Jan Kouba

Precise Point Positioning Using IGS Orbit and Clock Products

The contribution details a post-processing approach that used undifferentiated dual-frequency pseudorange and carrier phase observations along with IGS procise orbit products, for stand-alone precise geodetic point positioning (static or kinematic) with cm precision. This is possible if one takes advantage of the satellite clock estimates available with the satellite coordinates in the IGS precise orbit products and models systematic effects that cause cm variations in the satelite to user range. This paper will describe the approach, summarize the adjustment procedure, and specify the earth- and space-based models that must be implementetd to achieve cm-level positioning in static mode. Furthermore, station tropospheric zenth path delays with cm precision and GPS receiver clock estimates procise to 0.1 ns are also obtained.

The International GPS Service (IGS): An interdisciplinary service in support of Earth sciences

Abstract Since 21 June 1992 the International GPS Service (IGS) produces and makes available uninterrupted time series of its products, in particular GPS observations from the IGS Global Network, GPS orbits, Earth orientation parameters (components x and y of polar motion, length of day), satellite and receiver clock information, and station coordinates and velocities. At a later stage the IGS started exploiting its network for atmosphere monitoring, in particular for ionosphere mapping and for troposphere monitoring. This is why new IGS products encompass ionosphere maps and tropospheric zenith delays, both with a very high temporal resolution. This development will be even more pronounced through the advent of many space-missions carrying GPS, or combined GPS/GLONASS receivers for various purposes. The achievements of the IGS are only possible through a unique voluntary cooperation of a great number of active organizations. This article gives an informative overview for the broader scientific community of the spectrum of problems that is addressed today using IGS/GPS techniques.

New IGS Station and Satellite Clock Combination

Following the principles set forth in the Position Paper #3 at the 1998 Darmstadt Analysis Center (AC) Workshop on the new International GPS Service (IGS) International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) realization and discussions at the 1999 La Jolla AC workshop, a new clock combination program was developed. The program allows for the input of both SP3 and the new clock (RINEX) format (ftp://igsch.jpl.nasa.gov//igscb/data/format/rinex_clock.txt). The main motivation for this new development is the realization of the goals of the IGS/BIPM timing project. Besides this there is a genuine interest in station clocks and a need for a higher sampling rate of the IGS clocks (currently limited to 15 min due to the SP3 format). The inclusion of station clocks should also allow for a better alignment of the individual AC solutions and should enable the realization of a stable GPS time-scale.For each input AC clock solution the new clock combination solves and corrects for reference clock errors/instabilities as well as satellite/station biases, geocenter and station/satellite orbit errors. External station clock calibrations and/or constraints, such as those resulting from the IGS/BIPM timing pilot project, can be introduced via a subset of the fiducial timing station set, to facilitate a precise and consistent IGS UTC realization for both station and satellite combined clock solutions. Furthermore, the new clock combination process enforces strict strict conformity and consistency with the current and future IGS standards.The new clock combination maintains orbit/clock consistency at millimeter level, which is comparable to the best AC orbit/clock solutions. This is demonstrated by static GIPSY precise point positioning tests using GPS week 0995 data for stations in both Northern and Southern Hemispheres and similar tests with the Bernese software using more recent data from GPS week 1081.

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.

GEOIDAL GEOPOTENTIAL AND WORLD HEIGHT SYSTEM

The geoidal geopotential value of W0= 62 636 856.0 ± 0.5m2s−2, determined from the 1993 –1998 TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter data, can be used to practically define and realize the World Height System. The W0-value can also uniquely define the geoidal surface and is required for a number of applications, including General Relativity in precise time keeping and time definitions. Furthermore, the W0-value provides a scale parameter for the Earth that is independent of the tidal reference system. All of the above qualities make the geoidal potential W0ideally suited for official adoption as one of the fundamental constants, replacing the currently adopted semi-major axis a of the mean Earth ellipsoid. Vertical shifts of the Local Vertical Datum (LVD) origins can easily be determined with respect to the World Height System (defined by W0), in using the recent EGM96 gravity model and ellipsoidal height observations (e.g. GPS) at levelling points. Using this methodology the LVD vertical displacements for the NAVD88 (North American Vertical Datum 88), NAP (Normaal Amsterdams Peil), AMD (Australian Height Datum), KHD (Kronstadt Height Datum), and N60 (Finnish Height Datum) were determined with respect to the proposed World Height System as follows: −55.1 cm, −11.0 cm, +42.4 cm, −11.1 cm and +1.8 cm, respectively.

