GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM MEASUREMENT OF CRUSTAL DEFORMATION IN CENTRAL

310 Pages·2008·17.2 MB·English

GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM MEASUREMENT OF CRUSTAL
DEFORMATION IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
by
MARK HUNTER MURRAY
B.S., Geophysics
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(1982)
SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
at the
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
and the
WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION
June 1991
© Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1991
Signature of Author I
/ - in Oceanography
Massachusetts Institute of Tec Oceanograpphoilco gInysJt-iteuctdiosn'ýole
Certified by
Thomas H. Jordan
Thesis Supervisor
Accepted by
A George P. Lohmann
Chairman, Joint Committee for Marine Geology and Geophysics,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
ARCHIVES

GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM MEASUREMENT OF CRUSTAL
DEFORMATION IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
by
MARK HUNTER MURRAY
Submitted to the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences on
July 24, 1991 in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
ABSTRACT
In Chapter 2, we develop a conventional terrestrial reference frame-designated
SV6--for the analysis of Global Positioning System (GPS) observations. The reference
frame adopts the geocentric origin and scale defined by eleven years of satellite laser
ranging (SLR) observations. The precise relative locations of 80 sites that primarily
realize the SV6 frame are derived from very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI)
observations. The orientation is consistent with the International Earth Rotation Service
terrestrial reference system. The coordinates of sixteen sites with well-determined local
vector ties between collocated VLBI and SLR reference points are used to make the
VLBI coordinate system commensurate with the SLR system; the sites are globally
distributed, including nine in North America, three in Europe, and one each in China,
Australia, Hawaii, and Kwajalein. A scales of the VLBI and SLR systems differ by 4±1
parts in 109. SV6 includes estimates of the temporal evolution and uncertainties of the
coordinates from VLBI and geophysical observations and we develop a methodology for
systematically combining temporally heterogeneous space-geodetic observations with
geophysical and geological information, such as global plate tectonic motion models.
In Chapter 3, we present estimates of crustal deformation in central California from
thirteen GPS campaigns, conducted primarily by a consortium of four universities from
December 1986 to February 1991. Each major campaign occupied a network of seven to
twenty sites in California repeatedly for four to five days, with additional fiduciary
control provided by sites distributed across North America, and in Hawaii and Europe.
The precision of the estimated baseline vectors, based on the day-to-day scatter over each
campaign, is 3-5 mm in the horizontal components with 1-3x10-8 dependence on
baseline length for well-designed experiments. The precision in the vertical is 15-25
mm. Precision is most strongly affected by changes to the fiducial network and
ionospheric conditions. Systematic constant error sources may be responsible for a
slight increase in long-term scatter over short-term scatter.
We then estimate relative motion between twelve sites in California that have
observations spanning 1.5-4.2 years. with uncertainties at the 1-1.5 mm/yr level.
Confidence in some of the estimated rates is limited by apparent inconsistencies between
experiments with poor fiducial control. The estimated relative motions of Owens Valley
and Palos Verdes with respect to Vandenberg are consistent with VLBI-derived rates.
We estimate north-south convergence across the eastern Santa Barbara channel at 5.2
mm/yr, and our results are consistent with a change to left-lateral shear in the central
Santa Barbara channel. The estimated deformation across the Santa Maria fold and thrust
belt has less convergence and more right-lateral shear than had been previously estimated
from triangulation and trilateration measurements. The relative motion of six sites along
the western margin in the vicinity of Vandenberg are consistent with 2-4 mm/yr motion
on the Hosgri fault. Relative motion east of the San Andreas suggests that an additional
2-4 mm/yr motion may be accommodated within a shear zone located in Owens Valley
and the Mojave Desert.
Thesis supervisor: Thomas H. Jordan, Professor of Geophysics
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My early attempts to become a physicist at M.I.T. many years ago required a great
deal of consoling, late-night pool games, and trips to Steve's Ice Cream. I would like to
thank, in particular, Aaron and Denise Bobick, Kevin Damon, Christopher Dorn, and Ray
Sepe for somehow keeping me sane. The highlight of my undergraduate career was the
time I spent in the California desert and pool halls and saloons of Las Vegas with Peter
Molnar, Dave Olgaard, and my fellow Field Geophysics classmates-especially Joann
Stock, Andy Michael, Isabel Brome, and Tanner Wray.
Sean Solomon introduced me to the joys of geophysics and was gracious enough to
keep me employed when I had no idea what I wanted to do. I am in the Joint Program
today because of the cruise we took on the R/V Knorr, where I shared some memorable
times with Mike Purdy, Bob Dietrich, Peter Roberts, and Doug Toomey.
My ocean-going career was scuttled, however, when Tom Jordan convinced me that
space-geodetic techniques could be really fundamental. His great intuition into scientific
problems and cogent advice continue to be an inspiration. A special thanks to Robin
Jordan for her dear friendship and consideration over the years and to Alexandra for
teaching me a thing or two about dancing.
My knowledge of space-based geodesy would be considerably poorer without the
kind and patient guidance of Bob King. I have also profited from many useful discussions
with Bernard Minster, Jim Davis, Yehuda Bock, Peter Morgan, Jim Ray, Irwin Shapiro,
and Tom Herring. It has been my great pleasure and fortune to work with Kurt Feigl and
Da-nan Dong, who kept everything running smoothly while I supposedly worked on my
thesis. The large amount of data considered in this thesis would not have been possible
without the dedicated efforts of the other members of the SCUM Consortium, for which I
thank Duncan Agnew, Brad Hager, Dave Jackson, and especially those who did all the
work, Frank Webb, Kristine Larson, Andrea Donnellan, and Shawn Larsen, among
others. I am grateful for the support provided by a NASA Graduate Student Researchers
Program fellowship. The work in this thesis vas partially funded by NASA giants
NAG5-459 and NAG5-737, and NSF grant EAR-8618513.
I will miss most the camaraderie and esprit de corps of the many other graduate
students I have known during my long tenure here. Roger Buck, Sharon Quayle, Scott
Phillips, and Darby Dyar made living on Magnolia Avenue an immense and unrepeatable
pleasure. Lynn Hall and Rick Buxton provided many a fine meal and shared their love of
movies. Other elder graduate students who provided much inspiration and laughs include
Kaye Shedlock, Steve Bratt, Steve Park, Craig Jones, Mike Nelson, Kiyoshi Yomagida,
Paul Okubo, and Paul Huang. To my penecontemporaneous colleagues-some long
since departed, some soon to follow-a hearty salute! These include Beth Robinson,
Karen Fischer, Jeanne Sauber, Steve Hickman, Sarah Kruse, Anne Sheehan, Will
Wilcock, Matt Cordery, Paul Filmer, and Mike Bergman. Living next to Mass Ave. was
made bearable by the inimitable Eugene Lavely and Richard Holme, to whom I shall
