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Rate of change of the Quincy‐Monument Peak baseline from a translocation analysis of LAGEOS Laser Range Data
Author(s) -
Stolz A.,
Vincent M. A.,
Bender P. L.,
Eanes R. J.,
Watkins M. M.,
Tapley B. D.
Publication year - 1989
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/gl016i006p00539
Subject(s) - san andreas fault , baseline (sea) , geology , tectonics , transverse plane , range (aeronautics) , geodesy , laser ranging , laser , fault (geology) , seismology , optics , physics , biology , materials science , anatomy , oceanography , composite material
Translocation studies of LAGEOS laser range data from Quincy and Monument Peak in California observed during 1984–1987 suggest that plate tectonic motion across the San Andreas fault system in the direction of the baseline between the two stations is uniform at a rate of −30(±3) mm/a. Changes in the components of the baseline vector were inferred from repeat determinations using the solutions from successive 0.5‐year intervals. The changes in the vertical and transverse components of the Quincy‐Monument Peak baseline are −0.4(±5) mm/a and +14(±5) mm/a respectively. The vertical component determinations attest to the height stability of the laser ranging method. LAGEOS measurements made from Quincy and Monument Peak before 1984 are inaccurate enough to limit their usefulness for plate tectonic studies.