Sub-Daily Earth Rotation Parameters and the International GPS Service Orbit/Clock Solution Products

Tidally induced sub-daily Earth Rotation Parameters (ERP) variations, when not properly accounted for, can cause apparent orbit and ERP rate errors, which can significantly exceed the IGS solution errors. All International GPS Service (IGS) Analysis Centers currently apply the conventional sub-daily ERP model in their transformations from ITRF (International Terrestrial Reference Frame) to ICRF (International Celestial Reference Frame), both of which are used for IGS global analyses. However, some IGS Analysis Centers did not apply the sub-daily ERP model when transforming ICRF orbit solutions to ITRF, which is used for IGS orbit/clock products. This transformation inconsistency can cause significant orbit RMS differences that could exceed the 5-cm level. Independent ERP rate solutions are sensitive even to small errors in the sub-daily ERP model, and can be used to verify the sub-daily ERP model at, or below 0.1 mas/day precision level.The Precise Point Positioning (PPP) via precise station position solutions with the IGS orbit/clock combined products, provides an ideal interface to access the IGS realization of ITRF. PPP also yields precise station clock and tropospheric zenith delays (TZD) solutions, all at the sub-cm precision level. However, when using IGS orbit/clock products it is important that the same convention be used with respect to sub-daily ERP. Otherwise, the solutions of station navigation positions, station clocks and TZD's will be affected by significant errors that could exceed the 1-cm level.     

Complex demodulation in VLBI estimation of high frequency Earth rotation components

The spectrum of high frequency Earth rotation variations contains strong harmonic signal components mainly excited by ocean tides along with much weaker non-harmonic fluctuations driven by irregular processes like the diurnal thermal tides in the atmosphere and oceans. In order to properly investigate non-harmonic phenomena a representation in time domain is inevitable. We present a method, operating in time domain, which is easily applicable within Earth rotation estimation from Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI). It enables the determination of diurnal and subdiurnal variations, and is still effective with merely diurnal parameter sampling. The features of complex demodulation are used in an extended parameterization of polar motion and universal time which was implemented into a dedicated version of the Vienna VLBI Software VieVS. The functionality of the approach was evaluated by comparing amplitudes and phases of harmonic variations at tidal periods (diurnal/semidiurnal), derived from demodulated Earth rotation parameters (ERP), estimated from hourly resolved VLBI ERP time series and taken from a recently published VLBI ERP model to the terms of the conventional model for ocean tidal effects in Earth rotation recommended by the International Earth Rotation and Reference System Service (IERS). The three sets of tidal terms derived from VLBI observations extensively agree among each other within the three-sigma level of the demodulation approach, which is below 6 μas for polar motion and universal time. They also coincide in terms of differences to the IERS model, where significant deviations primarily for several major tidal terms are apparent. An additional spectral analysis of the as well estimated demodulated ERP series of the ter- and quarterdiurnal frequency bands did not reveal any significant signal structure. The complex demodulation applied in VLBI parameter estimation could be demonstrated a suitable procedure for the reliable reproduction of high frequency Earth rotation components and thus represents a qualified tool for future studies of irregular geophysical signals in ERP measured by space geodetic techniques.     

顾及有效角动量与IGS超快解数据的极移预报方法

极移高精度预报对卫星实时定轨、深空探测器导航等应用至关重要.本文提出了一种联合有效角动量(Effective Angular Momentum, EAM)与国际全球卫星导航系统服务组织(International GNSS Service, IGS)提供的超快解数据进行极移预报的方法.该方法基于IGS超快解数据得到的极移第1天预报值, 对引入EAM得到的极移预报结果进行校正, 获得联合预报值.首先, 基于LS(Least Squares)+AR(Auto-Regressive)模型实现了引入EAM的极移预报, 相对国际地球自转与参考系统服务组织(International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service, IERS)提供的公报A数据, 在超短期(第1~10天)预报跨度可以得到更高精度的极移预报结果, 其中大气和海洋角动量发挥了主要作用.其次, 鉴于IGS超快解数据精度高、更新快的特点, 以IGS超快解为基础数据, 基于LS+AR模型可以得到极移第1天预报值, 其精度显著优于IERS公报A的极移第1天预报值.最后, 利用第1天预报值对顾及有效角动量的预报结果进行校正获得了联合预报值, 进一步提高了超短期极移预报精度(尤其是第1~5天).2020年7月24日—2022年1月30日间的联合预报结果表明: 第1~20天的预报值总体优于IERS公报A的预报值.其中, 第1~10天的预报精度显著提升, 在预报第1天, X、Y方向预报值相对公报A预报值的精度提升分别可达39.5%~62.3%和24.5%~51.9%;在预报第10天, 相对公报A预报值的精度提升分别可达28.0%~28.9%和21.9%~23.4%.

