NNR constraint in ITRF2000 and the new global plate motion model NNR-ITRF2000VEL

There are 54 sites employed by ITRF2000 for ITRF2000 orientation. The deficiencies are obvious. First, these sites cannot well represent the rotation rate of the earth crust because there is no selected site in five out of fourteen tectonic plates and three of fourteen plates only have one site each. Second, the total angular momentum of the crust is non-vanishing in ITRF2000, even though it is declared that No Net Rotation (NNR) with respect to NNR-NUVEL1A is imposed on ITRF2000 construction according to the documentations of ITRF2000. So the NNR condition in conventional terrestrial reference system (CTRS) realization cannot be satisfied in ITRF2000. In this paper, the criteria of site selection for estimating the Euler vectors are suggested; the Tisserand system constraint equation in ITRF construction is derived; and as a product, the global plate motions can be obtained from the ITRF2000 construction.     

关于ITRF96参考架整体旋转性的探讨

利用国际地球自转服务IERS发布的国际地球参考架ITRF96的速度场 ,建立了一个基于现代空间大地测量实测结果的全球板块运动模型ITRF96VEL ,该模型与NNR -NUVEL1A模型有着较好的一致性 .利用该模型 ,本文对ITRF96参考架相对无整体旋转参考架是否存在一个整体旋转的问题进行了初步的探讨 ,结果表明ITRF96参考架相对无整体旋转参考架有一个整体旋转 ,旋转角速度为 0 1 61°/Ma ,旋转极指向南纬 50 5° ,东经 65 5°,这与要求ITRF96无整体旋转的定义不相符 ,这个整体旋转将会对国际地球参考架的高精度应用和长期维持 ,特别是对地球自转参数长期变化的研究产生一定的影响     

关于全球板块运动模型ITRF2000VEL若干问题探讨

利用最新的国际地球自转服务（IERS）发布的国际地球参考架ITRF2000速度场，建立了一个独立于任何其它模型、安全基于现代空间大地测量实测结果的现今全球板块运动模型ITRF2000VEL，较百万年平均地质模型NNR－NUVELIA更能真正反映全球板块现今运动特征，相比ITRF96,晚接近于百万年地质模型NNR－NUVELIA，而且ITRF2000参考架在定向、原点和尺度的定义较ITRF96和ITRF97参考架有了改进，但ITRF200VEL模型存在诸多问题：总角动量|L|=0.127，即不为零，与协议参考架（CTRF）不符，存在整体旋转，并建立无旋转NNR－ITRF2000VEL模型，台站不均匀分布全球板块、部分板块界线不明确以及有的板块不满足刚性特征等，这些对ITRF2000的高精度应用和长期维持、地球自转参数的长期变化都将产生一定的影响。     

Recent Geodetic Results in the Azores Triple Junction Region

—GPS (Global Positioning System) observations started to be carried out in the Azores region under the scope of the TANGO (TransAtlantic Network for Geodesy and Oceanography) project in 1988. The measurements carried out between 1993 and 2000 (five campaigns) on nine GPS sites (one per island) were reprocessed using two state–of–the-art software packages. Different methodologies were applied to compute each campaign solution and the derived velocity field. The velocity fields, including the motions of two permanent stations, recently installed in the Azores, were computed within the most recent geodetic reference frame, ITRF2000 (International Terrestrial Reference Frame, solution 2000). They are compared with the motions of the stable rigid tectonic plates using as reference DEOS2k, a global tectonic model developed using geodetic data. The relative motions between the Western and Central groups of islands yield to evaluate the opening rate of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (boundary between the North American plate and the Eurasian and African plates). Concerning the boundary between the Eurasian and African plates, the motion of the TANGO sites in the Central and Eastern groups clearly identifies the transition pattern between those two plates. Two of the sites are considered to be located in the stable part of these plates, whereas the remaining five are within the deformation region of the Eurasia-Africa boundary. The conclusions are analyzed in view of the different deformation models, derived from geodynamic or geophysical data that have been proposed for the region.     

