Precise geodesy with the Very Long Baseline Array

TL;DR

This paper details a long-term geodetic measurement program using the VLBA and other antennas to achieve millimeter-level accuracy in monitoring station positions and understanding geophysical phenomena.

Contribution

It presents a comprehensive analysis of VLBA geodetic data, demonstrating high-precision measurements and linking the array to the International Terrestrial Reference Frame.

Findings

Measured station displacements due to crustal motion and earthquakes

Achieved millimeter-level accuracy in station position monitoring

Identified antenna tilt effects in geodetic data

Abstract

We report on a program of geodetic measurements between 1994 and 2007 which used the Very Long Baseline Array and up to 10 globally distributed antennas. One of the goals of this program was to monitor positions of the array at a 1 millimeter level of accuracy and to tie the VLBA into the International Terrestrial Reference Frame. We describe the analysis of these data and report several interesting geophysical results including measured station displacements due to crustal motion, earthquakes, and antenna tilt. In terms of both formal errors and observed scatter, these sessions are among the very best geodetic VLBI experiments.