National Survey and Cadastre - Denmark

Crustal deformations at permanent GPS sites in Denmark

Shfaqat Abbas Khan and Per Knudsen, Geodetic Dept., Kort & Matrikelstyrelsen, Rentemestervej 8, Copenhagen NV, Denmark. E-mail: sak@kms.dk
Carl Christian Tscherning, University of Copenhagen, Department of Geophysics, Juliane Maries Vej 30, Copenhagen , Denmark. E-mail: cct@gfy.ku.dk
References:
Johansson, J. M., J. L. Davis, H.-G. Scherneck, G. A. Milne, M.
Vermeer, J. X. Mitrovica, R. A. Bennett, B. Jonsson, G. Elgered, P.
Elsegui, H. Koivula, M. Poutanen, B. O. Rnnng, and, I. I.
Shapiro, Continuous GPS measurements of postglacial adjustment
in Fennoscandia 1. Geodetic results, Journal Geophys. Research,
vol. 107, B8, 10.1026, 2002.

Milne, G.M., J. L. Davis, Jerry X. Mitrovica, H.-G. Scherneck, J. M.
Johansson, M. Vermeer, H. Koivula, Space-Geodetic Constraints on
Glacial Isostatic Adjustment in Fennoscandia, Science, Vol. 291,
2001.
Abstract: Permanent GPS sites in Denmark and the surrounding countrys are used in order to study crustal deformations. The Danish
GPS sites have been operating since early 1999 and more than 3 years of continuous GPS data is available. Using the Bernese software,
we have calculated daily baseline solutions between the selected GPS sites. The time series of the baseline solutions are then used in
order to calculate relative three-dimensional crustal motions (vertical and horizontal). The time series are analysed for post glacial
rebound. The observed relative motions due to glacial updrift are consistent with modelled adjustments of the glacial isostatic of
Fennoscandia. The glacial rebound modelling is carried out by [Milne et al., 2001].
Figure 3: Modelled postglacial rebound
(Milne model)
The figure is adopted from the homepage
of Hans
Georg Scherneck.
http://www.oso.chalmers.se/~hgs/
Figure 1: Observed postglacial rebound (horizontal deformations) at
danish GPS sites
Figure 2: Time series of daily GPS
solutions for the
baseline from Onsala (ONSA) to
Buddinge (BUDP)
Site Vertical Std. North std East Std
mm/yr mm/yr mm/yr mm/yr mm/yr mm/yr
ONSA -0.26 0.22 -0.23 0.05 -1.45 0.13
POTS -1.86 0.18 0.77 0.04 -0.63 0.13
BUDP -2.44 0.20 0.58 0.04 -0.49 0.12
SMID -1.23 0.20 0.15 0.04 -0.44 0.12
SULD -0.72 0.20 -0.03 0.04 -1.07 0.12
Table 1: Relative deformational rates observed by GPS for the
selected sites.
Data Analysis: The data was processed using the Bernese 4.2
software [Beutler et al, 2000]. Phase ambiguities were solved and
kept fixed. Pole tide, solid earth tide and ocean tide loading
corrections were applied. Precise IGS satellite orbit solutions were
used and troposphere corrections were applied. The daily baseline
solutions were processed for all the baseline combinations between
the selected 5 GPS sites. In addition, Onsala were kept as fixed
station. Hence, all the deformational rates displays here are relative
to Onsala. Figure 2 is an example of baseline time series between
Onsala and Buddinge. Locations of the sites are shown in figure 1.
The figure also displays horizontal deformation rates observed using
GPS. Furthermore, figure 3 displays modelled postglacial rebound
(Milne model). The figure is adopted from the homepage of Hans
Georg Scherneck. http://www.oso.chalmers.se/~hgs/

The vertical deformation rates for the GPS solutions are listed in
table 3. The observed relative motions due to glacial updrift are
consistent with modelled adjustments of the glacial isostatic of
Fennoscandia. However, the updrift rate for BUDP seems to be too
low. Moreover, the horizontal rates are consistent for all stations.
Conclusion: The study concerning crustal deformation in
Denmark is ongoing and will be carried out in more details in the
future. Here, we have ignored non-glacial internal deformations
between the selected sites. However, these effects will be taken
into account in future studies, when longer GPS time series are
available. Here, we have used Onsala as reference station. Hence,
all the results are dependent on how well post glacial rebound is
determined for Onsala. However, in the future work more stations
will be considers and we will look for a more regional network
than the local one presented here.