Showing papers in "Earth, Planets and Space in 2000"

Improved atmospheric mapping functions for VLBI and GPS

Abstract: New mapping functions based on in situ meteorological parameters have been developed for calculating the radio path length through the atmosphere at elevations down to 3°. The hydrostatic component of the mapping function is related to the geopotential height of the 200 mb isobaric pressure level above the site and provides a factor of two improvement in accuracy and precision over previous hydrostatic mapping functions at mid-latitudes. The wet component of the mapping function is calculated from the vertical profile of wet refractivity at the site but will provide an improvement of only about twenty-five percent. However, since the effect of known errors in the hydrostatic mapping function dominates that from the wet component, except near the equator, implementation of these mapping functions should reduce the contribution of the atmosphere to errors in estimates by VLBI and GPS of both the vertical component of site position and the radio propagation delay due to water vapor in the atmosphere.

The increase of the ionospheric activity as measured by GPS

Abstract: The paper outlines a method allowing to compute the TEC with a precision of about 2–3 TECU and to detect Travelling Ionospheric Disturbances using GPS measurements. We describe the solar cycle dependance of the TEC and TIDs. Since the beginning of 1998, we have observed a stronger ionospheric activity due to the increasing solar activity. This ionospheric activity is characterized by larger TEC values which are regularly reaching the level of 60 TECU and by a larger number of Travelling Ionospheric Disturbances. During the winter 1999–2000, the mean daily TEC was above 45 TECU; at solar minimum the mean daily TEC is ranging from 4 TECU to 12 TECU. In January 2000 (close to solar maximum) more than 1300 events due to TID’s were detected: it is 6.5 more than in January 1996 (at solar minimum).

An extended weight model for GPS phase observations

Abstract: Low elevation data may be included in the processing of small scale engineering GPS applications, in order to improve satellite geometry and reduce the required observation time. Careful weighting of the phase observations is needed then, because of increased noise and systematic errors. The measured carrier-to-noise-power-density ratio (C/N0) has proven to be an excellent tool for the estimation of the random errors of the phase observables. In this paper an extended weight model using robust estimation is presented, in particular the Danish Method. This model combines the information inherent in C/N0 and the residuals of the double differenced phase observations in order to model random errors and signal distortion effects.

International Geomagnetic Reference Field—the eighth generation

Abstract: The eighth generation of the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) was adopted in 1999 by the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA) Division V, Working Group 8. This differs from the previous generation by the addition of the IGRF 2000 which comprises a main-field model for the epoch 2000.0 and a predictive secular-variation model for 2000.0–2005.0. This paper lists the IGRF coefficients and includes contour maps computed using IGRF 2000.

On the determination of a global strain rate model

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to outline the fundamental concepts underlying the estimation of a global strain rate model. We use a variant of the method first introduced by Haines and Holt (1993) to estimate the strain rate tensor field within all of the Earth’s deforming regions. Currently the observables used are ~1650 geodetic velocities, seismic moment tensors from the Harvard CMT catalog, and Quaternary fault slip rate data. A model strain rate field and velocity field are obtained in a least-squares fit to both the geodetic velocities and the observed strain rates inferred from fault slip rates. Seismic moment tensors are used to provide a priori constraints on the style and direction (not magnitude) of the model strain rate field for regions where no fault slip rate data are available. The model will soon be expanded to include spreading rates, ocean transform azimuths, and more fault slip rate data. We present a first estimate of the second invariant of the global model strain rate field. We also present Euler poles obtained by fitting geodetic vectors located on defined rigid plates. We find that 17% of the total model moment rate is accommodated in zones of (diffuse) continental deformation.