利用中国地壳运动观测网络研究中国大陆相对于ITRF97板块模型形变

在建立全球ITRF97板块运动模型的基础上,利用"中国地壳运动观测网络"79个GPS基本站的数据,建立我国新的地壳运动方向图和块体运动模型.通过与NNR-NUVEL1A地质模型比较认为,ITRF97板块运动模型反映了现今十几年跨度的地壳运动,在研究我国现今几年到十几年时间跨度的地壳形变时,地壳运动背景场应采用基于ITRF97实测速度场建立欧亚板块运动模型.     

平均热点参考基准的建立和岩石圈西向漂移的研究

对于大地测量应用来说,目前IERS机构在定义地球参考系时推荐采用岩石圈无整体旋转(No-Net-Rotation-NNR)约束条件,然而对于地球物理应用来说,相对于NNR参考基准的绝对板块运动数据可能会对地幔对流等研究结果产生误导.考虑到热点的运动,提出建立平均热点(MHS-Medial HotSpot)参考基准的方法,给出建立该基准的约束准则,分别以地学模型NNR-NUVEL1A和实测模型ITRF2005VEL为基础,建立了平均热点参考基准MHS-NUVEL1A和MHS-ITRF2005,并与其它基于热点的绝对板块运动模型进行了比较和分析;讨论了岩石圈的西向漂移,给出了岩石圈相对于下地幔整体旋转的更精确的定量估计,即基于实测的热点参考架MHS-ITRF2005和地学模型NNR-NUVEL1A之间的整体旋转为0.26°/Ma,旋转极在(50°S, 62°E),这与由板块的受力模型给出的岩石圈的整体旋转的旋转极很接近,旋转速率大致快了10%.     

亚太网三期GPS观测数据处理结果及地壳形变特征分析

本文对亚洲太平洋地区地球动力学计划(APRGP,简称亚太网)在1999-2001年采集的三期GPS观测数据,利用GAMIT/GLOBK软件进行了分析处理,得出各期的观测站在ITRF97框架下的三维直角坐标,并根据三期观测数据中的重复观测站进行了速度场计算和地壳形变特征分析。结果表明亚洲大陆板块具有明显的顺时针旋转运动特征;印度板块和澳大利亚板块从西南方向对亚洲大陆板块进行挤压;而西太平洋地区各观测站则向西北方向运动。这些特征与国内GPS区域网观测数据处理得出的结论是一致的,而本文则揭示了更大范围的亚洲太平洋地区地壳形变信息。     

Comparison of geodetic and seismic strain rates in Greece by using a uniform processing approach to campaign GPS measurements over the interval 1994–2000

In this study we rigorously combine 18 old campaign GPS data sets from Greece covering the period 1994–2000. Although the majority of these old datasets have been analyzed and reported previously, it has not been possible to combine them into a single velocity field and apply strain analysis. Here a uniform, final coordinate solution is given by reprocessing 43 global, long-running International GNSS Service (IGS) sites together with 280 local sites. The 221 daily SINEX files are then combined in a least squares approach and the geodetic horizontal velocity field in ITRF2000 and Europe-fixed reference frame is derived. Two methods are used to compute the geodetic strain rates: (i) discrete estimates within contiguous polygons, and (ii) a continuous curvature surface fitted to the velocity field. The seismic hazard potential can be determined by comparing the geodetic and seismic strain rates. The published 300 year earthquake catalogue best describes the major active tectonic features at the scale of geodetic strain determination. The geodetic strain appears larger than the seismic strain for the majority of the region, suggesting that accumulated strain has not yet been released by earthquakes. The geodetic field is consistent with the detailed constraints implied by the observed orientations of faulting as these are given in the 300-year catalogue. We have shown that with the GPS dataset used in this work and following this processing scheme reasonable results can be obtained comparable with more recent studies, CGPS data and by recent earthquake activity.     

