Geopotenciál

Geopotenciál is a term used in geodesy and geophysics to describe the gravitational potential energy per unit mass at a given point in the Earth's gravity field. It essentially measures the work required to move a unit mass from a reference level, typically sea level, to that point. The geopotential is a scalar quantity and is influenced by the distribution of mass within the Earth, including its internal structure and surface topography.

The geopotential field is not uniform; it varies from place to place. Higher geopotential values are found at points further from the Earth's center or in regions with denser mass concentrations, while lower values are found closer to the center or in areas of less dense mass. This variation is crucial for understanding phenomena like sea-level variations and the movement of fluids.

The geopotential is commonly expressed in units of Joules per kilogram (J/kg) or m²/s². The geoid, which represents the equipotential surface of the Earth's gravity field that best approximates mean sea level, is defined by a constant geopotential value. Differences in geopotential between different locations are directly related to the height differences between the geoid and other equipotential surfaces.