Inception, Deployment, Processing and Initial Results of a Continuous GPS (cGPS) Network Across the Lesser Antilles Arc: Implications for Caribbean Plate Geodesy and Volcano Monitoring Robert WATTS, Richard Robertson, Nico Fournier, Lloyd Lynch, Machel Higgins & Henry Odbert Seismic Research Centre, UWI, Trinidad & Tobago
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Inception, Deployment, Processing and Initial Results
of a Continuous GPS (cGPS) Network Across the
Lesser Antilles Arc: Implications for Caribbean Plate
Geodesy and Volcano Monitoring
Robert WATTS, Richard Robertson, Nico Fournier,
Lloyd Lynch, Machel Higgins & Henry Odbert
Seismic Research Centre, UWI, Trinidad & Tobago
MAIN AIMS OF THIS TALK:
1/ What is the primary role of the SRC ? 2/ Explain our ongoing continuous GPS network for the English –speaking Lesser Antillean islands to help determine plate motion? 3/ Explain our Volcano Monitoring Deformation Networks using the cGPS stations on each island? 4/ Receive advice & criticism from this audience. 5/ To let you all know we would ‘welcome’ any future collaborative ventures in our region.
Isle of Montserrat: Soufrière Hills Volcano (SHV) has been erupting for 17 years now – currently has a network of 11 continuously operating GPS stations (mostly Trimble NetRS) supervised in recent years by Dr. Henry Odbert.
SRC has installed 1 Trimble NetRS cGPS on every island in last few years. Each one collects epochs at 30 sec intervals & then every night 1 days data is downloaded automatically via script and Internet --- sent back to TRINIDAD. Several months worth of data are stored and then processed at SRC using the GAMIT/GLOBK package developed at MIT (USA)
REFERENCE FRAMES:
SRC Network & Montserrat Network: A limited no. of cGPS stations exist around the Caribbean (lack of land!) but we utilize Belize, St. Croix & St. Maarten with the main FIXED point at KOUROU, Guyana.
PLATE VELOCITY MODEL: Utilizes average horizontal velocity calculated from stations near to Montserrat (eg ANTIGUA). Model uses many iterations & statistical relationships between available data (pers. comm. HENRY ODBERT)
Plate Motion Averages 19 mm to ENE generally, Grenada slightly more North. Trinidad: 5 cGPS stations on TnT show opposing trends of motion, is this a major plate boundary? (Weber et al, 2009)
T & T
Antigua
St. Vincent
VOLCANO DEFORMATION GPS SURVEYS
Example 1: DOMINICA 9 potentially active volcanoes
SURVEY TYPE: Rapid-Static Mode 3 Rover Kits Data collection - ONE sec intervals TWO Hour periods
Eg: Morne Aux Diables in North TWO cGPS sites ROSS + PNVL SEVEN rover sites around M.A.D.
SURVEY FREQUENCY: 6 months if possible due to VT earthquake activity since June 2009.
Process with Trimble Business Centre software
Example 2 : ST. VINCENT
Soufriere St. Vincent Volcano:
Previous eruptions in 1970-71 (quiet dome-building) & 1979 (large sub-Plinian explosion). 1 major eruption in May, 1902 (1500 people killed).
SVGB + SVGK are cGPS sites & 6 rover sites
SURVEY FREQUENCY – 1 time every 2 years (if no activity)
cGPS SITE LOCATIONS:
cGPS on Bath Hotel, NEVIS
Rover pin in ST. VINCENT
cGPS in Penville village on flanks of Morne Aux Diables, DOMINICA
FOUR SRC stations to be part of UNAVCO COCONET datashare project
UNAVCO (NSF funded) International
★
RECENT COLLABORATION WITH CHILEAN COLLEAGUES:
Me & Dr. Alvaro Amigo in front of Cerro Chao flow-front – future volcanology field projects together.
Acting Director of SRC (Dr. Joan Latchman) receiving gift of 2 cGPS instruments for Trinidad from Univ. of Chile (Sergio Barrientos).
SUMMARY
1/ SRC is very open to future collaborations … 2/ SRC is dedicated to monitoring all Caribbean natural hazards. 3/ I am keen to hear criticisms/comments on geodetic monitoring.