Recently, GPS technology and data analysis have matured to the point where GPS data are often used to form velocity vectors ultimately applied in research by investigators other than those who acquired the original data. UNAVCO already plays a major role in this process via archiving of raw and RINEX GPS data and exchange of results via community meetings. The GPS Site Motion Vector/Crustal Velocity Archive, started in 2000, will go the next step by synthesizing and distributing data products such as velocity vectors.

Non-GPS scientists face several barriers to the use of GPS velocity vectors for geophysical modeling. First, they may be uninterested in or unable to reprocess the GPS data to derive velocities since such processing is computationally intensive and laborious. Second, although GPS investigators increasingly make their velocity vectors easily accessible, there is no central source for these results. Third, velocity vectors from different studies, even in nearby areas, are often difficult to combine owing to differences in reference frames or in other data processing choices. Fourth, the results may not include essential information (e.g., covariance matrices) enabling users to robustly combine results. This situation has prompted discussions about a community-wide synthesis effort and leads us to propose several general initiatives.

The GPS Site Motion Vector/Crustal Velocity Archive is an initial step to invite researchers to provide their site velocity vectors and related information (e.g., errors, reference frame, and analysis results including publications) to the UNAVCO Web site. Already, some investigators place such information on their own sites, so in these cases only links and some additional solution information will be needed. Although these data are not ideal since they may not be in a consistent reference frame or include all essential information, they will be useful for many applications and further encourage the exchange of valuable results. A more ambitious community project to produce a combined, consistent, high quality global GPS velocity field, called GPSVEL, was organized in 2000.

Try the Plate Motion Calculator

Related Pages:
Stable North America Reference Frame (SNARF) Working Group

Last modified Saturday, 22-Jul-2006 00:28:01 UTC

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