<p>Could it be measured by taking the Laplacian over all tiles and then averaging it, for example?</p>

<p>(this question can be relevant for both surface topography and ocean bathymetry).</p>

<p>I think measuring it relative to Earth's geopotential would be fine.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-08T13:59:27.197Z
What do you mean by "tiles"? Also, what do you want to know: the average variation, the peak-to-peak variation, the maximum?
Leo Uieda
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-27T11:50:12.413Z
What do you mean by "variation"? Statistical variance or something else?
Gimelist
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-15T21:36:40.710Z
I think this question could get a pretty good answer at [GIS.SE].  I also think there is not really one answer.  There are many ways and the most appropriate one depends on the problem you are trying to solve.  *What do you want to find out?*
gerrit
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-15T22:40:41.480Z
Also, what are you measuring it relative to? As a geophysicist, I would choose a gravitational equi-potential, but others might choose a geoid (which one?) or something else.
winwaed
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-15T23:30:26.830Z
@gerrit - It's a geodesy question, which is equally well suited to either here or the GIS stackexchange, i.m.o.
Joe Kington
<geomorphology>
How do we measure the total amount of variation in height of Earth's topography?
InquilineKea
# How do we measure the total amount of variation in height of Earth's topography?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-04-15)

Could it be measured by taking the Laplacian over all tiles and then averaging it, for example?

(this question can be relevant for both surface topography and ocean bathymetry).

I think measuring it relative to Earth's geopotential would be fine.

**Tags:** geomorphology

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: I think this question could get a pretty good answer at [GIS.SE].  I also think there is not really one answer.  There are many ways and the most appropriate one depends on the problem you are trying to solve.  *What do you want to find out?*  
> **username_4**: Also, what are you measuring it relative to? As a geophysicist, I would choose a gravitational equi-potential, but others might choose a geoid (which one?) or something else.  
> **username_5**: @username_3 - It's a geodesy question, which is equally well suited to either here or the GIS stackexchange, i.m.o.  
> **username_1**: What do you mean by "tiles"? Also, what do you want to know: the average variation, the peak-to-peak variation, the maximum?  
> **username_2**: What do you mean by "variation"? Statistical variance or something else?  

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## 0 answers

