The Terrestrial Coordinate System and International Earth-rotation Services

1985 ◽  
Vol 38 (02) ◽  
pp. 216-217
Author(s):  
G. A. Wilkins
Keyword(s):  
Coordinate System ◽  
Earth Rotation ◽  
Reference System ◽  
New Techniques ◽  
Crustal Movements ◽  
Earth Observations ◽  
The Earth ◽  
External Reference ◽  
External Objects ◽  
Rotation Of The Earth

New techniques of measurement make it possible in 1984 to determine positions on the surface of the Earth to a much higher precision than was possible in 1884. If we look beyond the requirements of navigation we can see useful applications of global geodetic positioning to centimetric accuracy for such purposes as the control of mapping and the study of crustal movements. These new techniques depend upon observations of external objects, such as satellites or quasars rather than stars, and they require that the positions of these objects and the orientation of the surface of the Earth are both known with respect to an appropriate external reference system that is ‘fixed’ in space. We need networks of observing stations and analysis centres that monitor the motions of the external objects and the rotation of the Earth. Observations of stars by a transit circle are no longer adequate for this purpose.

scholarly journals Review of the achievements of project MERIT for the intercomparison of techniques for monitoring the rotation of the Earth

1988 ◽  
Vol 128 ◽  
pp. 227-232
Author(s):  
G. A. Wilkins
Keyword(s):  
Earth Rotation ◽  
Working Group ◽  
New Techniques ◽  
New Methods ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Terrestrial Reference System ◽  
Rotation Of The Earth ◽  
Analyse Data ◽  
Set Up ◽  
International Services

It is generally recognised that the Working Group on the Rotation of the Earth that was set up after IAU Symposium No. 82 has successfully achieved its principal objectives, namely: “to make recommendations on … future international services on earth-rotation” and “to obtain and analyse data on earth-rotation by both current and new methods …”. In particular, by organising Project MERIT, it has stimulated the development and use of new techniques and it has brought together in fruitful collaboration scientists from many countries and disciplines. Other subsidiary objectives have also been achieved and the project has been extended through cooperation with the COTES Working Group on the terrestrial reference system. The possible reasons for this success are also reviewed in the expectation that the conclusions will be relevant to other future projects.

scholarly journals Joint Summary Report of the IAU/IUGG Working Groups on the Rotation of the Earth and the Terrestrial Reference System

1986 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 771-788
Author(s):  
G. A. Wilkins ◽  
I. I. Mueller
Keyword(s):  
Earth Rotation ◽  
Working Group ◽  
Reference System ◽  
Lunar Laser Ranging ◽  
Long Baseline ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Earth Rotation Parameters ◽  
Working Groups ◽  
Terrestrial Reference System ◽  
Rotation Of The Earth

AbstractThe Working Group on the Rotation of the Earth was established in 1978 and developed a programme of international collaboration to Monitor Earth-Rotation and Intercompare the Techniques of observation and analysis (MERIT). The MERIT Short Campaign was held in 1980 to test and develop the organisational arrangements required during the MERIT Main Campaign in 1983-4. The Working Group on the Terrestrial Reference System was established in 1980 to prepare a proposal for the establishment and maintenance of a new Conventional Terrestrial Reference System (COTES) that would be based on the new techniques of space geodesy. The Working Groups collaborated closely and organised two intensive campaigns in 1984 and 1985 that were aimed primarily at determining the relationships between the reference systems of the six different techniques that were used to determine earth-rotation parameters. Observational data were obtained from 35 countries; analyses and intercomparisons of the results were carried out in 7 countries. The Working Groups reviewed the results at the Third MERIT Workshop and recommended that a new International Earth Rotation Service be set up in 1988 and that it be based on the use of very-long-baseline radio interferometry and both satellite and lunar laser ranging.

scholarly journals Basic Problems in the Kinematics of the Rotation of the Earth

1979 ◽  
Vol 82 ◽  
pp. 7-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernard Guinot
Keyword(s):  
Earth Rotation ◽  
Rotation Axis ◽  
Earth’S Rotation ◽  
International Astronomical Union ◽  
Earth's Rotation ◽  
The Earth ◽  
International Astronomical ◽  
Rotation Of The Earth

