What happens to SCIGN data?

Data are collected continuously by the GPS receivers in the network. The receivers track the location of the GPS satellites in the sky, which can be used to determine the location of the receiver on the ground. The data are transmitted to the three data centers via phone lines in 24-hour increments, and are then processed. Latitude, longitiude, and height of the receivers can be calculated with millimeter-accuracy.

The data center at JPL uses GIPSY (GPS Inferred Positioning SYstem) software in order to process the data and uses a global reference frame (ITRF96) to locate the stations. Time series, which show the movement of stations over time, can then be plotted, showing the estimated site position with error bars, the best fit line to the data, and the residual scatter which is the result of measurement precision.

The USGS uses GAMIT/GLOBK software and the ITRF96 global reference frame in order to process the data and produce time series plots. The data center at SOPAC also uses GAMIT software and the ITRF96 global reference frame when they process their data.

The data is then made available via the anonymous ftp sites at JPL and SOPAC, as well as on all of the data centers' web pages. Scientists can then use the data to model fault processes, study strain in the crust, and the movement of the crust due to tectonic motions.

What is SCIGN? Who runs it? Who has access? What happens to SCIGN data? How are the SCIGN data used? More about SCIGN