Evidence of electrical anisotropic structures in the lower crust and the upper mantle beneath the Rhenish Shield

We present the results of a long-period electromagnetic investigation of the crust and upper mantle beneath the Rhenish Shield in Western Germany. The magnetotelluric phase data reveal a frequency-dependent regional strike that varies only smoothly across the array. At short periods (t<100 s) the striking of the maximum phase splitting is N45°E, which can be explained with an electrical anisotropic lower crust. At long periods (t>1000 s) there is a consistent striking in WE direction, which provides strong evidence of an anisotropic structure in the upper mantle, too. Geomagnetic data were also used, whereas we reference the magnetic field components of all sites to an arbitrarily chosen field site. That provides a direct view of the anomalous current flow. We show that in case of a non-one-dimensional electrical substructure of the reference site all magnetic transfer functions of the other sites can be affected by lateral conductivity contrasts beneath the reference site. A simple method to remove such effects is introduced. Applying this method the magnetic data show a distinct anomaly in the northwestern part of the area. Finally, we present a 3D model of the conductivity structure beneath the Rhenish Shield which contains a superposition of two anisotropic structures in the lower crust (2000 S) and the upper mantle (20?000 S), respectively, and a local anomaly in the upper crust (4000 S).     

Localized changes in geomagnetic total intensity values prior to the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu (Kobe) earthquake

Changes in total geomagnetic field intensity, of 2–3 nT, were observed prior to the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu (Kobe) earthquake at the Amagase (AMG) site, located approximately 70 km from the epicenter. We examined whether the observed variations are local signals arising from the Earth's crust, or global variations that are unlikely to originate from the crust. To remove global-scale variations in total geomagnetic intensity data, we employed a regional geomagnetic field model. Using data recorded at five reference sites in Japan, we estimated global-scale variations in total geomagnetic intensity, and removed them from the observed total geomagnetic intensity at the AMG site. The reminder still showed variations during the period prior to the Kobe earthquake. In addition, these pre-seismic variations include two of the largest shifts recorded during the entire observation period at the AMG site, raising the possibility that these variations were indeed related to the earthquake. These variations cannot be interpreted as signals arising from the area close to the seismic source because of the large distance between the epicenter and the site. Therefore, our results raise the possibility that the physical state of the Earth's crust shows marked changes over a wide region in the lead-up to a seismic event.     

Assessing the impact of hydroelectric project construction on the ecological integrity of the Nuozhadu Nature Reserve, southwest China

Regional ecological degradation induced by hydroelectric project construction (HPC) is of great concern in the field of landscape ecology research. Using GIS-based spatial analysis, we predicted and assessed the impacts of HPC on the ecological integrity of the Nuozhadu Nature Reserve (NNR). The results show that, after Nuozhadu HPC, the naturality of the NNR will be modified due to changes in the landscape composition such that larger areas covered by vegetation will be occupied by construction land and flooded by water areas. Meanwhile, landscape diversity will increase due to the additional landscape types of construction land and submerged areas, while landscape stability will decrease because of the splitting and contagion of the landscape after Nuozhadu HPC. The human disturbance index shows that the HPC will contribute to increasing the disturbance of the ecosystem. From buffer analyses, we conclude that the impacts of HPC will mainly occur in buffer zones over the distance of 800 m from the Lancang River in the NNR, and tend to be moderate in the 800–5,000 m buffer zone. Therefore, within the 800 m buffer zone, taking the naturality, diversity and stability of the ecosystem as well as anthropogenic interference as evaluation indicators, we calculated the ecological integrity index; the results indicate that the ecological integrity of the NNR will decrease by 7.6 % after project construction.     

