Estimation of the Parameters of the Earth's Polar Motion

Abstract

The parameters of the Earth's polar motion have been estimated by a method which accounts for observational error and which treats two possible statistical models for the polar motion excitation process. Both a 100 year and a 78 year long polar motion series have been used to estimate the Chandler wobble frequency, Fc, and quality factor, Qc; the noise level in the polar motion data; and the magnitude of the excitation process. Discussion of the annual component of polar motion has been omitted because its frequency (1 cycle per year (cpy)) and cause (annual motion of air and water) are presumed known.