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Papers by Zuheir Altamimi

1] For the first time in the history of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame, the ITRF20... more 1] For the first time in the history of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame, the ITRF2000 combines unconstrained space geodesy solutions that are free from any tectonic plate motion model. Minimum constraints are applied to these solutions solely in order to define the underlying terrestrial reference frame (TRF). The ITRF2000 origin is defined by the Earth center of mass sensed by satellite laser ranging (SLR) and its scale by SLR and very long baseline interferometry. Its orientation is aligned to the ITRF97 at epoch 1997.0, and its orientation time evolution follows, conventionally, that of the no-net-rotation NNR-NUVEL-1A model. The ITRF2000 orientation and its rate are implemented using a consistent geodetic method, anchored over a selection of ITRF sites of high geodetic quality, ensuring a datum definition at the 1 mm level. This new frame is the most extensive and accurate one ever developed, containing about 800 stations located at about 500 sites, with better distribution over the globe compared to past ITRF versions but still with more site concentration in western Europe and North America. About 50% of station positions are determined to better than 1 cm, and about 100 sites have their velocity estimated to at (or better than) 1 mm/yr level. The ITRF2000 velocity field was used to estimate relative rotation poles for six major tectonic plates that are independent of the TRF orientation rate. A comparison to relative rotation poles of the NUVEL-1A plate motion model shows vector differences ranging between 0.03°and 0.08°/m.y. (equivalent to approximately 1-7 mm/yr over the Earth's surface). ITRF2000 angular velocities for four plates, relative to the Pacific plate, appear to be faster than those predicted by the NUVEL-1A model. The two most populated plates in terms of space geodetic sites, North America and Eurasia, exhibit a relative Euler rotation pole of about 0.056 (±0.005)°/m.y. faster than the pole predicted by NUVEL-1A and located about (10°N, 7°E) more to the northwest, compared to that model.

With the advent of Space geodesy techniques in early eighties, global terrestrial reference frame... more With the advent of Space geodesy techniques in early eighties, global terrestrial reference frames became available whose precision is still improving parallel to measuring and modeling advances.As a global reference, the realization of the International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS), known as the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF), maintained by the International Earth Rotation Service, has sustained substantial improvement and enhancement.

Geophysical Research Letters - GEOPHYS RES LETT, 2003

The realization of the International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS) for 2000 (ITRF2000), pro... more The realization of the International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS) for 2000 (ITRF2000), provides an accurate estimation of relative motions for 6 major tectonic plates. In order to comply with the ITRS specification, a No-Net-Rotation Condition (NNRC) was applied by aligning the orientation time evolution of the ITRF2000 to that of the geophysical model NNR-NUVEL-1A. This implicit application of the NNRC, since the NNR-NUVEL-1A satisfies that condition, is achieved by using a consistent geodetic method, minimizing the global rotation rate between the ITRF2000 and the NNR-NUVEL-1A model. The main focus of this paper is to examine how the ITRF2000 satisfies this condition by computing rotation rate components with respect to the Tisserand frame which is the basis of the NNRC. Numerical tests based on several approaches illustrate the sensitivity of the alignment to NNR-NUVEL-1A and they also show that the ITRF2000 is aligned at the 1 mm/yr level.

