利用VLBI和超导重力资料研究自由核章动周期时变特征

本文根据自由核章动在章动观测和时变重力观测中引起的与其频率相近的受迫章动项或固体潮潮波的共振特性,选取6个不同机构解算的VLBI天极偏差序列和全球超导重力仪网络提供的7个台站高精度时变重力观测资料,根据加权最小二乘方法拟合地球自由核章动参数,研究其本征周期的时间变化特征.VLBI资料获得的本征周期变化幅度在1天之内,存在十年尺度的时间变化特征,迭积多台站同时段重力资料获得的自由核章动本征周期时变特征与VLBI获得的结果相比变化幅度较大,但趋势大致符合.在此基础上,通过自由核章动的理论模型探讨了影响其本征周期的几个主要因素,结果表明FCN周期变化与电磁耦合存在相关性,核幔边界磁感应强度径向分量变化导致的电磁耦合的变化可能是造成FCN周期时变性的原因.     

The newest observational evidence on asymmetrical deformation of the Earth

IntroductionWhat is the shape of the Earth? Does it change continuously? It is a scientific question since the ancient times and is still being observed and explored at present. In 250 BC, Greek scholar Eratosthene supposed the shape of the Earth to be spherical according to the observations to the Sun and estimated the perimeter of the Earth to be 4 000 km (King-Hele, 1976) according to the camel-walking distance. Until the 16th century, the Earth was considered to be a very symmetrical …     

Systematic errors between VLBI and GPS precipitable water vapor estimations from 5-year co-located measurements

Space geodetic techniques (e.g., Global Positioning System, GPS and very long baseline interference, VLBI) have been widely used to determine the precipitable water vapor (PWV) for meteorology and climatology, which was verified by comparing with co-located independent technique observations. However, most of these comparisons have been conducted using only short-time spanning observations at several stations. The goal of this study is to identify and quantify the systematic errors between VLBI and GPS PWV estimates using a 5-year (2002–2007), PWV data set constructed from co-located measurements and radiosonde data as well. It has found systematic errors between VLBI and GPS PWV estimations from comparisons with long-term co-located GPS measurements. The total mean VLBI PWVs are systematically smaller than GPS estimates with 0.8–2.2 mm for all sites, but can be as much as 15–30%. The subdiurnal PWV variation magnitudes and long-term trends between VLBI and GPS are nearly similar, but the VLBI-derived PWV trends are systematically smaller than GPS estimates with about 0.1±0.02 mm/year. These systematic errors in PWV estimates between VLBI and GPS are probably due to technique own problems, different used elevation angles and co-location separation.     

Tri-frequency spectrum method and results for resolving the parameters of Earth’s liquid core free nutation

The parameters of Earth free core nutation (FCN) are two relatively significant geophysical parameters. Sasao et al. (1980) and Wahr and Bergen (1986) provided the theoretical estimation values of FCN parameters. Gwinn, Herring and Shapiro (1987) first obtained the observational values of FCN parameters by very long base Interference (VLBI) at Cambridge University. In the same year, Neuberg and Zürn in former West Germany and Hinderer in France began to retrieve FCN parameters by the observation of gravity tides and introduced the stacking method. The other scholars who researched into the same geophysical problems by applying the data of gravity tides basically followed the stacking method. The results they reached were similar to the observational result of FCN parameters given by Neuberg et al. in 1987. But the observational results of FCN parameters gained from gravity tides were not identical with those from VLBI, mainly because of the large difference of quality of FCN. So there was not an affirmative observational result of FCN parameters since then. In this paper, The authors firstly introduce the tri-frequency spectrum method with clearly geometrical and geophysical meaning for the resolution of FCN parameters, and the observational results of FCN parameters obtained from tide data at three superconducting gravity stations were accordant with those from VLBI, which will be relatively important to arriving at a certain observational result of FCN parameters.     