GPS监测的中国及其周边现时地壳形变

利用多个全国性的GPS监测网、中国地壳运动主要活动带的区域性GPS监测网以及亚太地区大地测量计划(APRGP)的GPS监测网自1991年以来近10年的GPS资料,通过旋转变换将不同方法得出的各个子网的速度解进行统一,给出一个自恰的、完整的ITR一7框架下的速度场综合解.为了研究中国现时地壳运动在欧亚板块内形变的特征,基于一个现时板块运动模型ITRF97VEL,给出了3类网共260多个站的形变速度场.结果表明中国地壳运动有明显的不均匀性,以南北地震带为界,西强东弱;中国西部受印度板块强烈的冲挤,地壳运动由南向北逐渐减慢,呈现南北向缩短,东西向伸展,有明显的块体特征;喜马拉雅和天山西部分别提供了约15mm/a和9-13mm/a的汇聚速率;拉萨块体有(20.2±1.2)mm/a的伸长;喀喇昆仑一嘉黎断裂的右旋走滑速率和阿尔金断裂的左旋走滑速率分别为2-3mm/a和4-6mm/a,穿过龙门山断裂带的缩短速率小于7mm/a,这些都支持地壳增厚学说;沿阿尔金断裂带到喜马拉雅存在一个NNE弥散带,它是形变速度有东和西分量的分界线,是一个有特殊意义的动力学带.中国东部以走滑为主,东北块体是中国最稳定的地区,华北块体具有较大走滑性,是东部较易变形区.     

Hydrological management of a cutover peatland

Mechanisms for preserving the hydrological balance of Thorne Moors National Nature Reserve (NNR) while allowing peat extraction to continue in the surrounding peatland are examined. Three strategies exist for modifying seepage losses from the NNR: (I) re-direction of pump drainage waters from the peat extraction areas; (II) provision of a hydrological buffer zone around the NNR; and (III) mechanical compaction of the boundaries of the buffer zone. Strategy II (increased width of the buffer zone) should be used together with strategy III (compaction) for the maximum reduction of seepage losses from the NNR. If strategy I (water level manipulation) is also adopted, it may be possible to reduce the width of the hydrological buffer zone around the NNR.     

Current motion and short-term deformations in the Suez–Sinai area from GPS observations

We analyze observations from eight GPS campaigns carried out between 1997 and 2005 on a network of 13 sites in the Suez–Sinai area, where separation between the African and the Arabian plates takes place. This is the key area to understand if and in which way Sinai behaves like a sub-plate of the African plate and the role played by seismic and geodetic (long-term) deformation release.Our analysis shows that, on average, the Suez–Sinai area motion, in terms of ITRF00 velocities, matches the African plate motion defined by the NNR-NUVEL-1A model.The horizontal principal strain rate axes estimated separately in the Gulf of Suez area and in the northern Sinai vary from compression across the Gulf (−2.2 ± 1.2) × 10⁻⁸ year⁻¹ to NE extension (1.0 ± 1.5) × 10⁻⁸ year⁻¹ in the North, showing the presence of two distinct domains, so that in our opinion Sinai cannot be considered simply a unique rigid block.The analysis of GPS baseline length variations shows short-term deformations across the Gulf of Suez, reaching up a maximum value of more than 1 cm in 8 years.Since current geodynamical models do not predict significant tectonic deformation in this area, we work under the hypothesis that a contribute may be expected by post-seismic relaxation effects. Under this hypothesis, we compare the baselines length variations with the post-seismic relaxation field associated with five major local earthquakes occurred in the area, testing two different viscoelastic models. Our results show that the detected short-term deformations are better modeled for viscosity values of 10¹⁸ Pa s in the lower crust and 10²⁰ Pa s in the asthenosphere. However, since the modeled post-seismic effect results modest and a certain amount of the detected deformation is not accounted for, we think that an improved modeling should take into account the lateral heterogeneities of crust and upper mantle structures.     

