Ross Sea Region Geodetic Datum 2000 (RSRGD2000)

The Ross Sea Region Geodetic Datum 2000 (RSRGD2000) is the official geodetic datum for the Ross Sea region of Antarctica. Implemented in 2000, the RSRGD2000 replaced the Camp Area Datum that was widely used in different areas of the Ross Sea Region.

Map of the Ross Sea

The RSRGD2000 datum covers the area between longitudes 160° East and 150° West and south of latitude 60° South. The datum comprises physical marks that are situated in the vicinity of areas of scientific interest or where topographic mapping has been performed. The majority of the marks are on Ross Island or within a few hundred kilometres of the Antarctic continental coast adjacent to it.

RSRGD2000 is essentially coincident Global Positioning System (GPS) datum WGS84. It means that for most practical purposes WGS84 coordinates can be assumed to be the same as RSRGD2000 coordinates, hence no transformation is necessary.

RSRGD2000 is formally defined in the LINZ standard LINZS25001 (Standard for Ross Sea Region Geodetic Datum 2000). The key parameters from this standard are summarised below:

Name: Ross Sea Region Geodetic Datum 2000

Abbreviation: RSRGD2000

Reference ellipsoid: GRS80

Reference frame: ITRF96

Reference Epoch: 1 January 2000

Deformation Model: No deformation model is defined for RSRGD2000

The accuracy of RSRGD2000 coordinates is described by a series of Orders. The Order is a combined measure of the network and local accuracy of a coordinate.