Combining the orbits of the IGS Analysis Centers

Currently seven Analysis Centers of the International GPS Service for Geodynamics (IGS) are producing daily precise orbits and the corresponding Earth Orientation Parameters (EOP). These individual products are available at several IGS Data Centers (e.g. CDDIS, IGN, SIO, etc.). During 1993 no official IGS orbits were produced, but the routine orbit comparisons by IGS indicated that, after small orientation and scale alignments, the orbit consistency was approaching the 20 cm level (a coordinate RMS), and that some orbit combination should be possible and feasible. An IGS combined orbit could provide a precise and efficient extension of the IERS Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF). Another advantage of such a combined orbit would be reliability and precision.Two schemes of orbit combinations are considered here: (a) the first method consists of a weighted averaging process of the earth-fixed satellite positions as produced by the individual Centers; (b) the second method uses the individual IGS orbit files as pseudo-observations in an orbit determination process, where in addition to the initial conditions, different parameter sets may be estimated. Both orbit combination methods have been tested on the January 1993 orbit data sets (GPS weeks 680 and 681) with an impressive agreement at the 5 cm level (coordinate RMS). The quality of the combined orbits is checked by processing a set of continental baselines in two different regions of the globe using different processing softwares. Both types of combined orbits gave similar baseline repeatability of a few ppb in both regions which compared favorably to the best individual orbits in the region.

Determination of Geopotential Differences between Local Vertical Datums and Realization of a World Height System

The methodology developed for connecting Local Vertical Datums (LVD) was applied to the Australian Height Datum (AHD) and the North American Vertical Datum (NAVD88). The geopotential values at AHD and NAVD88 were computed and the corresponding vertical offset of 974 mm with rms 51 mm was obtained between the zero reference surfaces defined by AHD and NAVD88. The solution is based on the four primary geodetic parameters, the GPS/levelling sites and the geopotential model EGM96. The Global Height System (or the Major Vertical Datum) can be defined by a geoidal geopotential value used in the solution as the reference value, or by the geopotential value of the LVD, e.g. NAVD88.

IGS Earth Rotation Parameters

Since its official start in January 1994, the International GPS Service (IGS) has been distributing, as part of its product combination, two distinct Earth rotation parameter (ERP) series: the IGS Rapid series and the IGS Final series. Initially, the IGS Rapid ERP values were interpolations of the International Earth Rotation Service (IERS) Bulletin A, whereas the IGS Final ERP series was based on the IERS Bulletin B. Since June 1996, the IGS has been generating its own Final ERP series consistent with the IGS combined orbit products and based on weighted means of individual IGS analysis center (AC) solutions. At first, only the polar motion (PM) coordinates and their rates were combined. Length of Day (LOD) and Universal Time (UT) solutions, also based on separate weighted mean combinations, followed in March 1997. Currently, the IGS Rapid and Final combinations are produced and made available within 17 hours and 11 days, respectively, after the last observation. Both IGS and the best AC series are consistent and precise at the 0.1-milliarcsecond (mas) level for PM and at about 30 μs for LOD. Biases in some AC solutions may exceed these consistency levels. Comparisons of both IGS ERP series with external standards, such as the IERS multitechnique Bulletins and atmospheric angular momentum series, confirm the estimated precisions.

A Discussion of IGS Solutions and Their Impact on Geodetic and Geophysical Applications

The International Association of Geodesy officially established the International GPS Service (IGS) on Janaury 1, 1994. Its prime objective is to provide support and a rerefence system for a wide variety of scientific and practical applications involving GPS. To fulfill its role the IGS also generates, in addition to its fundamental products (orbital/staion positions and consistent Earth orientation parameters), additional reference-system products providing the necessary infrastructure, standards, and means of calibrations for timing and various atmospheric applications of GPS. The generation and efficient application of IGS products and their impact on a number of positioning and atmospheric applications, including low earth orbit satellites, is reviewed and discussed. @ 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Differences between Mean Sea Levels for the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans From Topex/Poseidon Altimetry

Geopotential values ―W of the mean equipotential surfaces representing the mean ocean topography were computed on the basis of four years (1993 - 1996) TOPEX/POSEIDON altimeter data: ―W = 62 636 854.10m2s−2for the Pacific (P), ―W = 62 636 858.20m2s−2for the Atlantic (A), ―W = 62 636 856.28m2s−2for the Indian (I) Oceans. The corresponding mean separations between the ocean levels were obtained as follows: A − P = − 42 cm, I− P = − 22 cm, I − A = 20 cm, the rms errors came out at about 0.3 cm. No sea surface topography model was used in the solution.