Seasonal and interannual geocenter motion from SLR and DORIS measurements: Comparison with surface loading data

Abstract

We present observed seasonal and interannual geocenter motion over 1993–1999 based on laser data on the LAGEOS‐1, LAGEOS‐2, and Topex/Poseidon (T/P) satellites as well as Doppler orbitography and radiopositioning integrated by satellite (DORIS) data from T/P. The amplitude and the phase of the space geodesy‐derived seasonal cycles for each coordinate are further compared to the estimates based on surface mass redistribution on the Earth surface derived from various climatic data sources: surface pressure, soil moisture, snow depth, and ocean mass variations. Geodesy and climatic data present good agreement in terms of seasonal, still not for interannual, geocenter motion.