Future SLR station networks in the framework of simulated multi-technique terrestrial reference frames

Glaser, Susanne; König, Rolf; Neumayer, Karl Hans; Balidakis, Kyriakos; Schuh, Harald

doi:10.1007/s00190-019-01256-8

Cited by 12 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…This downscaling agrees with Glaser et al. (2019) who also used TCC data albeit with a different pass‐selection scheme. A 15° elevation cutoff is used for all satellites.…”

Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 89%

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Simulation of a Future SLR Satellite to Improve Low‐Degree Gravity Estimates

2022

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The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE; 2002–2017) and GRACE Follow‐On (2018‐present) have observed Earth's monthly mass change with unprecedented spatial resolution. These missions have long relied on satellite laser ranging (SLR) measurements to replace the C2,0 coefficient, which GRACE recovers poorly. Recent work has also shown the need for SLR‐determined C3,0 when GRACE operates with a single accelerometer. However, it was not until the 2012 launch of the Laser Relativity Satellite that the SLR data gained the sensitivity to recover C3,0 accurately. These low‐degree gravity coefficients represent large‐scale mass transport and small changes in their values have implications for ice sheet, ocean mass, and water storage estimates. To fully exploit SLR's utility for time‐variable gravity (TVG), future satellite orbits should be selected to maximize their sensitivity to the gravity field. In this work, we present results from a simulation study of a hypothetical SLR satellite in which we generate 1 year of data to satellites placed across varying inclinations. We also simulate seven current SLR satellites to show realistic improvements from the new satellite. When compared to the known truth input, a low‐inclination satellite (<∼ 45°) most improves the low‐degree gravity terms, especially the even zonals which show a significant decorrelation. From this, we investigate recovery of the annual variability in the simulated signal and find recovery of the sine component improves by up to 41%. This has important implications when considering future SLR satellites in the context of TVG.

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“…This downscaling agrees with Glaser et al. (2019) who also used TCC data albeit with a different pass‐selection scheme. A 15° elevation cutoff is used for all satellites.…”

Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 89%

“…The downscaling simply means that factors other than weather impact the observability of a pass (e.g., staffing, maintenance). This downscaling agrees with Glaser et al (2019) who also used TCC data albeit with a different pass-selection scheme. A 15° elevation cutoff is used for all satellites.…”

Section: Satellite Modelingsupporting

confidence: 87%

Simulation of a Future SLR Satellite to Improve Low‐Degree Gravity Estimates

2022

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“…Free of these constraints, this simulation study aims at giving a hint for valuable locations of future SLR stations. Within the framework of the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS), accuracies of 1 mm for the realised datum parameters and 0.1 mm yr −1 for their rates (Gross et al, 2009) have been defined as requirements. These GGOS requirements recently gained even more importance in view of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly resolution on "A Global Geodetic Reference Frame for Sustainable Development" 1 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Future TRFs and GGOS – where to put the next SLR station?

Kehm¹,

Bloßfeld²,

König³

et al. 2019

Adv. Geosci.

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Abstract. Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) is one of the four geodetic space techniques contributing to the realisation of terrestrial reference frames (TRFs) as well as to the determination of Earth Rotation Parameters (ERPs). The current SLR tracking network suffers from an insufficient network geometry due to a lack of stations especially in the southern hemisphere. Previous simulation studies have shown that the extension of the global SLR tracking network is indispensable for reaching the target accuracy of future TRFs according to user requests and the ambitious goals of the Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS). The simulation study presented here puts the focus on a determination of the locations where additional SLR stations are most valuable for an improved estimation of the geodetic parameters. Within the present study, we perform a simulation of a set of stations distributed homogeneously over the globe and compare different solutions, always adding one of these simulated stations to the real SLR station network. This approach has been chosen in order to be able to investigate the deficiencies of the existing SLR network and to judge in which regions on the globe an additional SLR station would be most valuable for the improvement of certain geodetic parameters of SLR-derived reference frames. It is shown that the optimum location of a future SLR station depends on the parameter of interest. In case of the ERPs, the main potential for improvement by a single additional station can be shown for locations in polar regions (improvement for ypole up to 7 %) and for locations along the equator for the lengh of day (LOD, improvement up to 1.5 %). The TRF parameters would benefit from an additional station around the pierce points of the axes of the terrestrial reference frame (improvement for ty up to 4 %), the Arctic and the Pacific Ocean region (tz improved by up to 4.5 %), and the Antarctic and the Indian Ocean region (scale improved by up to 2.2 %). As outcome of this study, it is concluded that an additional SLR site in the Antarctic region might be of first priority, enabling improvements in the pole coordinates and the scale of the TRF; potential further sites are recommended in the equatorial region, especially beneficial for the origin of the realised TRF as well as for LOD.

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“…Both SLR and VLBI suffer from sparse and inhomogeneous network distributions. As demonstrated in various simulation studies (e.g., Glaser et al., 2017; Glaser, König, Neumayer, Balidakis, et al., 2019; Glaser, König, Neumayer, Nilsson, et al., 2019; Kehm et al., 2018, 2019; Otsubo et al., 2016; Pavlis & Kuźmicz‐Cieślak, 2009), a substantial extension of the global SLR and VLBI networks would significantly stabilize the datum parameters realized.…”

Section: Concept For a Direct Geocentric Realizationmentioning

confidence: 90%

Combination Strategy for the Geocentric Realization of Regional Epoch Reference Frames

et al. 2022

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For high‐resolution regional geodetic applications, the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) is complemented by regional densifications. These are realized either as multi‐year solutions related to a tectonic plate (e.g., EUREF for Europe) or as epoch reference frames (ERFs) to capture nonlinear geophysical station motions caused by, for example, earthquakes or non‐tidal loading (e.g., SIRGAS for Latin America). These Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)‐only based regional reference frames have in common that their geodetic datum is aligned with the ITRF datum at a specific epoch. The consequence is that their origin represents the Earth's center of figure and does not coincide with the instantaneous center of mass. Here, we present studies on a direct geocentric realization of regional ERFs. We propose to realize the geodetic datum for each epoch by combining global GNSS, Satellite Laser Ranging, and Very Long Baseline Interferometry networks via measured local ties at co‐located sites. A uniformly distributed global GNSS network is used to realize the orientation via a no‐net‐rotation constraint with respect to the ITRF and is densified by the stations of the regional subnetwork. The developed combination and filtering strategy aims to guarantee a stable datum realization for each epoch‐wise solution. Validating our results against global reference frames and geophysical loading models relating to the Earth's centers of mass and figure, we show that the realized displacement time series are geocentric and reflect seasonal geophysical processes. As the approach does not need to rely on co‐location sites in the region of interest, it is conceptually transferable to other regions on the globe.

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Future SLR station networks in the framework of simulated multi-technique terrestrial reference frames

Cited by 12 publications

References 36 publications

Simulation of a Future SLR Satellite to Improve Low‐Degree Gravity Estimates

Simulation of a Future SLR Satellite to Improve Low‐Degree Gravity Estimates

Future TRFs and GGOS – where to put the next SLR station?

Combination Strategy for the Geocentric Realization of Regional Epoch Reference Frames

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