Differences in GPS coordinate time series resulting from the use of individual instead of type-mean antenna phase center calibration model

Abstract

It is well-known that the phase center of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antenna is not a stable point coinciding with a mechanical reference. The phase center position depends on the direction of the received signal, and is antenna-and signaldependent. Phase center corrections (PCC) models of GNSS antennas have been available for several years. The first method to create antenna PCC models was the relative field calibration procedure. Currently only absolute calibration models are generally recommended for use. In this study we investigate the differences between position estimates obtained using individual and type-mean absolute antenna calibrations in order to better understand how receiver antenna calibration models contribute to the Global Positioning System (GPS) positioning error budget. The station positions were estimated with two absolute calibration models: the igs08.atx model, which contains typemean calibration results, and individual antenna calibration models. Continuous GPS observations from selected Polish European Permanent Network (EPN) stations were used for these studies. The position time series were derived from the precise point positioning (PPP) technique using the NAPEOS scientific GNSS software package. The results show that the differences in the calibrations models propagate directly into the position domain, affecting daily as well sub-daily results. In daily solutions, the position offsets, resulting from the use of individual calibrations instead of type-mean igs08.atx calibrations, can reach up to 5 mm in the Up component, while in the horizontal one they generally stay below 1 mm. It was found that increasing the frequency of sub-daily coordinate solutions amplifies the effects of type-mean vs individual PCC-dependent differences, and also gives visible periodic variations in time series of GPS position differences.