Local GPS tropospheric tomography

Abstract: A formulation of local GPS tropospheric tomography for determining 4-D distribution of refractivity in the troposphere is presented together with a preliminary analysis of local dense GPS campaign data. Dividing the modeling space up to a height of 10 km above GPS receivers into cells, the refractivity in each cell is estimated in a successive time window by a tomographic reconstruction method in a quite similar manner like the seismic velocity in each cell in Earth’s interior is estimated in seismic tomography. The basic data for tomography are GPS slant delays for respective pairs of station and satellite, which are the sum of postfit phase residual, hydrostatic and wet slant delay. On the other hand, the slant delay from a station to a satellite is expressed by the summation of the product of path length and refractivity in each cell along the ray path. In a given time window, we have numerous observed slant delays corresponding to different ray trajectories, and the refractivity in each cell can be estimated by discrete inversion and least squares methods. The observational equations are usually singular so that we use a damped least squares method popular in seismic tomography. An example of real data analysis is given for the 1995 Shigaraki GPS campaign data, which reveals the spatial and temporal change of refractivity corresponding to the passage of ‘cold front’.

Determination of the IGRF 2000 model

Abstract: The IGRF 2000 has been estimated from magnetic measurements taken by the Orsted sattelite in summer 1999. For this purpose, three models have been derived: The first two models were estimated using a few geomagnetic quiet days in May and September 1999, respectively. The third model, called Oersted(10c/99), was derived from scalar data spanning six months and vector data spanning four months. In order to get a model for epoch 2000.0, the IGRF 95 secular variaion model has been applied to the data. The IGRF 2000 model was taken to be the internal degree/order 10 portion of Oersted(10c/99). We describe the data selection, model parameterization, parameter estimation and an evaluation of the three models.

Real-time observation of tsunami by RTK-GPS

Abstract: A new tsunami observation system has been developed, which employs the RTK-GPS technique to detect a tsunami before it reaches the coast. The system consists of dual-buoys: the Support-buoy, which is sensitive to wind-waves, and the Sensor-buoy, which is of a spar-type and is insensitive to wind-waves. Both buoys are equipped with a GPS antenna. An experiment using this system was carried out for about nine days in March 1999. Observation data were monitored at the onshore base station. The results showed that hourly averaged data is consistent with ocean tides for both buoys. The Sensor-buoy was found not to respond much to wind-waves compared to the Support-buoy. Thus, it may be preferable to use a spar-type buoy for detecting a tsunami efficiently. Furthermore, a simple frequency analysis showed that a tsunami could be easily separated from higher frequency wind waves if a tsunami is superimposed on regular wind waves.

Preliminary results of multidisciplinary observations before, during and after the Kocaeli (Izmit) earthquake in the western part of the North Anatolian Fault Zone

Abstract: On August 17, 1999, a destructive earthquake occurred in the western part of the North Anatolian Fault Zone, Turkey. The earthquake source region has been designated as a seismic gap and an M7-class earthquake has been supposed to occur someday in the future so as to fill this seismic gap. So far we have undertaken various kinds of observations in this area and we could obtain some valuable data before, during and after the mainshock. Here we report some of the preliminary results of our recent studies, which include field work started in late July this year and continued during and after the earthquake occurrence just in the earthquake source region and its vicinity, in addition to seismic observations carried out for several years before the mainshock. Much emphasis is put on magnetotelluric field data acquired during the mainshock; in fact, large variations caused by seismic waves were recorded. Such variations could be interpreted in terms of electromagnetic induction in the conducting crust caused by the velocity field interacting with the static magnetic field of the Earth. In particular, the first motion of seismic wave could be identified in the records and used for precise determination of the hypocenter of the mainshock.