With the advent of more precise methods for measuring Earth rotation, a number of corrections to the apparent directions in space, to the terrestrial references, and to the rotation axis motion have to be carefully applied. It is the duty of the international Astronomical Union to give recommended or conventional expressions of these corrections in order to avoid inextricable difficulties in discussing the evaluated results. However, this task is not sufficient. The concepts used in the description of the Earth's rotation are somewhat obscured by traditions. They should be purified by removing notions which are not directly relevant.

scholarly journals The Origin of Celestial Coordinates

1990 ◽  
Vol 141 ◽  
pp. 51-59
Author(s):  
C. A. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Earth Rotation ◽  
Zero Point ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Reference Systems ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Private Correspondence ◽  
Rotation Of The Earth ◽  
Right Ascension

In 1978, Guinot proposed that, for studies of Earth rotation, the zero point of the apparent “right ascension” coordinate on the true equator should be so chosen that the rate of change of its hour angle is exactly proportional to the inertial rate of rotation of the Earth. It has been subsequently suggested that this concept of the “non-rotating origin” supersede the equinox quite generally as the origin of celestial coordinates. Since this proposal was first put forward, there has been much discussion, and some criticism, from Aoki and his colleagues, both published and in private correspondence. Some of the arguments for and against Guinot's proposal are discussed, as a contribution to the wider debate on reference systems now being carried out under the auspices of the IAU.

scholarly journals Nutation and the Oppolzer's Terms

1980 ◽  
Vol 78 ◽  
pp. 23-32
Author(s):  
E. P. Fedorov
Keyword(s):  
Coordinate System ◽  
Frames Of Reference ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Rotation Of The Earth ◽  
Unit Vectors

Two fundamental frames of reference are used in the study of the rotation of the Earth: the nonrotating celestial coordinate system XYZ attached to the directions to stars and/or extragalactic sources, and the terrestrial coordinate system xyz attached in “a prescribed way” to several points (observatories) on the surface of the Earth or to the pencil of unit vectors drawn from an arbitrary origin parallel to the local verticals at these points.

scholarly journals COMMISSION 19: ROTATION OF THE EARTH

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (T27A) ◽  
pp. 37-49
Author(s):  
Aleksander Brzezinski ◽  
Chopo Ma ◽  
Véronique Dehant ◽  
Pascale Defraigne ◽  
Jean O. Dickey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Earth Rotation ◽  
Reference Frames ◽  
International Association ◽  
Vice President ◽  
Past President ◽  
Scientific Investigations ◽  
The Earth ◽  
International Vlbi Service ◽  
Commission President ◽  
Rotation Of The Earth

The Commission supports and coordinates scientific investigations in the Earth rotation and related reference frames. Several changes had been introduced to the structure of Commission 19 since the IAU XXVI General Assembly in Prague, 2006. The Organizing Committee of Commission 19 has been substantially reduced. It consists now of six ex-officio members, the Commission president, vice-president, past president and representatives from the International Association of Geodesy (IAG), International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS), International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry (IVS), and five members at-large who are nominated by the OC, selected by the Commission members and elected by the IAU GA for a maximum of two terms. The modified terms of reference of Commission 19, the list of members and other details can be found at the Commission website <iau-comm19.cbk.waw.pl/>.

scholarly journals 19. Rotation of the Earth (Rotation de la Terre)

1976 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-116
Author(s):  
C. Sugawa ◽  
R. O. Vicente ◽  
H. J. M. Abraham ◽  
P. L. Bender ◽  
M. H. Cohen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Earth Rotation ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Rotation Of The Earth

scholarly journals Commission 19: Rotation of the Earth: (Rotation de la Terre)

2000 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-47
Author(s):  
Dennis D. McCarthy ◽  
Nicole Capitaine ◽  
F. Arias ◽  
G. Beutler ◽  
P. Brosche ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Earth Rotation ◽  
Web Site ◽  
Limited Space ◽  
The Earth ◽  
Rotation Of The Earth ◽  
Extensive List

The triennial report of Commission 19 was composed from the contributions of its members. Space does not permit a listing of their names, but their contributions are sincerely appreciated. Unfortunately because of limited space it is also not possible to provide in this report the extensive list of publication of the Commission members. The list of publications is however available on the Commission 19 web site at maia.usno.navy.mil/iauc19.

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