Is the latitude returned by a GPS geocentric or geodetic latitude?

GPS satellites don't report geocentric or geodetic latitudes. They send out a signal that allows a receiver to figure out the distance to the satellites. The signal also tells where the satellites are, in XYZ coordinates (actually, Keplerian elements, but that's a nit detail).

It is up to the receiver to calculate the latitude/longitude/altitude from this information. Every receiver that I have ever heard about, calculates the location in WGS-84 coordinates, with geodetic latitude; just like practically every map published since the 1980's. Some receivers also have an option to report, on a computer link, the signals from the satellites.

GPS units show geodetic latitudes, thus corresponding to maps. I've never come across any map showing geocentric latitudes. I've also never heard of a GPS unit which shows geocentric latitude as an option, although it may be available on some advanced units.

If you want geocentric latitude, you should be able to run some software to do the conversion. It's a fairly simple formula.

Geodetic Latitude

RE:

Is the latitude returned by a GPS geocentric or geodetic latitude?

Using google I quickly found the source that describes GPS systems that report geodetic coordinates. I was not able to find any that report geocentric coordinates, but that doesn't necessarily prove there aren't any.

Never gave this much thought