     

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。     

The International Latitude Service – A Historical Review, From The Beginning To Its Foundation In 1899 And The Period Until 1922

The study of Polar Motion (PM) is associated withthe work of the InternationalLatitude Service (ILS), the International PolarMotion Service (IPMS) and theBureau International de l'Heure (BIH), andthen the International Earth RotationService (IERS). After reviewing briefly thehistory of early PM research, thescientific objective of the ILS including itsrealizing, and the activities of all thecited services and giving information on thePM time series available from mid-19thcentury to the present, important details onthe events and results are presentedover the period until 1922. It is shown, inwhich way the Geodetic Institute Potsdamcontributed to the foundation of the ILS andtook part in its activities through thework of Helmert, Albrecht, Wanach and Mahnkopf.Based on international scientificcooperation, the results were the rectangularcoordinates of the Polar Motion from1890.0 to 1922.7 at 0.1 year intervals, inparticular those derived from the latitudeobservations at independent stations from 1890.0to 1899.8, and those derived fromthe latitude observations at the ILS stationsfrom 1899.9 to 1922.7.     

The Integrated Global Geodetic Observing System (IGGOS) viewed from the perspective of history

Towards the end of the 19th century, geodetic observation techniques allowed it to create geodetic networks of continental size. The insight that big networks can only be set up through international collaboration led to the establishment of an international collaboration called “Central European Arc Measurement”, the predecessor of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), in 1864. The scope of IAG activities was extended already in the 19th century to include gravity.At the same time, astrometric observations could be made with an accuracy of a few tenths of an arcsecond. The accuracy stayed roughly on this level, till the space age opened the door for milliarcsecond (mas) astrometry. Astrometric observations allowed it at the end of the 19th century to prove the existence of polar motion. The insight that polar motion is almost unpredictable led to the establishment of the International Latitude Service (ILS) in 1899.The IAG and the ILS were the tools (a) to establish and maintain the terrestrial and the celestial reference systems, including the transformation parameters between the two systems, and (b) to determine the Earth's gravity field.Satellite-geodetic techniques and astrometric radio-interferometric techniques revolutionized geodesy in the second half of the 20th century. Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) and methods based on the interferometric exploitation of microwave signals (stemming from Quasars and/or from satellites) allow it to realize the celestial reference frame with (sub-)mas accuracy, the global terrestrial reference frame with (sub-)cm accuracy, and to monitor the transformation between the systems with a high time resolution and (sub-)mas accuracy. This development led to the replacement of the ILS through the IERS, the International Earth Rotation Service in 1989.In the pre-space era, the Earth's gravity field could “only” be established by terrestrial methods. The determination of the Earth's gravitational field was revolutionized twice in the space era, first by observing geodetic satellites with optical, Laser, and Doppler techniques, secondly by implementing a continuous tracking with spaceborne GPS receivers in connection with satellite gradiometry. The sequence of the satellite gravity missions CHAMP, GRACE, and GOCE allow it to name the first decade of the 21st century the “decade of gravity field determination”.The techniques to establish and monitor the geometric and gravimetric reference frames are about to reach a mature state and will be the prevailing geodetic tools of the following decades. It is our duty to work in the spirit of our forefathers by creating similarly stable organizations within IAG with the declared goal to produce the geometric and gravimetric reference frames (including their time evolution) with the best available techniques and to make accurate and consistent products available to wider Earth sciences community as a basis for meaningful research in global change. IGGOS, the Integrated Global Geodetic Observing System, is IAG's attempt to achieve these goals. It is based on the well-functioning and well-established network of IAG services.     