Journal of Geophysical Research, 2002

1] For the first time in the history of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame, the ITRF20... more 1] For the first time in the history of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame, the ITRF2000 combines unconstrained space geodesy solutions that are free from any tectonic plate motion model. Minimum constraints are applied to these solutions solely in order to define the underlying terrestrial reference frame (TRF). The ITRF2000 origin is defined by the Earth center of mass sensed by satellite laser ranging (SLR) and its scale by SLR and very long baseline interferometry. Its orientation is aligned to the ITRF97 at epoch 1997.0, and its orientation time evolution follows, conventionally, that of the no-net-rotation NNR-NUVEL-1A model. The ITRF2000 orientation and its rate are implemented using a consistent geodetic method, anchored over a selection of ITRF sites of high geodetic quality, ensuring a datum definition at the 1 mm level. This new frame is the most extensive and accurate one ever developed, containing about 800 stations located at about 500 sites, with better distribution over the globe compared to past ITRF versions but still with more site concentration in western Europe and North America. About 50% of station positions are determined to better than 1 cm, and about 100 sites have their velocity estimated to at (or better than) 1 mm/yr level. The ITRF2000 velocity field was used to estimate relative rotation poles for six major tectonic plates that are independent of the TRF orientation rate. A comparison to relative rotation poles of the NUVEL-1A plate motion model shows vector differences ranging between 0.03°and 0.08°/m.y. (equivalent to approximately 1-7 mm/yr over the Earth's surface). ITRF2000 angular velocities for four plates, relative to the Pacific plate, appear to be faster than those predicted by the NUVEL-1A model. The two most populated plates in terms of space geodetic sites, North America and Eurasia, exhibit a relative Euler rotation pole of about 0.056 (±0.005)°/m.y. faster than the pole predicted by NUVEL-1A and located about (10°N, 7°E) more to the northwest, compared to that model.

Journal of Geodesy, 2011

ITRF2008 is a refined version of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame based on reprocess... more ITRF2008 is a refined version of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame based on reprocessed solutions of the four space geodetic techniques: VLBI, SLR, GPS and DORIS, spanning 29, 26, 12.5 and 16 years of observations, respectively. The input data used in its elaboration are time series (weekly from satellite techniques and 24-h sessionwise from VLBI) of station positions and daily Earth Orientation Parameters (EOPs). The ITRF2008 origin is defined in such a way that it has zero translations and translation rates with respect to the mean Earth center of mass, averaged by the SLR time series. Its scale is defined by nullifying the scale factor and its rate with respect to the mean of VLBI and SLR long-term solutions as obtained by stacking their respective time series. The scale agreement between these two technique solutions is estimated to be 1.05 ± 0.13 ppb at epoch 2005.0 and 0.049 ± 0.010 ppb/yr. The ITRF2008 orientation (at epoch 2005.0) and its rate are aligned to the ITRF2005 using 179 stations of high geodetic quality. An estimate of the origin components from ITRF2008 to ITRF2005 (both origins are defined by SLR) indicates differences at epoch 2005.0, namely: −0.5, −0.9 and −4.7 mm along X, Y and Z-axis, respectively. The translation rate differences between the two frames are zero for Y and Z, while we observe an X-translation rate of 0.3 mm/yr. The estimated formal errors of these parameters are 0.2 mm and 0.2 mm/yr, respectively. The high level of origin agreement between ITRF2008 and ITRF2005 is an indication of an imprecise ITRF2000 origin Z. Altamimi (B) · X. Collilieux · L. Métivier that exhibits a Z-translation drift of 1.8 mm/yr with respect to ITRF2005. An evaluation of the ITRF2008 origin accuracy based on the level of its agreement with ITRF2005 is believed to be at the level of 1 cm over the time-span of the SLR observations. Considering the level of scale consistency between VLBI and SLR, the ITRF2008 scale accuracy is evaluated to be at the level of 1.2 ppb (8 mm at the equator) over the common time-span of the observations of both techniques. Although the performance of the ITRF2008 is demonstrated to be higher than ITRF2005, future ITRF improvement resides in improving the consistency between local ties in co-location sites and space geodesy estimates.

Mass redistributions within the Earth induce displacements of the center of mass with respect to ... more Mass redistributions within the Earth induce displacements of the center of mass with respect to the center of figure of the Earth (geocenter motion). Recent studies have shown that knowing the secular geocenter motion may be useful to constrain geophysical observations such as recent ice melting or postglacial rebound. In this work, we investigate the long term geocenter velocity. We, first, show that the classical method to infer the Center of Figure of the Earth is not appropriate and we propose a new formulation for the geocenter motion slightly different form the original one. Then, in the framework of ITRF2008 preparation, we examine Satellite Laser Ranging solutions, provided by the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS), which are particularly sensitive to the center of mass position. We also analyse a few GPS solutions provided by analysis centers of the International GNSS Service (IGS).