Lunar Radar Sounder (LRS) experiment on-board the SELENE spacecraft

Abstract: The Lunar Radar Sounder (LRS) experiment on-board the SELENE (SELenological and ENngineering Explorer) spacecraft has been planned for observation of the subsurface structure of the Moon, using HF radar operating in the frequency range around 5 MHz The fundamental technique of the instrumentation of LRS is based on the plasma waves and sounder experiments which have been established through the observations of the earth’s magnetosphere, plasmasphere and ionosphere by using EXOS-B (Jikiken), EXOS-C (Ohzora) and EXOS-D (Akebono) satellites; and the plasma sounder for observations of the Martian ionosphere as well as surface land shape are installed on the Planet-B (Nozomi) spacecraft which will arrive at Mars in 2003 For the exploration of lunar subsurface structures applying the developed sounder technique, discrimination of weak subsurface echo signals from intense surface echoes is important; to solve this problem, a frequency modulation technique applied to the sounder RF pulse has been introduced to improve the resolution of range measurements By using digital signal processing techniques for the generation of the sounder RF waveform and on-board data analyses, it becomes possible to improve the S/N ratio and resolution for the subsurface sounding of the Moon The instrumental and theoretical studies for developing the LRS system for subsurface sounding of the Moon have shown that the LRS observations on-board the SELENE spacecraft will give detailed information about the subsurface structures within a depth of 5 km from the lunar surface, with a range resolution of less than 75 m for a region with a horizontal scale of several tens of km This capability is evaluated to be sufficient for study of the thermal history of the lunar surface region relating to a time scale of several tens of millions of years

Crustal motion in E- and SE-Asia from GPS measurements

Abstract: Repeated GEODYSSEA-GPS measurements and additional GPS data from the IGS and APRGP97/98 constrain the motion of SE-Asia within a global reference frame. Sundaland i.e. Indochina as well as the western and central part of Indonesia, together with South-China, constitute an apparently stable tectonic block that is decoupled from Eurasia. In the ITRF97 this block moves to the east about an Euler pole approximating that of Eurasia, but with a velocity that is one third higher than the eastward directed movement of Eurasia. With respect to India and Australia the Sundaland-South China block is moving due south. This suggests that a) Sundaland-South China are moving coherently to the East along the boundaries studied and b) the eastward motion of India is compensated by the eastward motion of Sundaland-South China. The current rather homogeneous kinematic behaviour of Sundaland-South China that differs in rate (no more than 5 mm) rather than direction from the movement of N-China differs from the kinematics proposed by different modelling approaches throughout the literature. The data help to constrain locations and behaviour of the active fault zones and give information on the interplate and intraplate deformation in the area.

Geodetically observed surface displacements of the 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan, earthquake

Abstract: The 21 September 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan, earthquake of magnitude MW = 7.6 (ML = 7.3) severely deformed the Earth’s crust in the central Taiwan region. The earthquake created an 85-km-long surface rupture along the Chelungpu fault. The epicenter was located at 23.85°N, 120.81°E, near the southern end of the rupture zone. Three-dimensional displacements of 285 geodetic control stations were determined in this study from Global Positioning System (GPS) observations collected before and after the earthquake. The detailed surface displacement field shows that individual stations are vertically uplifted by up to 4 m and displaced horizontally by up to 9 m, with the largest displacement occurring near the northern end of the ruptured thrust fault. The azimuth of the surface displacement field is approximately parallel to the direction of tectonic convergence of the Eurasian and Philippine Sea plates. The maximum three-dimensional displacement of 9.9 m is among the largest fault movements ever measured for modern earthquakes.

Changes in erosion and ocean circulation recorded in the Hf isotopic compositions of North Atlantic and Indian Ocean ferromanganese crusts.