One-step solution to local tie vector determination at co-located GNSS/VLBI sites

The local tie vector, which connects the different space geodetic techniques at a co-located site, plays an important role in the realization of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF). This paper presents a new method to determine the tie vector between the GNSS and very long baseline interferometry tracking points. The parameters of the local tie vector and the axes offsets are introduced into constraint equations. The parameters are then resolved using the 3D constrained least squares adjustment. With the surveying data collected at two different sites (Kunming and Urumqi) in China, the proposed method can precisely determine the local tie vectors in a geocentric frame. The root mean square error (RMSE) is (1.2, 2.3 and 1.5 mm) and (1.0, 1.5 and 1.4 mm) for the three coordinate components at the sites in Kunming and Urumqi, respectively. The offset between the primary and secondary axes of the VLBI telescopes is estimated to be 7.5 mm in Kunming’s site and 4.0 mm in Urumqi’s site, and the corresponding RMSE is 1.8 mm and 2.0 mm for the two sites, respectively.     

Earth Rotation Parameters 1899.7–:1992.0 After Reanalysis Within The Hipparcos Frame

Earth rotation parameters (ERP) in the interval 1899.7–1992.0 are obtained from re-analysis of the observed latitude/universal time variations by optical astrometry. Hipparcos Catalogue is used to define the celestial reference frame, within which the ERP are described, with special care devoted to 'problematic' double and/or multiple stars. The terrestrial reference frame is defined by the adopted latitudes/longitudes of participating instruments and their secular motions as given by the NUVEL-1 NNR model of plate motions, and it is chosen to be very close to the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF). More than four million observations made with 48 different instruments at 31 observatories, located all over the world, are utilized to determine polar motion, celestial pole offsets and (after 1956) universal time UT1, all at 5-day intervals. Along with these parameters, the combinations of Love and Shida numbers, governing the tidal variations of the local verticals at individual observatories, are also determined. The analysis of the results covering almost a century, namely the long-periodic polar motion and length-of-day changes, is presented.     

Definition of pre-2000 m.y. apparent polar movements

In this paper palaeomagnetic poles known to be older than 2000 m.y. in age are assessed in the context of a continental reconstruction derived from younger Precambrian palaeomagnetic results. It is found that the combined data from North America and Africa define a single apparent polar wander path during the intervals 2700-2500 m.y. and 2160-2000 m.y. using the same continental reconstruction as that derived from younger poles. A rapid polar shift is identified at ca. 2150 m.y. and a closed loop is present in the curve between 2160 and 2000 m.y. Palaeomagnetic results from the Rhodesia/Kaapvaal, Kasai, West Africa and North America (Slave and Superior) cratons define segments of this loop which are statistically identical within errors of the pole positions and their assigned ages.These results in common with younger Proterozoic data (2000-800 m.y.) confirm that the crust behaved as an integral unit during these times, although undergoing internal deformation along mobile zones which has not yet proved detectable by the palaeomagnetic method. The 2700-2000 m.y. interval includes the Archaean-Proterozoic transition during which major structural anisotropy began to be imprinted on the sialic crust. Tectonic straight belts and deformed anorthosites lie within a single great-circle belt on the continental reconstruction incorporating Gondwanaland and North America. This same belt later developed into an arc of major tectonic and magmatic activity (<2250 m.y.) including massive anorthosites, rapakivi granites, acidic volcanism and mobile belts.     

毫米级地球参考框架的构建

本文指出了最新的国际地球参考框架ITRF（International Terrestrial Reference Frame）2005已不能满足当今毫米级地球动态变化监测的需要.提出了利用ITRF2005、SBL/GGFC（Special Bureau for Loading/Global Geophysical Fluids Center）和GRACE（Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment）等卫星的最新成果,构建毫米级地球参考框架的方案,介绍了对其两个关键问题：地壳非线性运动特征∑RΔXⁱ_R(t)和地球质心运动ΔX0(t)的空间技术（GPS,VLBI,SLR和GRACE）监测和地球物理因素模制的方法和一些初步结果,并对目前建立和实现毫米级地球参考框架存在的问题和所能达到的精度进行了初步评估.     

