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Assessment of GPS velocity accuracy for the Basin and Range Geodetic Network (BARGEN)
Author(s) -
Davis J. L.,
Bennett R. A.,
Wernicke B. P.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2003gl016961
Subject(s) - geodesy , geodetic datum , geology , residual , global positioning system , range (aeronautics) , root mean square , seismology , mathematics , computer science , physics , telecommunications , materials science , algorithm , quantum mechanics , composite material
We assess the accuracy of horizontal velocity estimates from the Basin and Range Geodetic Network (BARGEN), a continuous GPS network that has been in operation since 1996. To make this quantitative assessment, we use a procedure that we term the “whole‐error” method. In this method, the measure of the velocity errors is the root‐mean‐square (RMS) residual velocity relative to a simple geophysical model. This method produces a conservative estimate of the uncertainties, since errors in the geophysical models also contribute to the RMS residual. Using estimates from two different BARGEN subnetworks, the Northern Basin and Range and the Yucca Mountain Cluster, we determine velocity uncertainties of 0.1–0.2 mm yr −1 . Since BARGEN covers a significant fraction of area of the proposed Plate Boundary Observatory component of EarthScope, our results indicate a good ability of this project to determine highly accurate long‐term horizontal crustal velocities and deformation rates in this region.