Abstract: High-resolution Hf isotopic records are presented for hydrogenetic Fe–Mn crusts from the North Atlantic and Indian Oceans. BM1969 from the western North Atlantic has previously been shown to record systematically decreasing Nd isotopic compositions from about 60 to ∼4 Ma, at which time both show a rapid decrease to unradiogenic Nd composition, thought to be related to the increasing influence of NADW or glaciation in the northern hemisphere. During the Oligocene, North Atlantic Hf became progressively less radiogenic until in the mid-Miocene (∼15 Ma) it reached +1. It then shifted gradually back to an ϵHf value of +3 at 4 Ma, since when it has decreased rapidly to about −1 at the present day. The observed shifts in the Hf isotopic composition were probably caused by variation in intensity of erosion as glaciation progressed in the northern hemisphere. Ferromanganese crusts SS663 and 109D are from about 5500 m depth in the Indian Ocean and are now separated by ∼2300 km across the Mid-Indian Ridge. They display similar trends in Hf isotopic composition from 20 to 5 Ma, with the more northern crust having a composition that is consistently more radiogenic (by ∼2 ϵHf units). Paradoxically, during the last 20 Ma the Hf isotopic compositions of the two crusts have converged despite increased separation and subsidence relative to the ridge. A correlatable negative excursion at ∼5 Ma in the two records may reflect a short-term increase in erosion caused by the activation of the Himalayan main central thrust. Changes to unradiogenic Hf in the central Indian Ocean after 5 Ma may alternatively have been caused by the expanding influence of NADW into the Mid-Indian Basin via circum-Antarctic deep water or a reduction of Pacific flow through the Indonesian gateway. In either case, these results illustrate the utility of the Hf isotope system as a tracer of paleoceanographic changes, capable of responding to subtle changes in erosional regime not readily resolved using other isotope systems.

Application of ionospheric corrections in the equatorial region for L1 GPS users

Abstract: In the absence of the selective availability, which was turned off on May 1, 2000, the ionosphere can be the largest source of error in GPS positioning and navigation. Its effects on GPS observable cause a code delays and phase advances. The magnitude of this error is affected by the local time of the day, season, solar cycle, geographical location of the receiver and Earth’s magnetic field. As it is well known, the ionosphere is the main drawback for high accuracy positioning, when using single frequency receivers, either for point positioning or relative positioning of medium and long baselines. The ionosphere effects were investigated in the determination of point positioning and relative positioning using single frequency data. A model represented by a Fourier series type was implemented and the parameters were estimated from data collected at the active stations of RBMC (Brazilian Network for Continuous Monitoring of GPS satellites). The data input were the pseudorange observables filtered by the carrier phase. Quality control was implemented in order to analyse the adjustment and to validate the significance of the estimated parameters. Experiments were carried out in the equatorial region, using data collected from dual frequency receivers. In order to validate the model, the estimated values were compared with “ground truth”. For point and relative positioning of baselines of approximately 100 km, the values of the discrepancies indicated an error reduction better than 80% and 50% respectively, compared to the processing without the ionospheric model. These results give an indication that more research has to be done in order to provide support to the L1 GPS users in the Equatorial region.

The impact of geomagnetic substorms on GPS receiver performance

Abstract: During the current period of solar maximum, there is concern within the GPS community regarding GPS receiver performance during periods of intense geomagnetic substorms. Such storms are common in the high latitude auroral region, and are associated with small-scale scintillation effects, which can cause receiver tracking errors and loss of phase lock. The auroral oval can extend many degrees equatorward under active ionospheric conditions, with an impact on precise positioning applications in Canada, the United States and Northern Europe. In this paper, a study of receiver tracking performance is conducted during periods of auroral substorm activity. Dual frequency observations are obtained using codeless and semicodeless GPS receivers (Trimble 4000SSi, NovAtel MiLLennium and Ashtech Z-12), and performance comparisons are established and interpreted with respect to GPS availability at solar maximum and the years beyond.

GPS seismometers with up to 20 Hz sampling rate

Abstract: The large near-field displacements before and during an earthquake are invaluable information for earthquake source study and for the detection of slow/silent quakes or pre-seismic crustal deformation events. However due to bandwidth limitations and saturation current seismometers cannot measure many of these displacements directly. In a joint experiment between the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the Meteorological Research Institute (MRI), two Trimble MS750 GPS receivers were used in the Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) mode with a fast sampling rate of up to 20 Hz to test the feasibility of a “GPS seismometer” in measuring displacements directly. The GPS antenna, an accelerometer, and a velocimeter were installed on the roof of an earthquake shake-simulator truck. The simulated seismic waveforms resolved from the RTK time series are in very good agreement with the results from the accelerometer and the velocimeter, after integrating twice and once respectively. Moreover, more displacement information are revealed in the GPS RTK results although they are noisier.