A Possible Detection of the 26 December 2004 Great Sumatra-Andaman Islands Earthquake with Solution Products of the International GNSS Service

The main goal of this work is to critically review the IGS solution products and Precise Point Positioning (PPP) in order to demonstrate their potential to contribute to studies of large earthquakes such as the one that devastated Southeast Asia on December 26th, 2004. In view of a possible detection of the Mw 9.0 Sumatra-Andaman Islands Earthquake of December 26, 2004, position solutions, ranging from intervals of years to one second, of four International GNSS Service (IGS) stations within 3000 km of the epicenter were examined. The IGS combined, cumulative solution product (IGS04P51), consisting of epoch and station velocity solutions and based on data spans of several years prior to the earthquake, was used as a reference. Four IGS combined weekly position solutions (igs04P1301-4), two weeks before and after the earthquake, were utilized for the weekly solution resolution. PPP static and kinematic solutions with IGS Final combined orbits and clocks were used for the mean daily and instantaneous 5-min and 1-sec epoch solutions, respectively. The most significant changes, detected by both weekly and daily solutions occurred in longitude. The nearest IGS station ntus, about 1000 km east of the epicenter, moved westward about 15 mm, while the more distant Indian station iisc (∼ 2300 km NW from the epicenter), shifted about 15 mm eastward. In spite of position errors caused by interpolation of the 5-min IGS clocks, the 1-sec solutions, based on separate data sets, available only for two stations (iisc, dgar), still showed seismic surface waves, in particular at the Indian station iisc. Precise daily IGS combined polar motion and length-of-day products, after correcting for the atmospheric effects, also likely detected, statistically significant, anomalistic excitations on December 26, 2004 that could be caused by this great earthquake.     

Tectonic plates parameters estimated in International Terrestrial Reference Frame ITRF2008 based on DORIS stations

This paper concerns an analysis of the accuracy of the estimated parameters Ω (Φ, Λ, ω) which define the tectonic plate motions. The study is based on the velocities of station positions in the IERS (International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service) which has published new realization of the International Terrestrial Reference System—ITRF2008 for Doppler Orbitography by Radiopositioning Integrated on Satellite DORIS technique. Eurasian, African, Australian, North American, Australian, Pacific, Antarctic and South American plates were used in the analysis. The influence of the number and localization of stations on the plate surface on the estimation accuracy of the tectonic plate motion parameters were discussed. The results were compared with the APKIM 2005 IGN model and our earlier estimation for the SLR technique. In general, a remarkable concurrent agreement between the present and the APKIM 2005 solutions was found.     

The Integrated Global Geodetic Observing System (IGGOS) viewed from the perspective of history

Towards the end of the 19th century, geodetic observation techniques allowed it to create geodetic networks of continental size. The insight that big networks can only be set up through international collaboration led to the establishment of an international collaboration called “Central European Arc Measurement”, the predecessor of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), in 1864. The scope of IAG activities was extended already in the 19th century to include gravity.At the same time, astrometric observations could be made with an accuracy of a few tenths of an arcsecond. The accuracy stayed roughly on this level, till the space age opened the door for milliarcsecond (mas) astrometry. Astrometric observations allowed it at the end of the 19th century to prove the existence of polar motion. The insight that polar motion is almost unpredictable led to the establishment of the International Latitude Service (ILS) in 1899.The IAG and the ILS were the tools (a) to establish and maintain the terrestrial and the celestial reference systems, including the transformation parameters between the two systems, and (b) to determine the Earth's gravity field.Satellite-geodetic techniques and astrometric radio-interferometric techniques revolutionized geodesy in the second half of the 20th century. Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) and methods based on the interferometric exploitation of microwave signals (stemming from Quasars and/or from satellites) allow it to realize the celestial reference frame with (sub-)mas accuracy, the global terrestrial reference frame with (sub-)cm accuracy, and to monitor the transformation between the systems with a high time resolution and (sub-)mas accuracy. This development led to the replacement of the ILS through the IERS, the International Earth Rotation Service in 1989.In the pre-space era, the Earth's gravity field could “only” be established by terrestrial methods. The determination of the Earth's gravitational field was revolutionized twice in the space era, first by observing geodetic satellites with optical, Laser, and Doppler techniques, secondly by implementing a continuous tracking with spaceborne GPS receivers in connection with satellite gradiometry. The sequence of the satellite gravity missions CHAMP, GRACE, and GOCE allow it to name the first decade of the 21st century the “decade of gravity field determination”.The techniques to establish and monitor the geometric and gravimetric reference frames are about to reach a mature state and will be the prevailing geodetic tools of the following decades. It is our duty to work in the spirit of our forefathers by creating similarly stable organizations within IAG with the declared goal to produce the geometric and gravimetric reference frames (including their time evolution) with the best available techniques and to make accurate and consistent products available to wider Earth sciences community as a basis for meaningful research in global change. IGGOS, the Integrated Global Geodetic Observing System, is IAG's attempt to achieve these goals. It is based on the well-functioning and well-established network of IAG services.     