Tri-frequency spectrum method and results for resolving the parameters of Earth's liquid core free nutation

The parameters of Earth free core nutation (FCN) are two relatively significant geophysical parameters. Sasao et al. (1980) and Wahr and Bergen (1986) provided the theoretical estimation values of FCN parameters. Gwinn, Herring and Shapiro (1987) first obtained the observational values of FCN parameters by very long base Interference (VLBI) at Cambridge University. In the same year, Neuberg and Zürn in former West Germany and Hinderer in France began to retrieve FCN parameters by the observation of gravity tides and introduced the stacking method. The other scholars who researched into the same geophysical problems by applying the data of gravity tides basically followed the stacking method. The results they reached were similar to the observational result of FCN parameters given by Neuberg et al. in 1987. But the observational results of FCN parameters gained from gravity tides were not identical with those from VLBI, mainly because of the large difference of quality of FCN. So there was not an affirmative observational result of FCN parameters since then. In this paper, The authors firstly introduce the tri-frequency spectrum method with clearly geometrical and geophysical meaning for the resolution of FCN parameters, and the observational results of FCN parameters obtained from tide data at three superconducting gravity stations were accordant with those from VLBI, which will be relatively important to arriving at a certain observational result of FCN parameters.     

Combined discrete and continuous gravity observations at Mount Etna

Systematic investigation of discrete gravity measurements has continued at Mount Etna since 1986. The network now covers an area of 400 km² with about 70 stations 0.5–3 km apart. Mass redistributions occurring at depths ranging between about 8 km below sea level and a few hundred metres below the surface (magma level changes within the shallower parts of the feeding conduits) have been identified from these data. Conventional (discrete) microgravity monitoring on a network of stations furnishes only instantaneous states of the mass distribution at continuously active systems. In order to obtain information on the rate at which the volcanic processes (and thus mass transfers) occur, three stations for continuously recording gravity where installed on Mount Etna in 1998. A 16-month long sequence from one of the continuously running stations (PDN, located 2 km from the active northeast crater at the summit of Etna volcano) is presented. After removing the effects of Earth Tide and tilt, the correlation of the residual gravity sequence with simultaneous recordings of meteorological parameters acquired at the same station was analysed. Once the meteorological effects have also been removed, continuous gravity changes are within 10 μGal of gravity changes measured using conventional microgravity observations at sites very close to the continuous station. This example shows how discrete and continuous gravity observations can be used together at active volcanoes to get a fuller and more accurate picture of the spatial and temporal characteristics of volcanic processes.     

Diurnal and semidiurnal atmospheric tides observed by co-located GPS and VLBI measurements

The tropospheric zenith total delay (ZTD) derived from very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) is an important parameter of the atmosphere, reflecting various atmosphere-related processes and variations. In this paper, ZTD time series of the IVS rapid combined tropospheric product (2002–2006) with a 1-h resolution are used for the first time to investigate the diurnal and semidiurnal oscillations. Significant diurnal and semidiurnal variations of ZTD are found at all VLBI stations. The amplitude of the diurnal cycle S₁ is 0.6–1.2 mm at most of the VLBI stations, and the amplitude of the semidiurnal cycle S₂ is 0.2–1.9 mm, which nearly accord with the surface pressure tides S₁/S₂ and co-located GPS estimated S₁/S₂. The results indicate that the S₁ and S₂ behaviors are mainly dominated by the hydrostatic component, namely pressure tides. In general, the semidiurnal S₂ amplitudes are slightly larger than the diurnal S₁. While S₁ shows no clear dependency on site altitude, S₂ has a regular distribution with VLBI site altitude. The results are in accordance with predictions of the classic tidal theory [Chapman, S., Lindzen, R.S., 1970. Atmospheric Tides, Gordon and Breach, New York].     

超导重力技术在探讨核幔边界黏性特征中的初步应用

旋转椭球型地球的固体地幔与液态地核间相互作用而产生的逆向本征模通常称之为地球自由核章动,自由核章动的品质因子（Q值）能有效反映核幔边界层能量耗散特征,与核幔边界的黏滞度密切相关.本文首次利用全球地球动力学计划网络23个台站27组高密度采样的高精度超导重力仪器观测数据,采用迭积技术,确定了自由核章动参数Q值,进而计算了核幔边界的黏滞系数.数值结果说明获得的核幔边界动力学黏滞系数达到10³ Pa·s量级,与加拿大科学家Smylie等利用VLBI观测资料获得的最新结果一致,这说明重力技术是有效应用于研究地球深内部结构的重要手段之一.     

