: 31 August 1999