Transformation between celestial and terrestrial reference systems: definition of Earth orientation parameters (EOP), determination of EOP by means of space geodetic techniques; Theoretical background: rotation of a rigid Earth, rotation of a deformable Earth, polar motion, changes of the rotation speed, precession-nutation. Modeling of geophysical effects: angular momentum approach, torque approach, excitation functions.
Earth Rotation: Theory and Observation (Moritz & Mueller, 1988) The Earth's Variable Rotation: Geophysical causes and consequences (Lambeck, 1980) The Earth and its Rotation (Zharkov et al., 1996) Earth Rotation Variations - Long Period (Gross, 2007)
Lectures of mathematics and physics of the three first semesters required, space geodetic techniques, Earth gravity field.