Free core nutation period inferred from the gravity measurements at Józefosław

The Free Core Nutation (FCN) is an important eigenmode which affects both Earth rotation and body tide. The FCN parameters, the resonance period and the quality factor are important for understanding the dynamics of the Earth at nearly diurnal periods. Those parameters are usually estimated either from the Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations of nutation, or from the tidal gravity measurements. In this paper we investigate the determination of the FCN parameters from gravity records covering a period of more than three years, collected with the use of a LaCoste&Romberg Earth Tide no. 26 gravimeter, located at Józefos?aw observatory near Warsaw. From the resonant enhancements of gravimetric factors and phases of diurnal tidal gravity waves, we could infer the FCN period to be equal to 430 sidereal days. This result is in very good agreement with previous gravimetric and VLBI nutation results, confirming the discrepancy in the dynamic flattening of the outer liquid core from its theoretical value based on the hydrostatic equilibrium assumption. The estimated FCN quality factor (Q ≈ 1300) is considerably smaller than the VLBI nutation result, which confirms that the local gravity measurements are more sensitive than VLBI global analyses to site-dependent phenomena (such as atmospheric and indirect ocean tidal effects). We also investigated the importance of gravimetric corrections in the FCN analysis, including numerical tests and simulations. This allowed us to estimate the uncertainty of FCN parameters due to improper or incomplete set of environmental corrections. We took also into account the impact of gravimetric factor errors and tidal wave selection on estimated FCN parameters. We demonstrated that despite relatively noisy measurements due to unfavorable gravimeter location, we were able to obtain very good results in case when proper correction and tidal wave selection were applied.     

On the determination of satellite coordinates from doppler observations

The basic task of satellite geodesy is the construction of a unified 3 or 4 dimensional world-wide geodetic network. In this frame the station position, the parameters of the Earth's gravity field, and the orbital elements of the observed satellite would be known.The satellite observations by Doppler method are independent of weather and daylight conditions; they can be done fully automatically and no accumulation of errors occurs. For these reasons, the satellite observations by Doppler methods are getting more and more weight.A simple method is given for the determination of the satellite's position using Doppler shifts observed at several stations of known coordinates.     

Stacking of records of nuclear explosions registered by the world network of seismic stations

The methods and results of stacking of seismograms of nuclear explosions registered by the world network of seismic stations from 1980 until 1988 are presented. Stacking of seismograms obtained at one seismic station from the sources located in the same place allows us substantially to increase the useful signal/noise ratio. This, in turn, allows more confident correlation of various seismic waves coming to the seismic stations after the first arrivals, particularly, converted and reflected waves from different boundaries inside the Earth.     

Observations of the solar radio emission with the Callisto spectrometer

In the framework of the program for setting the Callisto spectrometer network into operation, the spectral measurements were carried out at the sites of spectrometer locations in India and Russia in winter 2006. The results achieved at Badary, the site where the Siberian Solar Radio Telescope (SSRT) is located, are presented. The measurements were performed using a broadband log-periodic antenna connected to the Callisto spectrometer developed at the Institute of Astronomy (Zurich). The results of these measurements should explain whether spectral studies at frequencies below 1 GHz can be performed using such antennas or new antennas should be developed. The presented results are compared with the similar results obtained in Switzerland in the frequency intervals of interest for radio astronomy. Concerning electromagnetic noise, Badary is a better site for observing the Sun in the 50–800 MHz frequency range as compared to observatories in Switzerland.     