Surveys in Geophysics, 2010

1] For the first time in the history of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame, the ITRF20... more 1] For the first time in the history of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame, the ITRF2000 combines unconstrained space geodesy solutions that are free from any tectonic plate motion model. Minimum constraints are applied to these solutions solely in order to define the underlying terrestrial reference frame (TRF). The ITRF2000 origin is defined by the Earth center of mass sensed by satellite laser ranging (SLR) and its scale by SLR and very long baseline interferometry. Its orientation is aligned to the ITRF97 at epoch 1997.0, and its orientation time evolution follows, conventionally, that of the no-net-rotation NNR-NUVEL-1A model. The ITRF2000 orientation and its rate are implemented using a consistent geodetic method, anchored over a selection of ITRF sites of high geodetic quality, ensuring a datum definition at the 1 mm level. This new frame is the most extensive and accurate one ever developed, containing about 800 stations located at about 500 sites, with better distribution over the globe compared to past ITRF versions but still with more site concentration in western Europe and North America. About 50% of station positions are determined to better than 1 cm, and about 100 sites have their velocity estimated to at (or better than) 1 mm/yr level. The ITRF2000 velocity field was used to estimate relative rotation poles for six major tectonic plates that are independent of the TRF orientation rate. A comparison to relative rotation poles of the NUVEL-1A plate motion model shows vector differences ranging between 0.03°and 0.08°/m.y. (equivalent to approximately 1-7 mm/yr over the Earth's surface). ITRF2000 angular velocities for four plates, relative to the Pacific plate, appear to be faster than those predicted by the NUVEL-1A model. The two most populated plates in terms of space geodetic sites, North America and Eurasia, exhibit a relative Euler rotation pole of about 0.056 (±0.005)°/m.y. faster than the pole predicted by NUVEL-1A and located about (10°N, 7°E) more to the northwest, compared to that model.

With the advent of Space geodesy techniques in early eighties, global terrestrial reference frame... more With the advent of Space geodesy techniques in early eighties, global terrestrial reference frames became available whose precision is still improving parallel to measuring and modeling advances.As a global reference, the realization of the International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS), known as the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF), maintained by the International Earth Rotation Service, has sustained substantial improvement and enhancement.

Geophysical Research Letters - GEOPHYS RES LETT, 2003

The realization of the International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS) for 2000 (ITRF2000), pro... more The realization of the International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS) for 2000 (ITRF2000), provides an accurate estimation of relative motions for 6 major tectonic plates. In order to comply with the ITRS specification, a No-Net-Rotation Condition (NNRC) was applied by aligning the orientation time evolution of the ITRF2000 to that of the geophysical model NNR-NUVEL-1A. This implicit application of the NNRC, since the NNR-NUVEL-1A satisfies that condition, is achieved by using a consistent geodetic method, minimizing the global rotation rate between the ITRF2000 and the NNR-NUVEL-1A model. The main focus of this paper is to examine how the ITRF2000 satisfies this condition by computing rotation rate components with respect to the Tisserand frame which is the basis of the NNRC. Numerical tests based on several approaches illustrate the sensitivity of the alignment to NNR-NUVEL-1A and they also show that the ITRF2000 is aligned at the 1 mm/yr level.

