Data analysis of Permanent GPS networks in Italy and surrounding region: application of a distributed processing approach

P Baldi P Baldi,G Casula G Casula,M Anzidei M Anzidei,E Serpelloni E Serpelloni,A Galvani A Galvani

doi:10.4401/ag-4410

P Baldi P Baldi, G Casula G Casula + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.4401/ag-4410

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Abstract

We describe the procedures used to combine into a uniform velocity solution the observations of more than 80 continuous GPS stations operating in the central Mediterranean in the 1998-2004 time interval. We used a dis- tributed processing approach, which makes efficient use of computer resources, while producing velocity esti- mates for all stations in one common reference frame, allowing for an effective merging of all observations in- to a self-consistent network solution. We describe the CGPS data archiving and processing procedures, and pro- vide the main results in terms of position time-series and velocities for all stations observed for more than three years. We computed horizontal and vertical velocities accounting for the seasonal (annual and semi-annual) sig- nals, and considering the off-sets in the coordinate time-series caused by station equipment changes. Weighted post-fit RMS of the north, east and vertical velocity components are in the range of 1.57-2.08 mm, 1.31-3.28 mm, and 3.60-7.24 mm, respectively, which are reduced by solving for seasonal signals in the velocity estimates. The annual and semi-annual signals in the height components, with amplitudes up to 4.8 mm, are much stronger than those in the horizontal components. The mean amplitudes of annual and semi-annual signals are within 0.18-0.47 mm, 0.23-0.52 mm and 0.55-1.92 mm in the north, east and vertical components, respectively.

Highlights

The rapid development of modern space geodesy techniques over the last two decades provided new important data that introduced significant constraints on the active geological processes occurring in the Mediterranean area (e.g., Battaglia et al, 2004; D’Agostino and Selvaggi, 2004; Goes et al, 2004; D’Agostino et al, 2005; Serpelloni et al, 2005 among others)
We describe the procedures used to combine into a uniform velocity solution the observations of more than 80 continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) stations operating in the central Mediterranean in the 1998-2004 time interval
We described the procedures routinely used to download, archive and analyze data from continuous GPS networks operating in the Mediterranean and European region, with the goal of deriving a self-consistent three dimensional velocity field that can be used for further geodynamics and geo-kinematics applications

Summary

Introduction

The rapid development of modern space geodesy techniques over the last two decades provided new important data that introduced significant constraints on the active geological processes occurring in the Mediterranean area (e.g., Battaglia et al, 2004; D’Agostino and Selvaggi, 2004; Goes et al, 2004; D’Agostino et al, 2005; Serpelloni et al, 2005 among others). The establishment of regional networks of CGPS stations (e.g., EPN-EUREF, ASI, Regal, FredNet networks) increased the number of stations available to tie observations together interferometrically This technological development significantly increased the precision of station position determinations, reducing the noise spectra of the solutions, and allowing for a better resolution of the coordinate changes detection, even in the vertical component. This is fundamental in areas characterized by low deformation rates, such as the western and central Mediterranean and the European region (McClusky et al, 2003; Nocquet and Calais 2003), where an accurate estimate of crustal deformation parameters require mainly the use of CGPS stations

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