Realisation of a celestial system based on VLBI geodynamics programs

The relative orientations of various VLBI celestial reference frames are evaluated on the basis of coordinate differences of common sources. It is shown that an accuracy better than 0.001 can be achieved. Possible regional deformations in the different catalogues are investigated; they are found to reach a few 0.001 in some restricted zones. The application of these studies to the realisation of a combined celestial reference frame consistent with the BIH Terrestrial System is outlined.     

Could the energy near the FCN and the FICN be explained by luni-solar or atmospheric forcing?

The observed time-series of precession/nutation show residuals with respect to an empirical model based on the rigid Earth theoretical nutations and a frequency dependent transfer function with resonances to the Earth's normal modes. These residuals display energy mainly in the frequency domain around 430 and 500 days in the inertial frame. In this frequency band, the energy is possibly related to two normalmode frequencies: the free core nutation (FCN) and the free inner core nutation (FICN). In this paper, we examine the possibility of obtaining this energy from the resonance effect induced by a luni-solar (or planetary) forcing, or by an atmospheric forcing at a frequency very close to these Earth free nutations. The amplification factor due to the resonance is computed from an analytical formula expressed in the case of a simplified three-layer ellipsoidal rotating earth (with an elastic inner core, a liquid outer core and an elastic mantle), as well as the empirical formula based on the analysis of VLBI observations. For the tidal forcing, the theoretical results do not show any resonance at the level of precision we have examined but it is still possible to find one frequency near the FCN or FICN frequencies which could be excited. In contrast, for the atmospheric pressure the level of energy needed could be obtained from the diurnal pressure, depending on the noise level of the Earth's global pressure. We also show that the combination of three waves can explain the observed decrease of energy with time. While the tidal potential amplitudes are too small, a pressure noise level of 0.5 Pa would be sufficient to excite these waves.     

Determination of the earth rotation parameters from optical astrometry observations, 1962.0–1982.0

The optical astrometric data of the years 1962–1982 have been reduced once again at the Bureau International de l’Heure (BIH) in order to redetermine the Earth Rotation Parameters (ERP). This new reduction is based on serie largely revised by the stations since their use in the operational work of theBIH, and on some series which were not available previously. A total of 113 stations is considered, totaling nearly 500,000 measurements of time or latitude. TheERP are determined at five-day intervals. A new approach is developed: the catalog and local errors are analysed and corrected as group unknowns, which values are adjusted together with the main unknowns. The results obtained in the new reduction are compared to other series obtained by astrometry and space geodesy.     

A comparative analysis of Vondrak and Gaussian smoothing techniques

Summary Smoothing time series of measurements is usually employed to remove high frequency noise when it is necessary to interpolate them for dates where no measurements are available, and also in an attempt to free the series from their short-term instability in order to provide an improved representation of the measured quantity. Two methods are currently used in connection with the Earth's rotation studies: Vondrak's algorithm and a moving average with a Gaussian weighting function [Gaussian smoothing). This study describes their behaviour in terms of frequency filtering and of the response in the time domain. Examples of their application to the Earth Rotation Parameters are given.     

Concepts and methods of the Central Bureau of the International Earth Rotation Service

Foreword The International Earth Rotation Service (IERS) was organized by the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics and the International Astronomical Union. It started operation on 1988 January 1. Its responsabilities and activities are described in the Geodesist's Handbook (1988). The Central Bureau ofIERS is operated by a scientific team established in cooperation by Observatoire de Paris, Institut Géographique National and Bureau des Longitudes. This team was selected in 1987 on the basis of the present document which describes in some detail the concepts and methods for establishing and maintaining celestial and terrestrial reference frames for Earth orientation monitoring (polar motion, universal time, precession/nutation). The work of the Central Bureau is based on these concepts and methods, not withstanding future evolution made possible by the improvements in observations and theories.     

Considerations concerning the non-rigid Earth nutation theory

This paper presents the reflections of the Working Group of which the tasks were to examine the non-rigid Earth nutation theory. To this aim, six different levels have been identified: Level 1 concerns the input model (giving profiles of the Earth's density and theological properties) for the calculation of the Earth's transfer function of Level 2; Level 2 concerns the integration inside the Earth in order to obtain the Earth's transfer function for the nutations at different frequencies; Level 3 concerns the rigid Earth nutations; Level 4 examines the convolution (products in the frequency domain) between the Earth's nutation transfer function obtained in Level 2, and the rigid Earth nutation (obtained in Level 3). This is for an Earth without ocean and atmosphere; Level 5 concerns the effects of the atmosphere and the oceans on the precession, obliquity rate, and nutations; Level 6 concerns the comparison with the VLBI observations, of the theoretical results obtained in Level 4, corrected for the effects obtained in Level 5.Each level is discussed at the state of the art of the developments.     

The excitation of the Chandler wobble

The cause- or causes-of the excitation of the Chandler wobble is one of the most intriguing problems in geophysics. As a result of one of the most valuable examples of an international programme, the positions of the pole have been determined since the late 19th century with remarkable accuracy. These data have always been accepted as of great importance in the study of the atmosphere, oceans and solid Earth. Recently, new techniques have greatly improved the accuracy with which the polar motion can be determined. Interpretation of the older data was made much more difficult because of their errors-for example the interesting suggestion that earthquakes were a cause of the excitation (by D. E. Smylie and L. Manshinha) could not be tested because their effects, if any, were lost in the noise. With the great improvement in the data it is now possible to suppose that comparable advances will be made in the theoretical interpretation. A discussion meeting at the Royal Astronomical Society on 8 May, 1987 on this topic was held and the following gives a short survey of this topic, consisting of brief summaries given by the speakers. This review is therefore a collective one which it is hoped will make more widely known these great technical advances and to fundamental interest of the phenomena of thepolar motion.     

The introduction of the Iau 1980 nutation theory in the computation of the Earth Rotation Parameters by the Bureau International de l'Heure

Summary The status of nutation theory in the computation of the Earth Rotation Parameters from the different observational techniques is reviewed. The impact on the combined solution of the Bureau International de l'Heure is evaluated. In view of the improvement brought by the IAU 1980 Nutation Theory, its introduction in the BIH publications, without waiting for the adoption by the astronomical ephemerides (1984 Jan. 1) is decided.