Present-day crustal movement of the Chinese mainland based on Global Navigation Satellite System data from 1998 to 2018

A total of more than 260 continuous stations and 2000 campaign stations from the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC) project, covering the Chinese mainland and its surrounding areas during the period of 1998–2018, are processed using the Bernese Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) software via a state-of-the-art method. We obtain the coordinate time series of all the stations given in the reference frame ITRF2014, estimate the coseismic deformation, and remove outliers. Lastly, we present the latest, most complete, and most accurate contemporary horizontal velocity field with respect to the stable Eurasian plate, irrespective of the postseismic deformations. This study shows that the signal of tectonic movement in Western China is stronger than that in Eastern China particularly in the Tibetan Plateau, with a rate of 18–32?mm/a. Moreover, the signal decays sharply from south to north. However, North China and South China move coherently to the ESE direction mostly at a rate of 4–10?mm/a and have not experienced any abrupt velocity gradients in their interiors. Meanwhile, Northeast China has the lowest velocity of only 2–4?mm/a in addition to the coastal areas that have slightly larger velocities. The densified and continuous observation of GNSS stations are of great significance to the study of the present-day crustal movement and tectonic deformation characteristics of the Chinese mainland. This would help to provide better constraints on the kinematics and dynamics of the region.     

VLBI observations to the APOD satellite

The APOD (Atmospheric density detection and Precise Orbit Determination) is the first LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite in orbit co-located with a dual-frequency GNSS (GPS/BD) receiver, an SLR reflector, and a VLBI X/S dual band beacon. From the overlap statistics between consecutive solution arcs and the independent validation by SLR measurements, the orbit position deviation was below 10?cm before the on-board GNSS receiver got partially operational. In this paper, the focus is on the VLBI observations to the LEO satellite from multiple geodetic VLBI radio telescopes, since this is the first implementation of a dedicated VLBI transmitter in low Earth orbit. The practical problems of tracking a fast moving spacecraft with current VLBI ground infrastructure were solved and strong interferometric fringes were obtained by cross-correlation of APOD carrier and DOR (Differential One-way Ranging) signals. The precision in X-band time delay derived from 0.1?s integration time of the correlator output is on the level of 0.1?ns. The APOD observations demonstrate encouraging prospects of co-location of multiple space geodetic techniques in space, as a first prototype.     

A shadow function model based on perspective projection and atmospheric effect for satellites in eclipse

Accurate Solar Radiation Pressure (SRP) modelling is critical for correctly describing the dynamics of satellites. A shadow function is a unitless quantity varying between 0 and 1 to scale the solar radiation flux at a satellite’s location during eclipses. Errors in modelling shadow function lead to inaccuracy in SRP that degrades the orbit quality. Shadow function modelling requires solutions to a geometrical problem (Earth’s oblateness) and a physical problem (atmospheric effects). This study presents a new shadow function model (PPM_atm) which uses a perspective projection based approach to solve the geometrical problem rigorously and a linear function to describe the reduction of solar radiation flux due to atmospheric effects. GRACE (Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment) satellites carry accelerometers that record variations of non-conservative forces, which reveal the variations of shadow function during eclipses. In this study, the PPM_atm is validated using accelerometer observations of the GRACE-A satellite. Test results show that the PPM_atm is closer to the variations in accelerometer observations than the widely used SECM (Spherical Earth Conical Model). Taking the accelerometer observations derived shadow function as the “truth”, the relative error in PPM_atm is ?0.79% while the SECM 11.07%. The influence of the PPM_atm is also shown in orbit prediction for Galileo satellites. Compared with the SECM, the PPM_atm can reduce the radial orbit error RMS by 5.6?cm over a 7-day prediction. The impacts of the errors in shadow function modelling on the orbit remain to be systematic and should be mitigated in long-term orbit prediction.     

Multi- GNSS reflectometry performance evaluation for coastal sea level monitoring: A case study in Antarctic Peninsula

Antarctica is a continent that crucial for studying climate change and its progression across time, as well as analyzing and forecasting local and global change. In this environment, due to the challenges caused by sea-level rise, storm surges, and tsunamis, sustainability is a critical concern, particularly for coastal regions. As a result, the long-term observations that will be conducted in Antarctica are critical for monitoring the adverse impacts of climate change. In recent years, many monitoring approaches, both space, and ground-based are performed to monitor sea/ice level trends in space-based scientific investigations conducted in and around the region. In the study, based on one year of observations from the Palmer GNSS Station, the GNSS Reflectometry technique was used to measure the sea level on the Antarctic Peninsula (PALM). GNSS Station observations were analyzed with a Lomb-Scargle periodogram to monitor sea-level changes, and results were validated with data from a co-located tide gauge (TG). The results show that the correlation between GNSS-R sea-level changes and tidal sea-level changes is found as 0.91.     