The International Laser Ranging Service and its support for IGGOS

The International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS) was established in September 1998 as a service within the IAG to support programs in geodetic, geophysical, and lunar research activities and to provide data products to the International Earth Rotation Service (IERS) in support of its prime objectives. Now in operation for 5 years, the ILRS develops: (1) the standards and specifications necessary for product consistency and (2) the priorities and tracking strategies required to maximize network efficiency. The service collects, merges, analyzes, archives and distributes satellite and lunar laser ranging data to satisfy a variety of scientific, engineering, and operational needs and encourages the application of new technologies to enhance the quality, quantity, and cost effectiveness of its data products. The ILRS works with: (1) the global network to improve station performance; (2) new satellite missions in the design and building of retroreflector targets to maximize data quality and quantity and (3) science programs to optimize scientific data yield. The ILRS Central Bureau maintains a comprehensive web site as the primary vehicle for the distribution of information within the ILRS community. The site, which can be accessed at: http://ilrs.gsfc.nasa.gov is also available at mirrored sites at the Communications Research Laboratory (CRL) in Tokyo and the European Data Center (EDC) in Munich.During the last 2 years, the ILRS has addressed very important challenges: (1) data from the field stations are now submitted hourly and made available immediately through the data centers for access by the user community; (2) tracking on low satellites has been significantly improved through the sub-daily issue of predictions, drag functions, and the real-time exchange of time biases; (3) analysis products are now submitted in SINEX format for compatibility with the other space geodesy techniques; (4) the Analysis Working Group is heavily engaged in Pilot Projects as it works toward an ILRS “standard” global solution and (5) SLR has significantly increased its participation in the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) activity, which is important to the success of IGGOS.     

Development of an Information and Database System for the IERS: Status and outlook

The focus of this paper is to present the concepts for a new dynamic, i.e. database-driven information system for the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS). Its goal is to coordinate the data and information flow between the participating institutions. Therefore, all relevant data and products of the IERS should be archived to guarantee their long-term availability. At the same time the consistency and timeliness of the contents of the information system can be guaranteed by managing the information in a database. Additionally, the metadata of all products (including the IERS publications) should be modelled in a database to allow the users to search for specific data or topics with respect to space, time and content. In order to be able to link related data the heterogeneous formats of the products have to be transformed into a common format. The eXtensible Markup Language (XML) is going to be used, to perform this ambitious task. The usage of XML not only allows to link related data but also to easily exchange data and to present them in different ways like Web pages, pdf, etc. The system will be completed by several tools to manage and coordinate the tasks of the Central Bureau (CB) and by an information system with respect to IERS-related topics. The standardised database tools will also allow an easy exchange of information with and links to other databases within the IGGOS project to realize a powerful instrument to serve the Earth observing system.     

Measuring Seismic Waves Induced by Large Earthquakes with GPS

Independent GPS position solutions at 1-sec interval, derived from the International GPS Service (IGS) data and orbit÷clock products, clearly show seismic waves generated by the magnitude 7.9 Denali Fault, Alaska earthquake of November 3, 2002. Surface seismic waves with periods of about 20 sec and amplitudes of up to 20 cm were detected up to 4,000 km from the epicenter. This confirms the previous findings reported by Larson et al. (2003); we use additional station data along with different processing software and strategies. The seismic waves from the May 26, 2003 magnitude 7.0 Japanese earthquake were also observed in the 1-sec position solution series at station MIZU, about 80 km from the epicenter. This earthquake, however, could not be detected by GPS at station USUD, about 410 km away. Similarly, the Algerian May 21, 2003 earthquake of magnitude 6.8 could not be detected by GPS at the nearest IGS station located approximately 800 km from the epicenter.     

