Stability of the determination of earth rotation parameters (ERP) from VLBI

The observations of theIRIS network are used to study the stability of the determination ofERP fromVLBI. It is concluded that the uncertainties in the initial values ofERP, the errors of other parameters and analyst noise are at the same level as the formal errors in the determination ofERP. The geometric effect on the determination ofERP is important and gives rise to systematic errors. The geometric effect on polar motion is greate than onUT1, and much greater for the continental network. The stability of the determination ofERP fromVLBI can be improved either by creating new stations at reasonable locations in a network or by creating new networks. At last a comparison is provided between the determinations ofERP from theIRIS andTEMPO networks.