Incoming solar radiation measurements in Iraq and their presentation

Summary Measurements of the total incoming solar radiation on a horizontal surface have been recorded since 1967 at a network of actinometric stations in Iraq. The instrument used at each of these stations is a bimetallic actinograph of the Robitzsch type. The stations at Mosul, Baghdad and Nasiriya have been selected, to represent respectively the northern, central and southern climatic zones of Iraq.This paper examines from the available records at these stations, until August 1973, the differnt aspects of radiation climatology which are important in solar energy utilizations. The mean annual, monthly and daily radiation; the number of days in which the radiation has exceeded certain given limits and the periods of successive days having radiation less than 100 and 250 cal cm^–2 day^–1 have been studied and presented in tabular and graphical forms suitable for direct application.To architects and engineers interested in the availability of solar radiation on vertical and inclined surfaces, the hourly radiation values for Baghdad have been studied for the different months of the year and the corresponding isopleths on the horizontal have been drawn.     

Recent geophysical investigation at Somma-Vesuvio volcanic complex

Activity at Somma-Vesuvio volcanic area in southern Italy is monitored by seismic stations and periodic geodetic and gravity surveys. The seismic network, which consists at present of four vertical stations and one three-component station, recorded an increase in earthquake activity in 1978 and between November 1988 and March 1989. During the later activity, earthquakes were located in a cluster about 3 km beneath the summit of the volcano. Two tide gauges, two tiltmeters and a recording gravimeter are also operating at Somma-Vesuvio. Yearly levelling surveys are conducted along several closed routes that extend from as much as 6 km from the base of the volcano to the summit area. Survey results reveal no significant ground movement since 1959, except for a slight subsidence around the rim of the summit crater. Gravity changes have been larger than the expected 10 μGal uncertainty of the measurements. The lack of contemporary elevation changes implies that the observed gravity changes are the result of a slight change in density structure. The cone of Somma-Vesuvio has been very stable for the last few decades, showing no indications of a buildup to activity. The lack of surface movement should rule out a magma-supply rate to this volcano at the historic eruptive rate of 0.002 km³/yr.     

Comparison of geomagnetic planetary reference fields over Italy

Geomagnetic field measurements on a network at 106 repeat stations (1/3000 km²), and a second order network at 2550 stations (1/100 km²), were completed in 1981. Total intensity and the horizontal and vertical component of the field were measured at all stations, and in addition declination was measured at the first order stations. Normal fields for each element were computed from the first order network measurements (using a second degree polynomial in latitude and longitude), and comparisons were made for total intensity with 3 planetary reference fields. The use of the polynomial normal normal field is suggested to draw anomaly maps.     

GPS观测到的智利及其邻区多次大地震前后地壳运动

2001年以来,智利及其邻区发生了3次7.1—7.7级和4次8级以上大地震,其震中附近至少有一个甚至多个GPS连续观测站观测到地震前后的地壳运动。从http://geodesy.unr.edu网站可获得GeoffreyBlewitt教授用GIPSY软件处理得到的南美大量GPS连续观测站南美板块（SA）区域参考框架位移时间序列,获得的这些大地震同震、震前位移积累和震后位移,特别是同震水平位移和震前水平位移积累,为探索地震预测,增添了更多有意义的震例。研究表明,这些大地震的同震水平位移也是震前水平位移积累的回跳或弹性回跳,同样也证明了震前存在前兆地壳形变;这些大地震前震中及其附近也无明显的垂直位移积累,由此证明了板块运动或地壳水平运动就是地震成因。尽管东日本和智利近海大地震的构造环境不同,日本2011年9级和智利2010年8.8级巨大地震前的地壳运动都清楚显示太平洋海底扩张。这些地震的同震水平位移回跳或弹性回跳的规律一致,地震成因都是水平挤压。智利多次大地震GPS观测到的最特殊现象是,在2015年8.3级地震震中以北,2010年8.8级地震的同震水平位移量值偏小,且方向异常一致向北,可认为是8.3级地震的前兆形变现象。临近智利的南美地区应是全球最利于地震预测探索的地区之一。      

Tidal loading along a profile Europe-East Africa-South Asia-Australia and the Pacific Ocean