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     

Evaluation of evapotranspiration models over semi‐arid and semi‐humid areas of China

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a critical component in the hydrological cycle. However, its actual values appear to be difficult to obtain, especially in areas in which precipitation has high inter‐annual variability. Here, we evaluated eight commonly used ET models in semi‐arid and semi‐humid areas of China. The order of overall performance from best to worst is as follows: the revised Priestley–Taylor model (PT‐JPL, 0.71, 1.65 [18.37%], 4.72 [49.19%]) a a Statistics (model abbreviation, coefficient of determination, bias [relative value], standard deviation [relative value]).
, the modified PT‐JPL model (M1‐PT‐JPL, 0.67, ?0.68 [7.56%], 3.87 [40.31%]), the Community Land Model (CLM, 0.68, ?2.52 [28.01%], 5.10 [53.17%]), the modified PT‐JPL model (M2‐PT‐JPL, 0.63, 0.57 [6.27%], 5.04 [52.52%]), the revised Penman–Monteith model (RS‐PM, 0.62, 3.56 [37.40%], 6.11 [63.68%]), an empirical model (Wang, 0.59, ?1.04 [11.57%], 5.61 [58.43%]), the advection‐aridity model (AA, 0.55, 5.56 [61.78%], 7.45 [77.60%]), and the energy balance model (SEBS, 0.35, 5.11 [56.72%], 9.43 [98.18%]). The performance of all of the models is comparably poor in winter and summer, except for the PT‐JPL model, and relatively good in spring and autumn. Because of the vegetation control on ET, the Wang, RS‐PM, PT‐JPL, M1‐PT‐JPL, and M2‐PT‐JPL models perform better for cropland, whereas the AA model, SEBS model and CLM perform better for grassland. The CLM, PT‐JPL, and Wang models perform better in semi‐arid region than in semi‐humid region, whereas the opposite is true for SEBS and RS‐PM. The AA, M1‐PT‐JPL, and M2‐PT‐JPL models perform similarly in semi‐arid and semi‐humid regions. When considering the inter‐annual variability in precipitation, the Wang model has relatively good performance under only some annual precipitation conditions; the performance of the PT‐JPL and AA models is reduced under conditions of high precipitation; the two modified PT‐JPL models inherited the steady performance of the PT‐JPL model and improved the performance under conditions of high annual precipitation by the modification of the soil moisture constraint. RS‐PM is more appropriate for humid conditions. CLM and PT‐JPL models could be effectively applied to all precipitation conditions because of their good performance across a wide annual precipitation range. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

武汉大学IGS电离层分析中心全球电离层产品精度评估与分析

2016年2月,武汉大学卫星导航定位技术研究中心（Wuhan University,WHU）正式成为新的国际GNSS服务组织（International GNSS Services,IGS）电离层联合分析中心（Ionosphere Associate Analysis Center,IAAC）.本文首次系统地评估和分析了武汉大学IGS电离层分析中心自2016年日常化运行以来（2016年1月到2018年9月,太阳活动低年）的全球电离层产品的精度,并与其他六家IAACs（CODE、JPL、ESA、UPC、EMR和CAS）进行了比较分析.结果表明：WHU的全球电离层产品能够长期稳定且有效地监测全球电离层总电子含量（Total Electron Content,TEC）的时空变化;和IGS综合全球电离层产品比较,WHU的模型均方根误差和CODE、JPL相差不大,均值约为1.4 TECU,产品一致性优于其他IAACs;和GPS实测电离层TEC比较,WHU的模型内符合精度和CODE基本相当,均值约为1.4 TECU,且与电离层活动水平和地理纬度存在显著的相关性;和Jason-2测高卫星VTEC比较,WHU的全球电离层产品的系统性偏差均值约为-0.7 TECU,在不同纬度约为-3.0到1.0 TECU,且与地理纬度存在近似抛物线函数的关系;WHU的模型外符合精度和CODE、JPL以及CAS基本一致,均值约为2.9 TECU,且在中高纬度地区优于低纬度地区,北半球优于南半球.