Radio holographic principle for observing natural processes in the atmosphere and retrieving meteorological parameters from radio occultation data

Abstract: The radio holographic principle is briefly described and tested by using radio occultation data of the GPS/MET and MIR/GEO experiments. Sub-Fresnel spatial resolution ∼12 m/pixel was achieved using focused synthetic aperture radio holographic approach, and direct evidence of multibeam propagation effects in the atmosphere was obtained. The achieved instrumental accuracy in angular distance measurements was near 0.004 milliradian/pixel, and observed angular distance between different rays was equal to 0.3 milliradians. The angular resolution of the radio holographic method depends on the wavelength as λ1 compared to λ1/2 in conventional methods. In general case the principal limit of the vertical resolution may be determined using focused synthetic aperture antenna theory and may achieve a value ∼20–40 m under assumptions of spherical symmetry and quiet atmospheric conditions. Wave structures were discovered in the altitude distribution of the gradient electron density at a height interval of 60–95 km with spatial period 1–2 km and vertical resolution 300–500 m. Good correspondence was found between the temperature profiles revealed by radio holographic analysis and those obtained by traditional retrieval using UCAR GPS/MET data.

Performance test of an automated moment tensor determination system for the future "Tokai" earthquake

Abstract: We have investigated how the automated moment tensor determination (AMTD) system using the FREESIA/KIBAN broadband network is likely to behave during a future large earthquake. Because we do not have enough experience with a large (M > 8) nearby earthquake, we computed synthetic waveforms for such an event by assuming the geometrical configuration of the anticipated Tokai earthquake and several fault rupture scenarios. Using this synthetic data set, we examined the behavior of the AMTD system to learn how to prepare for such an event. For our synthetic Tokai event data we assume its focal mechanism, fault dimension, and scalar seismic moment. We also assume a circular rupture propagation with constant rupture velocity and dislocation rise time. Both uniform and heterogeneous slip models are tested. The results show that performance depends on both the hypocentral location (i.e. unilateral vs. bilateral) and the degree of heterogeneity of slip. In the tests that we have performed the rupture directivity appears to be more important than slip heterogeneity. We find that for such large earthquakes it is necessary to use stations at distances greater than 600 km and frequencies between 0.005 to 0.02 Hz to maintain a point-source assumption and to recover the full scalar seismic moment and radiation pattern. In order to confirm the result of the synthetic test, we have analyzed the 1993 Hokkaido Nansei-oki (MJ7.8) and the 1995 Kobe (MJ7.2) earthquakes by using observed broadband waveforms. For the Kobe earthquake we successfully recovered the moment tensor by using the routinely used frequency band (0.01–0.05 Hz displacements). However, we failed to estimate a correct solution for the Hokkaido Nansei-oki earthquake by using the same routine frequency band. In this case, we had to use the frequencies between 0.005 to 0.02 Hz to recover the moment tensor, confirming the validity of the synthetic test result for the Tokai earthquake.