GNSS接收机中采样率对时间鉴别力的影响

探讨了GNSS系统中,伪码跟踪环的时间鉴别力与采样率之间的定量关系,提出了时间鉴别力的性能评估准则及其计算方法。然后以GPS L5信号为例,重点考察多普勒效应对采样系统时间鉴别力的影响。实验表明,一般来说,随着采样率的增加,采样系统的时间鉴别力也会随之提高。但是当采样率接近或者恰好等于码片速率的整数倍时,采样系统的时间鉴别力会陡然下降。虽然多普勒效应能够显著改善等量采样系统的时间鉴别力,但是与设计良好的非等量采样率相比,其改善程度十分有限。本文提出的算法可以应用于GNSS数字接收机设计工作,以选择“较优”的采样率,即以较低的硬件成本实现较高的时间鉴别力。
     

一种改进的GNSS整周模糊度解相关算法

GNSS整周模糊度解相关算法的性能直接影响到整周模糊度的搜索速度和解算成功率。为了在不降低GNSS整周模糊度解相关算法解相关程度的前提下,提高解相关算法的计算效率,在深入分析典型解相关方法优缺点的基础上,提出基于对角线预排算的解相关算法。该方法源于对直接对角线排序解相关算法的预排序思想,采用矩阵分解后对角线元素中最小值并将其转换到对应对角线位置的方式,用更少的迭代次数达到比直接对角线排序更好的解相关效果。将新算法与其他算法进行仿真比较得出,其性能优于直接对角线排序算法,解相关功能与联合解相关算法等效,且计算效率略占优势。     

强信号下GNSS接收机前端处理引起的相关损耗

在全球导航卫星系统（GNSS）信号质量监测及GNSS射频（RF）信号模拟器测试等应用中,有用信号功率往往远高于噪声功率。针对二进制相位移位键控（BPSK）和二进制偏移载波（BOC）调制信号,首次研究了这种强信号条件下接收机带限滤波、采样和量化（BSQ）引起的相关损耗。首先分析了不考虑量化作用时由滤波和采样引起的损耗;然后分析了不考虑前端滤波时由量化和采样引起的损耗,推导了相关损耗的解析表达式并得到了量化器的最佳量化间隔;最后,对于滤波、采样、量化共同作用引起的损耗,采用蒙特卡罗方法仿真分析了GPS L1 C/A信号在不同滤波带宽和量化比特数下的归一化相关功率,探讨了根据仿真结果拟合相关损耗解析表达式的方法以简化分析。      

The multi-source data fusion global ionospheric modeling software—IonoGim

We introduce a new global ionospheric modeling software—IonoGim, using ground-based GNSS data, the altimetry satellite and LEO (Low Earth Orbit) occultation data to establish the global ionospheric model. The software is programmed by C++ with fast computing speed and highly automatic degree, it is especially suitable for automatic ionosphere modeling. The global ionospheric model and DCBs obtained from IonoGim were compared with the CODE (Center for Orbit Determination in Europe) to verify its accuracy and reliability. The results show that IonoGim and CODE have good agreement with small difference, indicating that IonoGim owns high accuracy and reliability, and can be fully applicable for high-precision ionospheric research. In addition, through comparison between only using ground-based GNSS observations and multi-source data model, it can be demonstrated that the space-based ionospheric data effectively improve the model precision in marine areas where the ground-based GNSS tracking station lacks.     

GNSS弱信号两级快速傅里叶变换捕获方法

高动态弱信号条件下,为了提高捕获过程实现的灵活性,提出了两级快速傅里叶变换(FFT)多普勒频率捕获方法,第一级FFT使用较短的相干积分时间将多普勒频率搜索范围划分为多个粗分格,第二级FFT在每一个分格内对多普勒频率进行更精细的搜索.采用文章提出的捕获方法,可以降低FFT点数,简化实现复杂度;另一方面,计算第一级FFT时可通过流水线操作提高资源利用率.为了验证所提方法的正确性,仿真实现了两级FFT捕获方法.结果表明,两级FFT方法能在高动态弱信号条件下正确捕获多普勒频率.     

Medium Earth Orbit dynamical survey and its use in passive debris removal

The Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) region hosts satellites for navigation, communication, and geodetic/space environmental science, among which are the Global Navigation Satellites Systems (GNSS). Safe and efficient removal of debris from MEO is problematic due to the high cost for maneuvers needed to directly reach the Earth (reentry orbits) and the relatively crowded GNSS neighborhood (graveyard orbits). Recent studies have highlighted the complicated secular dynamics in the MEO region, but also the possibility of exploiting these dynamics, for designing removal strategies. In this paper, we present our numerical exploration of the long-term dynamics in MEO, performed with the purpose of unveiling the set of reentry and graveyard solutions that could be reached with maneuvers of reasonable $\mathrm{\Delta }V$ cost. We simulated the dynamics over 120–200?years for an extended grid of millions of fictitious MEO satellites that covered all inclinations from 0 to 90°, using non-averaged equations of motion and a suitable dynamical model that accounted for the principal geopotential terms, 3rd-body perturbations and solar radiation pressure (SRP). We found a sizeable set of usable solutions with reentry times that exceed $～40$ years, mainly around three specific inclination values: 46°, 56°, and 68°; a result compatible with our understanding of MEO secular dynamics. For $\mathrm{\Delta }V?300$ m/s (i.e., achieved if you start from a typical GNSS orbit and target a disposal orbit with $e<0.3$), reentry times from GNSS altitudes exceed $～70$ years, while low-cost ($\mathrm{\Delta }V?5–35$ m/s) graveyard orbits, stable for at lest 200?years, are found for eccentricities up to $e\approx 0.018$. This investigation was carried out in the framework of the EC-funded “ReDSHIFT” project.