Mechanism of error propagation from the subdaily Universal Time model into the celestial pole offsets estimated by VLBI

Within the analysis of space geodetic observations, errors of the applied subdaily Earth rotation model can induce systematic effects in different estimated parameters. In this paper, we focus on the impact of the subdaily Universal Time (UT1) model on the celestial pole offsets (CPO) estimated from very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations. We provide a mechanism that describes the error propagation from the subdaily UT1 into the daily CPO.In typical 24-h VLBI sessions the observed quasars are well distributed over the sky. But the observations, if looked at from the Earth-fixed frame, are not homogeneously distributed. The amount of observations performed in different terrestrial directions shows an irregularity which can be roughly compared to the case where the observations are collected in only one Earth-fixed direction. This peculiarity leads to artefacts in VLBI solutions, producing a correlation between the subdaily variations in UT1 and the position of the celestial pole. As a result errors in diurnal terms of the subdaily UT1 model are partly compensated by the estimated CPO. We compute for each 24-h VLBI session from 1990 until 2011 the theoretical response of the CPO to an error in the subdaily UT1 by setting up a least-squares adjustment model and using as input the coordinates of the observed quasars and observation epochs. Then real observed response of the estimated CPO derived from the VLBI session solutions is compared to the predicted one. A very good agreement between the CPO values estimated from VLBI and the predicted values was achieved. The presented model of error propagation from the subdaily UT1 into the daily CPO allows to predict and explain the behaviour of CPO estimates of VLBI solutions computed with different subdaily Earth rotation models, what can be helpful for testing the accuracy of different subdaily tidal models.     

Noise analysis of continuous GPS coordinate time series for CMONOC

The Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC) is one of the major scientific infrastructures, mainly using Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements, to monitor crustal deformation in the Chinese mainland. In this paper, decade-long coordinate time series of 26 continuous GPS sites of CMONOC are analyzed for their noise content using maximum likelihood estimation (MLE). We study the noise properties of continuous GPS time series of CMONOC for the unfiltered, filtered solutions and also the common mode signals in terms of power law plus white noise model. In the spatial filtering, we remove for every time series a common mode error that was estimated from a modified stacking of position residuals from other sites within ∼1000 km of the selected site. We find that the common mode signal in our network has a combination of spatially correlated flicker noise and a common white noise with large spatial extent. We demonstrate that for the unfiltered solutions of CMONOC continuous GPS sites the main colored noise is a flicker process, with a mean spectral index of ∼1. For the filtered solutions, the main colored noise is a general power law process, indicating that a major number of the filtered regional solutions have a combination of noise sources or local effects. The velocity uncertainties from CMONOC continuous GPS coordinate time series may be underestimated by factors of 8–16 if a pure white noise model is assumed. In addition, using a white plus flicker noise model, the median values of velocity errors for the unfiltered solutions are 0.16 (north), 0.17 (east) and 0.58 (vertical) mm/yr, and the median values for the filtered solutions are 0.09 (north), 0.10 (east) and 0.40 (vertical) mm/yr.     

Soybean cultivar selection for Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSSs) – Hydroponic cultivation

Four soybean cultivars (‘Atlantic’, ‘Cresir’, ‘Pr91m10’ and ‘Regir’), selected through a theoretical procedure as suitable for cultivation in BLSS, were evaluated in terms of growth and production. Germination percentage and Mean Germination Time (MGT) were measured. Plants were cultivated in a growth chamber equipped with a recirculating hydroponic system (Nutrient Film Technique). Cultivation was performed under controlled environmental conditions (12 h photoperiod, light intensity 350 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹, temperature regime 26/20 °C light/dark, relative humidity 65–75%). Fertigation was performed with a standard Hoagland solution, modified for soybean specific requirements, and EC and pH were kept at 2.0 dS m⁻¹ and 5.5 respectively.     