The 2000 Miyakejima eruption: Crustal deformation and earthquakes observed by the NIED Miyakejima observation network

Abstract: The Miyakejima observation network had been constructed by the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention mainly until early 1999. This observation network has provided the crustal deformation data by tiltmeters and GPS and the seismic data by short-period and broadband seismometers in association with the 2000 Miyakejima eruption. The subsurface magma movement at the first stage of the present activity, during the period from June 26 to 27, was successfully detected mainly by the tilt measurements. The tilt change observed at five stations indicates the migration of magmas from the eastern part of Miyakejima to the western part. The most distinctive phenomenon appearing after the first stage is tilt steps, which started on July 8 with the first eruption from the summit crater. Each tilt step indicates an abrupt uplift of the summit area. These tilt steps continued until the eruption of August 18, which is the largest eruption up to early September, 2000. 45 tilt steps in total were observed in this period. The seismic data show a variety of seismograms including VT (volcano-tectonic) earthquakes, LF (low frequency) earthquakes and volcanic tremor. At the time of the tilt steps, very long period events with predominant periods of about 100 s were detected by the broadband seismometers. As the activity has still continued, this report summarizes the observation during June, July, and August, 2000.

Net current density of photoelectrons emitted from the surface of the GEOTAIL spacecraft

Abstract: The current density carried by photoelectrons emitted from the GEOTAIL spacecraft is estimated from the electric potential of the spacecraft measured in the single probe mode of GEOTAIL/EFD and plasma density and temperature obtained by GEOTAIL/LEP during the period from September 14, 1993 to October 31, 1998, by assuming balance of the currents carried by photoelectrons and ambient thermal electrons. Behaviour of the photoelectron current as a function of spacecraft potential is consistent with the current profile predicted by Grard (1973), and the emitted photoelectrons consist of several components with different temperatures. The saturation density of the low energy component of the photoelectron current is 85 ± 33 × 10−6 [Am−2]. Number density of the photoelectrons is estimated to be 2.9 ± 1.4 × 109 [m−3] at the surface of the spacecraft, and the average energy of the photoelectrons is 2.1 ±0.5 [eV]. These values are higher than the prediction by Grard but consistent with previous in-flight measurements from GEOS-1, ISEE-1 or Viking.

A comparative study of the integer ambiguity validation procedures

Abstract: In GPS and GLONASS satellite-based positioning, the correct determination of the integer carrier phase ambiguities is the key to achieve precise positioning results. The process of determining the ambiguities, called ambiguity resolution, is usually separated into three steps: (a) estimating the float or real-valued ambiguities, (b) searching the best integer ambiguity set, (c) validating the best ambiguity set. Whilst the theory and methodology for ambiguity estimation and search are well documented, the ambiguity validation issue is still under investigation. Existing ambiguity validation procedures are based on various statistical assumptions and therefore, may have different performances in practical applications. In this paper, the major ambiguity validation procedures are analysed and their performances in both GPS and GLONASS ambiguity resolution are numerically compared. It is concluded that both the probability of estimating ambiguities correctly and confidence levels of the ambiguity discrimination tests are both important indicators of the reliability of ambiguity resolution.

Ice velocities of the Lambert Glacier from static GPS observations

Abstract: Between 1988 and 1995, five seasons of Global Positioning System (GPS) data were collected at seventy-three locations near the 2500 metre contour of the Lambert Glacier Drainage Basin (LGB). These data have been processed using GAMIT/GlobK software to determine surface velocities at the surveyed sites. Results show that velocities along the traverse route vary between 0.5 ma−1 and 63 ma−1 with the location of the major outlet glaciers inside the LGB clearly identifiable within the data. A subset of the LGB GPS data has been studied to investigate an efficient method for determination of ice velocities at remote sites within a single field season. Results from this study have shown that ice velocities within 2% of the long-term estimate may be determined using two to four hour GPS site occupations separated in time by a minimum of forty days.

Real-time deformation monitoring with GPS and Kalman Filter

Abstract: The main purpose of this research is to develop a real-time GPS monitoring system with the aid of a Kalman Filter for use in an active tectonic region near Istanbul, and its surrounding region. Currently, an ongoing project exists, funded by the World Bank, that monitors deformation in Istanbul and the Marmara Region. Istanbul is one of the largest cities in the world, and is under possible earthquake threat. In order to set up a powerful control system, a surveying and estimation method was designed and the necessary software, called RT-MODS2 (Real-Time Monitoring Of Dynamic Systems 2), was developed. The software reads real-time input data from GPS receivers and performs deformation analyses with the help of the Kalman Filter. Some studies of filtering and deformation analysis were performed in order to detect failures and outliers, and to increase the reliability of the deformation analysis.