A knowledge of the vertical component of the oceanic tidal load to a precision of at least one microgal is essential for the geophysical exploitation of the high-precision absolute and differential gravity measurements which are being made at ground level and in deep boreholes. On the other hand the ocean load and attraction signal contained in Earth tide gravity measurements can be extracted with a precision which is sufficient to characterize the behaviour of the oceanic tides in different basins and this provides a check of the validity of the presently proposed cotidal maps. The tidal gravity profiles made since 1971 from Europe to Polynesia, through East Africa, Asia and Australia, with correctly intercalibrated gravimeters, comprise information from 91 tidal gravity stations which is used in this paper with this goal in mind.A discussion of all possible sources of error is presented which shows that at the level of 0.5 μgal the observed effects cannot be ascribed to computational or instrumental errors. Cotidal maps which generate computed loads in agreement with the Earth tide gravity measurements over a sufficiently broad area can be used with confidence as a working standard to apply tidal corrections to high-precision measurements made by using new techniques in geodesy, geophysics and geodynamics, satellite altimetry, very long baseline interferometry, Moon and satellite laser ranging and absolute gravity. The recent cotidal maps calculated by Schwiderski for satellite altimetry reductions agree very well with land-based gravimeter observations of the diurnal components of the tides (O₁, K₁ and P₁ waves) but his semi-diurnal component maps (M₂, S₂ and N₂ waves) strangely appear less satisfactory in some large areas. The maps of Hendershott and Parke give good results in several large areas but not everywhere. More detailed investigations are needed not only for several coastal stations but mainly in the Himalayas.     

Integration of space geodesy: A US National Geodetic Observatory

In the interest of improving the performance and efficiency of space geodesy a diverse group in the US, in collaboration with IGGOS, has begun to establish a unified National Geodetic Observatory (NGO). To launch this effort an international team will conduct a multi-year program of research into the technical issues of integrating SLR, VLBI, and GPS geodesy to produce a unified set of global geodetic products. The goal is to improve measurement accuracy by up to an order of magnitude while lowering the cost to current sponsors. A secondary goal is to expand and diversify international sponsorship of space geodesy. Principal benefits will be to open new vistas of research in geodynamics and surface change while freeing scarce NASA funds for scientific studies. NGO will proceed in partnership with, and under the auspices of, the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) as an element of the Integrated Global Geodetic Observation System project. The collaboration will be conducted within, and will make full use of, the IAG's existing international services: the IGS, IVS, ILRS, and IERS. Seed funding for organizational activities and technical analysis will come from NASA's Solid Earth and Natural Hazards Program. Additional funds to develop an integrated geodetic data system known as Inter-service Data Integration for Geodetic Operations (INDIGO), will come from a separate NASA program in Earth science information technology. INDIGO will offer ready access to the full variety of NASA's space geodetic data and will extend the GPS Seamless Archive (GSAC) philosophy to all space geodetic data types.     

The interdisciplinary role of space geodesy—Revisited

In 1988 the interdisciplinary role of space geodesy has been discussed by a prominent group of leaders in the fields of geodesy and geophysics at an international workshop in Erice (Mueller and Zerbini, 1989). The workshop may be viewed as the starting point of a new era of geodesy as a discipline of Earth sciences. Since then enormous progress has been made in geodesy in terms of satellite and sensor systems, observation techniques, data processing, modelling and interpretation. The establishment of a Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) which is currently underway is a milestone in this respect. Wegener served as an important role model for the definition of GGOS. In turn, Wegener will benefit from becoming a regional entity of GGOS.What are the great challenges of the realisation of a 10^?9 global integrated observing system? Geodesy is potentially able to provide – in the narrow sense of the words – “metric and weight” to global studies of geo-processes. It certainly can meet this expectation if a number of fundamental challenges, related to issues such as the international embedding of GGOS, the realisation of further satellite missions and some open scientific questions can be solved. Geodesy is measurement driven. This is an important asset when trying to study the Earth as a system. However its guideline must be: “What are the right and most important observables to deal with the open scientific questions?”.