always wish a nice day. I deeply regret not being able to enjoy further the company of
those that follow me, including Peter Puster, Noriyuki Namiki, Pat McGovern, Paolo
Harabaglia, Pierre Ihmle, Mark Simons, Steve Shapiro, Jim Gaherty, Deb Zervas, Dawn
Sumner, Paula Waschbusch, Peter Kaufman, and Garrett Ito. My fondest regards are
reserved for those with whom I have shared the most: to Bob Grimm for being Bobhead,
to Justin Revenaugh for his irreverant humor and remarkable keyboard magic, to Greg
Beroza for his irrepressible humor and scientific 61an and to Eva Huala for somehow
putting up with it all. A special thanks to Lind Gee for cookies, rubber band practice, and
an affectionate friendship that helped me through the difficult times.
Lastly, I would like to thank my mother and father and sisters for their patience,
understanding, and love throughout this long journey: it's time I came back to the West
Coast.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract ................................................. 3
Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................. 5
Table of Contents .................................................................................................................. 7
Chapter 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 11
Terrestrial Geodesy and the San Andreas Fault ........................................................ 11
Satellite Geodesy and Plate Tectonics ...................................................................... 17
Space Geodesy and the San Andreas Discrepancy ................................................... 25
The Global Positioning System and Deformation in California ..................... 32
Thesis Plan ................................................................................................................ 37
Chapter 2. SV6: A Terrestrial Reference Frame for the Global Positioning Sysiemrn........... 41
Introduction ............................................................................................................... 41
Reference Systems and Frames.................................................................................46
Terrestrial Reference Systems for GPS ......................................................... 47
Space-Geodetic Vector Position Data ....................................................................... 53
Satellite Laser Ranging ...................................................................... 54
Very-long-baseline Interferometry..................................... 58
Collocation Vector Ties .................................... ................ 61
Uniform Estimation of Terrestrial Reference Frames........................................................... 65
Introduction ................................................................................................... 65
The Bursa-Wolf Similarity Transformation ........................................ 68
Temporal Evolution of the Bursa-Wolf Similarity Transformation.............. 72
Methodology for Estimating Terrestrial Reference Frames......................... 74
A Priori Absolute Motion Models............................. 79
Relaxing the Rigid Plate Assumption ...................................... ........ 86
Space-Geodetic Constraints on Non-Rigid Plate Motion ................ ... 88
Uncorrelated Site M otion ..................................... ..................... 92
Estim ation of SV6 .............................................................................................. 95
M odel Assumptions............................................................. ..... 95
Results ..................................................... ........ ........................................ 97
Discussion ................................................................................................................. 101
SV6 Positions and Velocities ........................................ 101
Comparison of SLR and VLBI............ ................................. 103
GPS Reference Points ..................................... 106
Conclusions ............................................................................................................... 108
Chapter 3. Global Positioning System Measurements in Central California ....................... 145
Introduction ............................................................................................................... 145
Geodetic Parameter Estimation from GPS Measurements ...................................... 147
Relative Positioning with GPS ........................................ 147
Phase and Pseudorange Observations ........................................................... 150
Data ........................................................................................................................... 156
General Description................................................................................. 156
GPS Receivers ................................................................................................ 159
The California Campaigns ..................................... 160
Analysis of GPS Observations .................................................................................. 166
GAM IT ......................................................................................................... 167
GLOBK ......................................................................................................... 172
Single-Session Adjustm ents ...................................................................................... 174
Short-Term Repeatability .......................................................................................... 182
Long-Term Repeatability ............................................... ....................................... 188
Relative Site M otion............................. ..... ............... ........................................... 193
Discussion ................................................................................................................. 200
Precision ........................................................................................................ 200
Reference Frame Sensitivity ....................................................................... 204
Relative Site M otions .................................................................................... 206
The San Andreas Discrepancy ........................................ 214
Conclusions ............................................................................................................... 219
Chapter 4. Conclusions ........................................ 259
Appendix A. Terrestrial Determination of VLBI Reference Points............................... 263
Introduction ................................................................................. 263
Kokee VLBI Reference Point 1311 .......................................................................... 266
Position Differences ................................................................................................. 269
VLBI Antenna Kinematic Constraints ...................................................................... 270
Reference Point Estimation ..................................................................................... 272
Incorporation of Geometric Constraints into HAVAGO .......................................... 276
Previous Results ........................................ 277
Other VLBI Antenna M ounts .................................. 279
Conclusions ............................................................................... ......... 281
Referencess .................................................................................... ................................... 289