How IGN (France) computed the so-called 'centre of gravity' of physical Europe in 1989 and 2004

TL;DR

This paper analyzes and corrects the mathematical method used by Jean-Georges Affholder in 1989 and 2004 to determine Europe's geographical 'centre of gravity', highlighting typographical errors and clarifying the procedure.

Contribution

It provides a corrected version of Affholder's formulae and clarifies the methodology for calculating Europe's centre of gravity.

Findings

Identified and corrected typographical errors in the original formulae.

Clarified the mathematical steps of Affholder's method.

Summarized the specific application to Europe's centre of gravity.

Abstract

The method used by senior geodetic engineer Jean-Georges Affholder to determine what can be termed as the 'centre of gravity' of physical Europe in 1989 and 2004 relies on mathematical formulae which, in their only published version, happen to be flawed with typographical errors that do not reflect Mr. Affholder's actual mathematical exactness. This short epistemological paper summarizes the major steps of Affholder's method, provides a corrected version of the general formulae, and briefly recalls some particulars of the specific determination of the centre of gravity of physical Europe.