Crustal deformation in Arizona

The purpose of this project is to monitor the surface deformation in Arizona using modern GPS techniques. The three aspects of this project are installing continuous and semi-continuous stations, making first  observations using campaign GPS at stable benchmarks, and re-observing benchmarks using campaign GPS methods. 

There will be more to come on this project shortly so please stay tuned.

Continuous and semi-continuous GPS stations

Semi-continuous site looking over tucson. Photograph taken by Jason Ninneman.

Semi-continuous GPS site TNSS and campaign measurement of TUC 1987 benchmark.  Photo is overlooking the east side of Tucson. Photograph by Jason Ninneman.


Currently the UofA Tectonic Geodesy Laboratory is operating two semi-continuous sites.  These sites are using Trimble Zephyr antennas as shown above.  The data is recorded using Trimble 4000 dual-frequency receivers.  The data is continuously downloaded and converted to RINEX using LINUX PC's at the recording sites.  The monuments are UofA Max mount monuments drilled and set in rock outcrop to a depth of 0.5 meters.

TNSS - Tucson seismic station

This station is located in the foothills  of the Catalina Mountains.  It is collocated with a National Geodetic Survey Federal Base Network Benchmark (TUC 1987).  This benchmark has been observed in the past by the NGS and provides a tie to the semi-continuous station.  The site is located in close proximity to the Tucson Global Seismic Network station, TUC.

Station TNSS, photograph by Jason Ninneman

AMTN - Tumamoc Hill

This station is located in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains not far from downtown Tucson.  It is collocated with a gravity base-station.  The station is at the USGS and UofA Desert Laboratory. 

Station AMTN, photograph by Jason Ninneman

 

Campaign GPS

This entails re-observing benchmarks which have been previously observed using GPS.  Due to the small deformation rates in Arizona require a significant amount of time between observations to reasonably determine deformation rates.  These measurements are ongoing and more will be added later.

First observations of stable monuments

First observations using GPS of existing high stability benchmarks will allow them to be used in the future to assess the deformation field in Arizona.  High stability benchmarks are those which have been set securely in bedrock, and are expected to last a very long time.  These benchmarks allow this and future projects to use campaign GPS techniques to precisely monitor the deformation kinematics in Arizona.

The following is a list of benchmarks which now have observations.

The data and descriptions for these sites will be posted soon. 

Project Contacts

Acknowledgements

Without the help of Jason Ninneman the semi-continuous sites at TNSS and AMTN would still be neglected and data would be sparse.