The impact of environmental loading on nonlinear variations of 3D coordinate time series of GNSS stations in Sichuan and Yunnan region

doi:10.11947/j.AGCS.2025.20240397

Abstract

Abstract:

Investigating the nonlinear variations in GNSS coordinate time series can obtain a high-precision GNSS velocity fields, which contribute to establish and maintain a dynamic Earth reference frame. Here, we used the 94 GNSS stations data over the period January 2011 to December 2022 at Sichuan and Yunnan region and calculated the environmental loading deformation associated with hydrological loading, atmospheric loading, and non-tidal ocean loading, which provided by the IMLS and GFZ, respectively. We quantitatively evaluates the nonlinear changes in the GNSS 3D coordinate time series using PRMS that the percentage of RMS change after environmental loading correction. Finally, the ICA model was carried to separate the nonlinear signals in the vertical GNSS coordinate time series. The results show that the environmental loading products provided by IMLS outperforms the GFZ. The hydrological loading and atmospheric loading significantly correct nonlinear changes in vertical GNSS coordinate time series, with an average PRMS values of 8.66% and 6.74%, respectively. In the horizontal north (N) component, the hydrological loading can weaken the nonlinear changes in the GNSS coordinate time series, with an average PRMS values of 2.07%; while the atmospheric loading will increase the nonlinear changes, with an average PRMS values of -0.22%. In the horizontal east (E) component, the hydrological loading increase the nonlinear changes, with an average PRMS values of -0.11%; while the effect of atmospheric loading correction is weak, with an average PRMS values of 0.22%. For the NEU components, the effect of non-tidal ocean loading correction is not obvious in nonlinear changes of GNSS coordinate time series, with an average PRMS values of 0.33%, -0.2%, and 0.63%, respectively. The correlation coefficients between the IC2 signal separated by the ICA method and the IMLS atmospheric loading deformation range from -0.68 to 0.71 (greater than 0.65 accounting for 73% of all GNSS stations), with an average value of 0.64, while the correlation coefficients between the IC4 signal and the hydrological loading deformation obtained by the GRACE/GRACE-FO model range from 0.55 to 0.79, with an average value of 0.69, indicating that the IC2 and IC4 signals may be related to the nonlinear changes caused by atmospheric loading and hydrological loading, respectively. Furthermore, it is necessary to correct nonlinear changes in GNSS coordinate time series using environmental loading products.

Key words: GNSS, Earth reference frame, environmental loading, nonlinear changes, ICA

CLC Number:

P228

Shunqiang HU, Kejie CHEN, Xiaoxing HE, Hai ZHU, Tan WANG. The impact of environmental loading on nonlinear variations of 3D coordinate time series of GNSS stations in Sichuan and Yunnan region[J]. Acta Geodaetica et Cartographica Sinica, 2025, 54(5): 805-818.

Figures/Tables 11

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机构	负载类型	模型	空间分辨率	时间分辨率/h
GFZ	水文负载	LSDM		24
	大气负载	ECMWF	0.5°×0.5°	3
	非潮汐海洋负载	EMPIOM		3
IMLS	水文负载	MERRA2		3
	大气负载	MERRA2	2′×2′	6
	非潮汐海洋负载	MPIOM06		3

相关性	最小值	最大值	平均值	中位值
GNSS＿IC2/GRACE＿HYDL	－0.18	0.39	0.23	0.23
GNSS＿IC2/IMLS＿HYDL	－0.13	0.20	0.12	0.13
GNSS＿IC2/IMLS＿NTAL	－0.68	0.71	0.64	0.67
GNSS＿IC2/IMLS＿NTOL	－0.36	0.52	0.39	0.39
GNSS＿IC3/GRACE＿HYDL	－0.55	0.59	0.06	－0.25
GNSS＿IC3/IMLS＿HYDL	－0.40	0.45	0.05	－0.17
GNSS＿IC3/IMLS＿NTAL	－0.13	0.18	0.03	0.02
GNSS＿IC3/IMLS＿NTOL	－0.13	0.14	0.02	0.12
GNSS＿IC4/GRACE＿HYDL	0.55	0.79	0.69	0.69
GNSS＿IC4/IMLS＿HYDL	0.50	0.64	0.59	0.60
GNSS＿IC4/IMLS＿NTAL	－0.11	0.26	－0.01	－0.04
GNSS＿IC4/IMLS＿NTOL	－0.15	0.01	－0.06	－0.06