|
Inter-Commission Project
IC P3.2 - WEGENER Project (joint with Commission 1 and 3)
Working group of European Geoscientists for the Establishment of
Networks for
Earth-science Research (WEGENER)
Chair: Susanna Zerbini
Terms of reference
The evolution of geodetic techniques in the past decade, with unprecedented
achievements in the precise detection and monitoring of 3D movements at the millimeter level has opened new prospects for the study of Earth kinematics and
hence dynamics. However, those achievements also raised new issues that have to be properly taken into account in the processing and analysis of the data,
demanding a careful inter-disciplinary approach.
Areas in Europe, primarily in the broad collision zone between Europe, Africa
and Arabia, provide natural laboratories to study crucial and poorly understood geodynamic processes. These have been systematically monitored in the last
decade by different research groups using a variety of space geodetic and other techniques. However, in general data analysis has been done from the
perspective of one discipline and processing procedures have not always followed a standard approach.
The existence of these geodata, never completely explored, justifies a new insight by using a really integrated approach that combines data from different
observational techniques and input from other disciplines in the Earth Sciences.
This should lead to the development of interdisciplinary work in the integration of
space and terrestrial techniques for the study of the Eurasian/African/Arabian plate boundary deformation zone, and adjacent areas, and contribute to the
establishment of a European Velocity Field.
With that purpose it is important to promote stronger international cooperation between Earth-Scientists interested in the study of that plate boundary zone.
Towards that goal the WEGENER project aims to:
Actively encourage the cooperation of all
geoscientists Eurasian/African/Arabian plate boundary deformation zone, by promoting the
exploitation of synergies;
Be a reference group for the integration of the most advanced geodetic and geophysical techniques by developing the adequate
methodologies for a correct data integration and interpretation;
Act as a forum for discussion and scientific support for geoscientists from all over the world interested in unravelling the kinematics and mechanics of
the Eurasian/African/Arabian plate boundary deformation zone;
Promote the use of standard procedures for geodetic data, in particular GPS data, quality evaluation and processing.
The need to involve different research areas demands for collaboration with
different IAG Commissions and in particular with Commission 1 and Commission 3. Commission 1 is responsible for regional and global reference frames, for the
coordination of space techniques and for satellite dynamics. WEGENER can contribute significantly to each one of these areas and, in particular, to regional
and global reference frames by making available, in its study area, quality-tested
regional data sets acquired with different space and terrestrial techniques, as well as relevant quality-tested solutions. Additionally WEGENER can contribute
by carrying out studies, already being developed by WEGENER member groups, on the definition of effective integrated observational strategies.
Commission 3, is responsible for earth rotation and geodynamics. WEGENER will provide its main contribution in the field of geodynamics by studying,
regionally, both short and long-term crustal motions.
Objectives
The primary goals of the WEGENER project are:
Continue as a framework for geodetic/geophysical/geological
cooperation in the study of the Eurasian/African/Arabian plate boundary zone;
Foster the use of space-borne, airborne and terrestrial hybrid techniques for earth observation;
Define effective integrated observational strategies for these techniques to reliably identify and monitor crustal movements and gravity field variations over
all time-scales;
Facilitate and stimulate the integrated exploitation of data from different techniques in the analysis and interpretation of geoprocesses;
Organize periodic meetings with special emphasis on interdisciplinary research and interpretation and modelling issues;
Reinforce cooperation with African and Arabian countries and colleagues, which can both contribute to understanding the kinematics and
dynamics of the Eurasian/African/Arabian plate boundary zone and promote the growth of such research in these countries.
Planned activities
Build up a geodatabase that enables access to metadata, for the
WEGENER geographical area, with results, and when possible historical data, from episodic campaigns, including geodetic, geophysical and geological data,
strain rates, velocity fields, focal mechanisms, etc.;
Define standards for GPS networks establishment, data acquisition and guidelines for data processing and reliability checks.
Define strategies for a full exploitation of different geodata (GPS, gravimetry, seismic, etc.);
Establish a GPS analysis center specially dedicated to process permanent and episodic campaign data, not analysed by other GPS centers,
which will contribute to the development of a joint velocity field (EURO-VEL) that
can support kinematic and geodynamic modelling in the WEGENER area of interest;
Organise bi-annual conferences to serve as high-level international forum, in which scientists from all over the world can look at a multidisciplinary
interpretation of geodynamics, and strengthen the collaboration between countries (North-South collaboration);
Link to Services
The WEGENER Inter-Commission project will establish links to different relevant
services, such as:
International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS),
International GPS Service (IGS),
International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS),
International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry (IVS),
International DORIS Service (IDS).
Regional Reference Frame Europe (EUREF) and Africa (AFREF)
Integrated Global Geodetic Observing System (IGGOS)
Membership
Members: B. Ambrosius (Netherlands), T. Baker (United Kingdom), L. Bastos
(Portugal), M. Becker (Germany), Bianco (Italy), B.Blair (USA), C. Bruyninx (Belgium), L. Combrinck (South Africa), J. Dαvila (Spain), F. Rocca (Italy), H.-G.
Kahle (Switzerland),I. Kumkova (Russia), J. LaBrecque (USA), U. Muftah (Algerie), S. Nerem (USA), C. Papazachos (Greece), M. Pearlman (USA), R.
Reilinger (USA), W. Spakman (Netherlands), S. Stein (USA), S. Tatevian (Russia), S. Zerbini (Italy).
Representative of Commission 1 (to be assigned)
Representative of Commission 3: Tonie van Dam
Future workshop
12th General Assembly of WEGENER project: Tangier, Marocco, Setpember
21-23 2004.
Link: http://www.fc.up.pt/wegener2004/
|