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Realizing a terrestrial reference frame using the Global Positioning System
Author(s) -
Haines Bruce J.,
BarSever Yoaz E.,
Bertiger Willy I.,
Desai Shailen D.,
Harvey Nate,
Sibois Aurore E.,
Weiss Jan P.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: solid earth
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.983
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 2169-9356
pISSN - 2169-9313
DOI - 10.1002/2015jb012225
Subject(s) - global positioning system , geodesy , reference frame , remote sensing , satellite , frame (networking) , orbit determination , scale (ratio) , earth observation , geology , computer science , environmental science , geography , telecommunications , aerospace engineering , engineering , cartography
We describe a terrestrial reference frame (TRF) realization based on Global Positioning System (GPS) data alone. Our approach rests on a highly dynamic, long‐arc (9 day) estimation strategy and on GPS satellite antenna calibrations derived from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment and TOPEX/Poseidon low Earth orbit receiver GPS data. Based on nearly 17 years of data (1997–2013), our solution for scale rate agrees with International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF)2008 to 0.03 ppb yr −1 , and our solution for 3‐D origin rate agrees with ITRF2008 to 0.4 mm yr −1 . Absolute scale differs by 1.1 ppb (7 mm at the Earth's surface) and 3‐D origin by 8 mm. These differences lie within estimated error levels for the contemporary TRF.