NIM4#铯冷原子喷泉钟新一代时间频率基准

回顾了NIM4 #钟实现 5 μK冷原子云 ,74cm原子喷泉和 0 95Hz线宽Ramsey跃迁实验 ,报道了 9 19GHz微波锁定到铯原子秒定义跃迁 ,频率稳定性达到 (5 - 7)× 10 -15(15 0 0 0s)。目前我们正在进行不确定度评估 ,可望不确定度进入 10 -15量级 ,建立我国新一代时间频率基准装置。     

双混频时差测量系统设计中的理论和技术问题

从分析双混频时差(DMTD)测量系统的测量误差着手,对系统设计和使用中常磁到的一些理论和技术问题进行了探讨,这涉及到公共源的影响、移相器的作用、自校和测量中的其它问题。     

原子时自动测量及数据采集系统

介绍了普通的时间实验室的时频测量,实现自动测量和数据收集的基本系统方案,并以上海天文台原子时实验室为例介绍了实际可行的自动测量和数据收集系统,这个系统高性能、低价格,可应用于国内几乎所有的时间实验室。     

时间频率设备自动监控系统的设计与实现CSCD

针对时间频率实验室设备实时监控的需求,在Microsoft NET平台上结合C++语言和Microsoft SQL server数据库技术,构建了时间频率设备自动监控系统。该系统可以实时监测设备的运行状态,并远程设置相关参数,在设备运行异常时,系统可自动弹出报警信息。实际应用表明系统具有较好的实用性、可维护性,为时间频率实验室的有序运行提供了保障。     

基于经验模分解的PPP时间比对数据消噪方法

精密单点定位(PPP)时间比对数据会受到观测噪声的影响,因此对时间比对数据进行消噪是一项重要工作。提出一种基于经验模分解(EMD)的PPP时间比对数据消噪方法,并将该方法与Vondrak滤波方法的消噪效果进行对比。结果表明,两种方法的消噪效果相当,均能有效滤除PPP时间比对数据中的随机噪声,明显改善时间比对的稳定度。     

基于北斗三号的长基线共视时间比对

卫星导航共视时间比对一直是远距离时间比对的重要方法之一。使用我国最新发射的北斗三号全球导航卫星,基于中科院国家授时中心(NTSC)和捷克光电研究院(TP)各自的时间产生和保持系统,开展了中捷北斗三号长基线共视时间比对试验。本文对中捷两站各自的北斗卫星可视数及其卫星高度角情况进行了统计分析,利用Vondark滤波对时间比对结果进行了降噪处理,最后将北斗三号共视时间比对结果与北斗二号及GPS共视时间比对结果进行了比较。结果表明:北斗三号在当前全球组网阶段中捷共视可视卫星数比北斗二号还少的情况下,其共视时间比对精度达到1. 16ns,较北斗二号提升约19%,与GPS更为接近。     

Statistical study of the time delay of ionospheric TEC storms to geomagnetic storms in Taoyuan,Taiwan

We have studied the time delay of ionospheric storms to geomagnetic storms at a low latitude station Taoyuan (25.02°N, 121.21°E), Taiwan using the Dst and TEC data during 126 geomagnetic storms from the year 2002 to 2014. In addition to the known local time dependence of the time delay, the statistics show that the time delay has significant seasonal characteristics, which can be explained within the framework of the seasonal characteristics of the ionospheric TEC. The data also show that there is no correlation between the time delay and the intensity of magnetic storms. As for the solar activity dependence of the time delay, the results show that there is no relationship between the time delay of positive storms and the solar activity, whereas the time delay of negative storms has weakly negative dependence on the solar activity, with correlation coefficient −0.41. Especially, there are two kinds of extreme events: pre-storm response events and long-time delay events. All of the pre-storm response events occurred during 15–20 LT, manifesting the Equator Ionospheric Anomaly (EIA) feature at Taoyuan. Moreover, the common features of the pre-storm response events suggest the storm sudden commencement (SSC) and weak geomagnetic disturbance before the main phase onset (MPO) of magnetic storms are two main possible causes of the pre-storm response events. By analyzing the geomagnetic indices during the events with long-time delay, we infer that this kind of events may not be caused by magnetic storms, and they might belong to ionospheric Q-disturbances.