TITLE:
Studies of Tectonic Motion from Helwan-Satellite Laser Ranging Station
AUTHORS:
Gamal F. Attia
KEYWORDS:
Laser Ranging, Laser Radar, Crustal Movements, Short-Arc, Baselines
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Astronomy and Astrophysics,
Vol.4 No.4,
December
5,
2014
ABSTRACT: Satellite Laser Ranging
(SLR) is a proven space geodetic technique with significant potential for
important contributions to scientific studies of tectonic motion. Currently,
SLR is the most accurate available technique to determine the geocentric
position with a reported precision in the order of few millimeters. Data
gathered through SLR together with “Short Arc” mathematical algorithm became a
highly precise tool to detect, monitor and calculate recent crustal movements
through repeated measurements of the baselines between some stations on
different tectonic plates. In this paper, the Short Arc mathematical model
introduced in a previous paper was used to calculate the length of the baseline
between Helwan-SLR station and other four fixed SLR stations, placed on
different plates. Application of this model with the data gathered through a 4
year time interval gave repeatable results with very high accuracy (in the
order of 4 cm).