Crustal deformation associated with the 1998 seismo-volcanic crisis of Iwate Volcano, Northeastern Japan, as observed by a dense GPS network

Abstract: Mt. Iwate (2,038 m) is an active volcano located in northeastern Japan. Unrest of the volcano started in September, 1995 with intermediate-depth tremors. The shallow seismicity gradually became active in February, 1998, accompanying the notable crustal deformation observed by a dense GPS network. The pattern of the horizontal displacements is characterized by radially directing outward from the volcano. We estimated the source position by inversion analyses for every two-months period, assuming two models; a point pressure source (Mogi model) and a tensile fault. The comparison of AIC’s for the two models indicates that the latter is proper from February to April, while the former is preferable afterward. The tensile fault was located at about 5 km WSW of the summit and 3 km in depth, then a Mogi source was estimated at the western neighbor of the tensile fault in the successive period and moved westward as far as 10 km W of the summit with shallowing its depth. It should be noted that the seismic area also expanded westward in the same period. This synchronicity suggests that the both phenomena were caused by a movement of magma from the deeper part beneath the summit to the western shallower part.

Precipitable water observed by ground-based GPS receivers and microwave radiometry

Abstract: The sensing of absolute precipitable water vapor (PW) by the Global Positioning System (GPS) and a Water Vapor Radiometer (WVR) is presented. The GPS approach requires a priori knowledge of the relationship between the weighted mean temperature of the atmosphere and surface temperature whose regression relationship is derived based on ten-year climatological data observed by radiosonde and surface meteorological instruments. Similarly, the WVR scheme needs a priori information of the relationship between sky brightness temperature and PW whose regression relationship is characterized based on the same set of climatological data. GPS-derived PW are compared with those observed by WVR and radiosondes. The GPS and WVR data were collected at the Taipei weather station of Taiwan Central Weather Bureau (CWB) from March 18 to 24, 1998. To obtain the estimates of absolute PW at the Taipei site, GPS data acquired from Tsukuba, Japan, at a distance of 2155 km from Taipei were utilized. It is found that GPS-derived PW agrees reasonably well with observations by the WVR and radiosondes. The average of GPS-derived PW is 3.38 cm with a standard deviation of 0.39 cm. The difference between the average GPS-derived and WVR-observed PW is 0.27 cm with a bias of −4 cm, while the difference between the average GPS-derived and radiosonde-observed PW is somewhat larger, 0.36 cm with a bias of −0.42 cm. These differences are larger than differences reported at higher latitudes in regions with lower average humidity.

Three-dimensional distribution of water vapor estimated from tropospheric delay of GPS data in a mesoscale precipitation system of the Baiu front

Abstract: Three-dimensional distributions of water vapor in a mesoscale precipitation system, which developed on 7 July 1996 in the Baiu front, were estimated directly from the GPS data of ‘GPS Earth Observation Network’ (GEONET) of the Geographical Survey Institute. In estimating the three-dimensional distribution of water vapor from the GPS data, we used the tropospheric delays along each path from GPS satellites to GPS receivers on the ground. The result showed that the moist air extended up to the height of 6 km in the precipitation region in the early stage of the precipitation system and that a dry air intruded into the precipitation system from the northwest in the middle-level (from 3 km to 5 km altitude) in the later stage. This dry air intrusion in the middle-level was supported by numerical simulations.

