An exploration of a global terrestrial reference frame combination that incorporates constraints from atmospheric structure: Implication for future ITRF realizations
Abstract
The development of the new global terrestrial reference frame ITRF2020 is underway. The new ITRF is expected to incorporate a number of improvements in the data analysis of contributing space geodetic techniques (i.e., VLBI, SLR, GNSS, and DORIS) such as SLR range bias and VLBI antenna deformation. The new ITRF will also attempt to improve how technique products are combined in order to reduce the scale discrepancy between VLBI and SLR and obtain accurate annual geocenter motion. Improvements at the combination level are particularly needed at core geodetic sites for the ITRF to meet the GGOS positioning accuracy goal of 0.1 mm. Unfortunately, tie discrepancies at core sites, where several geodetic techniques are collocated, remain more than 5 mm for 60% of the sites. We will present an approach that incorporates constraints from atmospheric structure that could improve the accuracy of relative position estimates and ITRF combinations. For this study, we will use co-located GPS stations as a proxy of co-located geodetic techniques, and will impose atmospheric structure constraints to the local and regional sites at the combination level. Our initial results show significant improvement in baseline scatter when atmospheric constraints are applied. We will also explore how baseline improvements propagate into the ITRF. The inclusion of atmospheric information into the combination may provide significant improvement toward developing a more accurate ITRF.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFM.G33C0694M
- Keywords:
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- 1229 Reference systems;
- GEODESY AND GRAVITYDE: 1299 General or miscellaneous;
- GEODESY AND GRAVITY