Publication Date:
2013-02-15
Description:
We process the total-station surveys performed at the ITRF co-location site Medicina (Northern Italy) over the decade (2001–2010) with the purpose of determining the extent of local intrasite motions and relating them to local geophysical processes, the geological setting and the design of the ground pillars. In addition, continuous observations acquired by two co-located GPS stations (MEDI and MSEL separated by 27 m) are analysed and their relative motion is cross-checked with the total-station results. The local ground control network extends over a small area (〈100 x 100 m) but the results demonstrate significant anisotropic deformations with rates up to 1.6 mm a –1 , primarily horizontal, a value comparable to intraplate tectonic deformations. The results derived from GPS and total-station observations are consistent and point to the presence of horizontal intrasite motions over very short distances possibly associated with varying environmental conditions in a very unfavourable local geological setting and unsuitable monument design, these latter being crucial aspects of the realization and maintenance of global permanent geodetic networks and the global terrestrial reference frame.
Print ISSN:
0956-540X
Electronic ISSN:
1365-246X
Topics:
Geosciences
Published by
Oxford University Press
on behalf of
The Deutsche Geophysikalische Gesellschaft (DGG) and the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS).