The influence of 5000 year-old and younger glacial mass variability on present-day crustal rebound in the Antarctic Peninsula

Abstract: Assessment of Antarctic rebound is complicated by two issues: (1) The total ice volume at Last Glacial Maximum is contentious, with estimates ranging from just a few meters to several tens of meters of equivalent eustatic sea level rise. (2) The late-Holocene mass budget is also uncertain. Space-based geodesy may provide important data in the coming years for estimating the recent ice mass balance state of Antarctica. Toward this end, GPS has an important role for isolating the solid earth movements that are associated with postglacial rebound. Here we provide numerical examples of vertical motions that are predicted by coupling realistic glacial load histories to 20th century ice mass imbalance estimates for the Antarctic Peninsula. The main complexity revealed by these examples is the striking difference among predictions that have an oscillatory mass change during the last 5000 to 50 years, as opposed to those having a continuous (non-oscillatory) mass drawdown of the grounded ice sheet.

Main-phase creation of “seed” electrons in the outer radiation belt

Abstract: During a geomagnetic storm in early November 1993, NOAA satellite observations revealed that a population of energetic electrons appeared in the center of the outer radiation belt during the main phase of the storm. At the beginning of the main phase of the magnetic storm, the number of electrons with energies from 30 keV to 100 keV increased rapidly and contributed to build up of the ring current. At the end of the main phase the flux of electrons with energies greater than 300 keV increased significantly. Akebono satellite observations showed that the flux of electrons with energies ranging from 300 keV to 950 keV increased late of the storm main phase and that the flux of electrons with energies from 950 keV to 2.5 MeV increased during the storm recovery phase. The electron flux increase observed by both NOAA and Akebono took place first in the central part of the outer radiation belt (L~4) and propagated to higher L shells with a significant time delay. We think that the ring current electrons that appeared first and near L~4 during the main phase seeded the subsequent increase in the flux of MeV electrons in the entire outer radiation belt.

GPS observations of PW during the passage of a typhoon

Abstract: The Global Positioning System (GPS) is used to provide hourly measurements of precipitable water (PW) in Taiwan during the passage of tropical cyclones. Typhoon Zeb, which caused serious damage in the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan in mid-October 1998, is used as an example in this paper. GPS data are analyzed from the Central Weather Bureau’s (CWB’s) three weather stations in Taiwan, and from a site in Tsukuba, Japan. Bernese version 4.0 software is utilized to solve GPS signals for total delay due to the neutral atmosphere at the three CWB sites. Wet delay is obtained by subtracting surface pressure derived dry delay from total delay. Wet delay is then converted to PW through a simple calculation. GPS-observed PW time series demonstrate that PW is, in general, high before and during the occurrence of the typhoon, and low after the typhoon. PW increased from about 5 cm on DoY 285 (October 13) to near 8 cm or so on DoY 288 (October 16) when the typhoon was striking Taiwan, and, then, decreased to 2–3 cm after passage of the typhoon. In addition, GPS-observed PW depletion from 8 cm on DoY 288 to about 3 cm on DoY 290 is found to be consistent with radiosonde observations acquired at the Taipei weather station.

Equatorial electrojet studies from rocket and ground measurements

Abstract: Combining the data of in-situ measurements of ionospheric current, Jm by rocket-borne instruments and the ground based geomagnetic H field close to the magnetic equator a linear relation has been found between the peak current density Jm and the daily range of H, (RH). This relationship has been used to convert long series of RH data into Jm. Combining Jm and the E-region peak electron density Nm, the electron velocity in the ionosphere, VE has been calculated. It is shown that after all corrections are made of the solar zenith angle variations, the ionospheric current as well as electron drift in American and Indian sectors show strong equinoctial maxima, the mean values of both the parameters are larger at American than in Indian sector. The solar cycle variation of the electrojet current is primarily due to the variations of NmE, and not due to the variations of electric field. The diurnal variation of the electric field with peak at 09–10 LT interacting with noon peak of NmE making ΔH to peak at an hour earlier than noon. It is stressed to realise the importance of electric field in diurnal, seasonal and longitudinal variations of the equatorial electrojet current.