Improved geodetic European very-long-baseline interferometry solution using models of antenna gravitational deformation

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Pierguido Sarti
Monia Negusini
Claudio Abbondanza

Abstract

Very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) is used for establishing global geodetic networks where the coordinates attain a 1-mm level of precision. Technique-dependent bias can degrade the VLBI positioning accuracy if it is present and unaccounted for. Among the potential bias, gravitational flexure of VLBI telescopes can vary the path traveled by the incoming radio signal and induce a bias in the height component of the station position. We process here more than 100 European VLBI sessions spanning 1990-2009 with VLBI time delay/Solve software, as the only VLBI analysis package that can be used to correct signal-path variation (SPV) due to gravitational flexure of VLBI telescopes. Currently, SPV models are neglected in VLBI data analysis. To determine the kinematics of the European area over the last 20 years and to assess the effects of telescope gravitational deformation on geodetic VLBI estimates, we perform two VLBI solutions with and without SPV models for telescopes in Medicina (northern Italy) and Noto (southern Italy). The two solutions differ by 8.8 mm and 7.2 mm in their height components, with this bias being one order of magnitude larger than the formal errors of the estimated heights. SPV models impact uniquely on the height component of stations where SPVs are modeled. Velocities are not affected by the use of the Medicina and Noto SPV models, and we show that the crustal kinematics derived from VLBI does not suffer from a lack of information with regard to the flexure of other telescopes.

Article Details

How to Cite
Sarti, P., Negusini, M. and Abbondanza, C. (2011) “Improved geodetic European very-long-baseline interferometry solution using models of antenna gravitational deformation”, Annals of Geophysics, 53(5-6), pp. 13–23. doi: 10.4401/ag-4739.
Section
Research Articles
Author Biography

Pierguido Sarti, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica

Istituto di Radioastronomia

Research scientist