The 1999 and 2000 eruptions of Mount Cameroon: eruption behaviour and petrochemistry of lava

Mount Cameroon (4,095 m high and with a volume of ~1,200 km³) is one of the most active volcanoes in Africa, having erupted seven times in the last 100 years. This stratovolcano of basanite and hawaiite lavas has an elliptical shape, with over a hundred cones around its flanks and summit region aligned parallel to its NE--SW-trending long axis. The 1999 (28 March–22 April) eruption was restricted to two sites: ~2,650 m (site 1) and ~1,500 m (site 2). Similarly, in the eruption in 2000 (28 May–19 June), activity occurred at two sites: ~4,095 m (site 1) and ~3,300 m (site 2). During both eruptions, the higher vents were more explosive, with strombolian activity, while the lower vents were more effusive. Accordingly, most of the lava (~8×10⁷ m³ in 1999 and ~6×10⁶ m³ in 2000) was emitted from the lower sites. The 1999–2000 lavas are predominantly basanites with low Ni (5–79 ppm), Cr (40–161 ppm) and mg numbers (34–40). Olivine (Fo_77–85, phenocrysts and Fo_68–72, microlites), clinopyroxene (Wo₄₇En₄₁Fs₁₀ to Wo₅₁En₃₄Fs₁₅), plagioclase (An_49–67) and titanomagnetite are the principal phenocryst and groundmass phases. The lavas contain xenocrysts of olivine and clinopyroxene, which are interpreted as fragments of intrusive rocks disrupted by magma ascent. Major and trace element characteristics point to early fractionation of olivine. The clinopyroxenes (Al₂O₃ 1.36–7.83 wt%) have high Al^iv/Al^vi ratios (1.3–1.8) and are rich in TiO₂, characteristics typical of low pressure clinopyroxenes. Geochemical differences between the 1999–2000 lavas and those from previous eruptions, such as higher Nb/Zr of the former, suggest that different eruptions discharged magmas that evolved differently in space and time. Geophysical and petrological data indicate that these fractionated magmas originated just below the geophysical Moho (at 20–22 km) in the lithospheric mantle. During ascent, the magmas disrupted intrusions and earlier magma pockets. The main ascent path is below the summit, where newly arrived magma degasses. Degassed magma simultaneously intrudes the flank rift zones where most lava is extruded.An erratum to this article can be found at     

南北地震带南段川滇黔接壤区电性结构特征和孕震环境

本文利用大地电磁测深数据,对穿过兰坪—思茅地块和川滇菱形地块以及进入扬子地块的云南兰坪—贵州贵阳大地电磁测深剖面展开了深部电性结构研究.采用大地电磁数据处理分析以及反演技术,对观测资料进行了由定性到定量全面地分析,通过二维非线性共轭梯度反演得到了沿剖面的较为详细的地壳上地幔电性结构,结合其他地质和地球物理资料的分析,对该剖面的二维电性结构进行解释,确定了主要断裂带和边界带的位置以及深部延伸情况,同时确定了壳内低阻层的分布位置,最后进行了区域动力学和孕震构造环境的探讨.研究表明:剖面壳幔电性结构分块性特征与区域地质构造分布特征基本一致,不同地块的电性结构存在显著差异,其中川滇菱形地块的结构相对复杂,上地壳的电性结构为高低阻相间分布特征,电阻率的突变带与地表断裂具有很好的对应关系;兰坪—思茅地块存在中上地壳低阻层,川滇菱形地块中西部存在下地壳低阻层,川滇菱形地块东部和华南地块西部存在中上地壳的低阻层;川滇菱形地块中部攀枝花附近的低阻层埋深最深,而华南地块西部会泽附近的低阻层埋深则最浅;兰坪—思茅地块和川滇菱形地块的中下地壳的低阻层可能与青藏高原物质的东南逃逸有关;华南块体的宣威以东的下地壳不存在低阻层,华南块体下地壳和上地幔的电阻率较高;攀枝花附近的高阻体可能是峨眉山玄武岩喷发导致底侵作用及幔源物质上侵的结果.