Geodetic (data) survey marks for a geodetic referencing system in the Ross Sea Region: Scott Base GPS continuous tracking station

A number of survey stations are in use in the Ross Sea Region by both the USAP and NZAP. All of the survey stations have been visited to connect and unify all current survey datums in use in the area to establish a network of survey stations surveyed with GPS. In 2000, Land and Information New Zealand (LINZ) implemented the Ross Sea Region Geodetic Datum 2000 (RSRGD2000) - a multi purpose geodetic referencing system. This new datum is consistent with New Zealand Geodetic Datum 2000, meets SCAR requirements and is aligned to the International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS). This work is carried out in association with the US Geological Survey (USGS)/Ohio State University TransAntarctic Deformation Monitoring Project (TAMDEF 1). The data from the TAMDEF project is used to extend the RSRGD2000. LINZ continues to installed and observed new survey marks in the Ross Sea Region to strengthen the geodetic datum. These survey marks extended the network to cover an area south of the Shackleton Glacier to northern Victoria Land. A high accuracy continuous Global Positioning System tracking station was also installed at Scott Base (SCTB - LINZ Geodetic Code) and was operational as of 29 October, 2004. A second GPS station was established at Butcher Ridge on 7 December, 2007. The aim of the TAMDEF project is to predict crustal movement as a result of variations in the ice volume and loading of the East and West Antarctic Ice Sheets through time. In addition, active tectonics are suspected in association with the Terror Rift, an offshore fault zone that is nearby. There are also active volcanoes in the region that may also be responsible for a measureable amount of crustal deformation. GPS measurements separated by several years are used to test the predicted rates of motion.
The Scott Base GPS Continuous Tracking Station provides hourly and daily 30
second GPS Rinex files. Files are downloaded hourly and daily and are
available through the LINZ web site http://www.linz.govt.nz/positionz . GPS
data from this site can be used with data collected at remote sites to
determine the precise position at the remote site.