     

Cyclic variations in the Earth’s flattening and questions of seismotectonics

For more than a decade, the global network of GPS stations whose measurements are part of the International GPS Service (IGS) have been recording cyclic variations in the radius vector of the geodetic ellipsoid with a period of one year and amplitude of ~10 mm. The analysis of the figure of the Earth carried out by us shows that the observed variations in the vertical component of the Earth’s surface displacements can induce small changes in the flattening of the Earth’s figure which are, in turn, caused by the instability of the Earth’s rotation. The variations in the angular velocity and flattening of the Earth change the kinetic energy of the Earth’s rotation. The additional energy is ~10²¹ J. The emerging variations in the flattening of the Earth’s ellipsoid lead to changes in the surface area of the Earth’s figure, cause the development of deformations in rocks, accumulation of damage, activation of seismotectonic processes, and preparation of earthquakes. It is shown that earthquakes can be caused by the instability of the Earth’s rotation which induces pulsations in the shape of the Earth and leads to the development of alternating-sign deformations in the Earth’s solid shell.     

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.     

Assessment of GPS data for meteorological applications over Africa: Study of error sources and analysis of positioning accuracy

The aim of this study is to assess the availability and quality of data from the International GNSS Service (IGS) Global Positioning System (GPS) network in Africa, especially for retrieving zenith tropospheric delay (ZTD), from which precipitable water vapour (PWV) can be derived, in view of application to the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA) project. Three major error sources for the GPS data analysis evaluating PWV in Africa are the accuracy of the satellite orbits, the correction for the radio delay induced by the ionosphere and the vertical site displacements due to ocean loading. The first part of this study examines these error sources and the validity of GPS data for meteorological applications in Africa in dedicated analyses spanning the year 2001. These analyses were performed using the IGS precise orbits. Weak degradation of baseline precision with increasing baseline lengths suggests that the average orbital error is not limiting the GPS analysis in Africa. The impact of the ionosphere has been evaluated during a maximum of solar activity in 2001. The loss of L₂ data has actually been observed. It amounts to 2% on average for 2001, with maxima of 8% during magnetic storm events. A slight decrease in formal accuracy of ZTD seems to be related to the loss of L₂ data at the end of the day. This indicates that scintillation effects are present in the GPS observations but however are not a major limitation. The impact of ocean loading is found to be significant on ZTD estimates (up to ±2 mm in equivalent PWV). The use of a proper ocean loading model eliminates this effect.The second aspect of this study concerns the IGS analysis quality for the African stations. The accuracy has been assessed through position dispersion between individual solutions and the most recent version of the IGS combined solution IGb00, and residuals from the transformation of the IGS combined solution into the International Terrestrial Reference Frame 2005. The positioning performance of the IGS analysis is consistent with an accuracy in ZTD of ±6 mm (±1 mm in PWV), as requested for meteorological applications such as planned in AMMA.     

国际GNSS服务组织全球电离层TEC格网精度评估与分析

国际GNSS服务组织（International GNSS Services,IGS）发布的全球电离层TEC格网（Global Ionospheric Map,GIM）是利用GNSS进行电离层研究的主要数据源之一.IGS电离层工作组于2016年2月正式授予中国科学院为全球第五个电离层数据分析中心,由测量与地球物理研究所和光电研究院联合实施.本文系统地总结和展示了IGS电离层工作组对各分析中心GIM评估的结果;此次评估以基准站实测电离层TEC、测高卫星电离层TEC为参考,给出了各分析中心1998-2015年GIM的总体性能.结果显示：随着IGS基准站日益增多,各分析中心GIM内符合精度由4.5~7.0TECu提升至2.5~3.5TECu;不同分析中心GIM一致性从3.0~4.5TECu提升至2.0~3.5TECu;相对于测高卫星电离层数据,CODE、CAS、JPL和UPC分析中心的GIM精度相对较高（约4.0~4.5TECu）,但是在不同测高卫星评估结果之间存在不同的系统性偏差.