Accuracy and Stability of a Terrestrial Reference Frame Realized from GPS Data

We describe new realizations of the terrestrial reference frame (TRF) based exclusively on GPS data. One of the historical weaknesses of the GPS technique is determination of scale at the level necessary to support the most demanding applications of the TRF (e.g., sea-level change). This weakness is linked primarily to uncertainties in the the antenna phase variations (APV) of the GPS satellite transmitters, which are designed to support navigation rather than mm-level geodesy. Building on our prior work, we characterize the APV of the GPS satellite transmitters using GPS data collected by satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO). LEO data offer a number of substantial advantages for characterizing the APV of the GPS satellites. The perspective afforded by GPS receivers in orbit is unmatched in terms of both spatial and temporal coverage. In addition, there is no troposphere signal to confound interpretation of the GPS data. More important, however, the scale (mean height) of the precise orbit solutions is well determined (cm-level) from dynamical constraints. This scale knowledge translates into improved scale for the TRF, assuming the APV of the reference LEO antenna is well understood. For our latest APV solutions, the GPS antenna on the TOPEX/POSEIDON mission (1992-2005) serves as our reference LEO antenna. A choke-ring on a 4-m boom extending above the spacecraft, the antenna configuration is very favorable from the standpoint of phase multipath. In addition, the intrinsic APV of the choke-ring antenna assembly was measured before launch at the JPL test range. Since T/P observed only the legacy (Block II/IIA) GPS satellites, we use data from the GRACE mission (2002-pr.) to transfer the T/P reference to the replenishment (Block IIR) GPS satellites. We apply the resulting APV models in weekly network solutions in order to realize the terrestrial reference frame from GPS alone. Current comparisons of our GPS-based TRF (1999-2012) with ITRF2008 yield 0.2 mm/yr agreement for scale rate and better than 1 mm/yr agreement (3D) for origin rate. We consider possible origins of a remaining scale bias, and also provide preliminary estimates of antenna group-delay variations (GDV) using the same technique. Finally, we discuss the advantages for using GPS LEO data directly in the network solutions for the TRF.