Journal of Geophysical Research, 2002

1] For the first time in the history of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame, the ITRF20... more 1] For the first time in the history of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame, the ITRF2000 combines unconstrained space geodesy solutions that are free from any tectonic plate motion model. Minimum constraints are applied to these solutions solely in order to define the underlying terrestrial reference frame (TRF). The ITRF2000 origin is defined by the Earth center of mass sensed by satellite laser ranging (SLR) and its scale by SLR and very long baseline interferometry. Its orientation is aligned to the ITRF97 at epoch 1997.0, and its orientation time evolution follows, conventionally, that of the no-net-rotation NNR-NUVEL-1A model. The ITRF2000 orientation and its rate are implemented using a consistent geodetic method, anchored over a selection of ITRF sites of high geodetic quality, ensuring a datum definition at the 1 mm level. This new frame is the most extensive and accurate one ever developed, containing about 800 stations located at about 500 sites, with better distribution over the globe compared to past ITRF versions but still with more site concentration in western Europe and North America. About 50% of station positions are determined to better than 1 cm, and about 100 sites have their velocity estimated to at (or better than) 1 mm/yr level. The ITRF2000 velocity field was used to estimate relative rotation poles for six major tectonic plates that are independent of the TRF orientation rate. A comparison to relative rotation poles of the NUVEL-1A plate motion model shows vector differences ranging between 0.03°and 0.08°/m.y. (equivalent to approximately 1-7 mm/yr over the Earth's surface). ITRF2000 angular velocities for four plates, relative to the Pacific plate, appear to be faster than those predicted by the NUVEL-1A model. The two most populated plates in terms of space geodetic sites, North America and Eurasia, exhibit a relative Euler rotation pole of about 0.056 (±0.005)°/m.y. faster than the pole predicted by NUVEL-1A and located about (10°N, 7°E) more to the northwest, compared to that model.

Journal of Geodesy, 2011

ITRF2008 is a refined version of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame based on reprocess... more ITRF2008 is a refined version of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame based on reprocessed solutions of the four space geodetic techniques: VLBI, SLR, GPS and DORIS, spanning 29, 26, 12.5 and 16 years of observations, respectively. The input data used in its elaboration are time series (weekly from satellite techniques and 24-h sessionwise from VLBI) of station positions and daily Earth Orientation Parameters (EOPs). The ITRF2008 origin is defined in such a way that it has zero translations and translation rates with respect to the mean Earth center of mass, averaged by the SLR time series. Its scale is defined by nullifying the scale factor and its rate with respect to the mean of VLBI and SLR long-term solutions as obtained by stacking their respective time series. The scale agreement between these two technique solutions is estimated to be 1.05 ± 0.13 ppb at epoch 2005.0 and 0.049 ± 0.010 ppb/yr. The ITRF2008 orientation (at epoch 2005.0) and its rate are aligned to the ITRF2005 using 179 stations of high geodetic quality. An estimate of the origin components from ITRF2008 to ITRF2005 (both origins are defined by SLR) indicates differences at epoch 2005.0, namely: −0.5, −0.9 and −4.7 mm along X, Y and Z-axis, respectively. The translation rate differences between the two frames are zero for Y and Z, while we observe an X-translation rate of 0.3 mm/yr. The estimated formal errors of these parameters are 0.2 mm and 0.2 mm/yr, respectively. The high level of origin agreement between ITRF2008 and ITRF2005 is an indication of an imprecise ITRF2000 origin Z. Altamimi (B) · X. Collilieux · L. Métivier that exhibits a Z-translation drift of 1.8 mm/yr with respect to ITRF2005. An evaluation of the ITRF2008 origin accuracy based on the level of its agreement with ITRF2005 is believed to be at the level of 1 cm over the time-span of the SLR observations. Considering the level of scale consistency between VLBI and SLR, the ITRF2008 scale accuracy is evaluated to be at the level of 1.2 ppb (8 mm at the equator) over the common time-span of the observations of both techniques. Although the performance of the ITRF2008 is demonstrated to be higher than ITRF2005, future ITRF improvement resides in improving the consistency between local ties in co-location sites and space geodesy estimates.

Mass redistributions within the Earth induce displacements of the center of mass with respect to ... more Mass redistributions within the Earth induce displacements of the center of mass with respect to the center of figure of the Earth (geocenter motion). Recent studies have shown that knowing the secular geocenter motion may be useful to constrain geophysical observations such as recent ice melting or postglacial rebound. In this work, we investigate the long term geocenter velocity. We, first, show that the classical method to infer the Center of Figure of the Earth is not appropriate and we propose a new formulation for the geocenter motion slightly different form the original one. Then, in the framework of ITRF2008 preparation, we examine Satellite Laser Ranging solutions, provided by the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS), which are particularly sensitive to the center of mass position. We also analyse a few GPS solutions provided by analysis centers of the International GNSS Service (IGS).

Surveys in Geophysics, 2010