Tidal triggering of seismicity in the region of Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

This paper investigates the correlation between tidal stress and earthquakes for periods ranging from hours to months in the limited zone of the Palu region(Central Sulawesi,Indonesia).Through Schuster and binomial tests,we examined the relation between the seismicity(time density of seismic events)and tidal potential arising from the Moon and Sun,using all tidal components simultaneously and focusing on the estimation of specific terms.The results show significant correlations between the seismicity and tidal potential for S2(0.5 d)and O1(1.075 d)tidal components in the case of solely isolated earthquake events,particularly for shallow earthquakes.Meanwhile,there is a strong relationship between aftershocks and tidal components larger than the Mf period(13.661 d).Finally,the analysis of the temporal variation of the earthquake-tide relation reveals an optimal correlation for about six years before the 2018 great Palu earthquake.The correlation becomes insignificant afterwards.

A possible interrelation between Earth rotation and climatic variability at decadal time-scale

Using multichannel singular spectrum analysis （MSSA） we decomposed climatic time se- ries into principal components, and compared them with Earth rotation parameters. The global warming trends were initially subtracted. Similar quasi 60 and 20 year periodic os- cillations have been found in the global mean Earth temperature anomaly （HadCRUT4） and global mean sea level （GMSL）. Similar cycles were also found in Earth rotation variation. Over the last 160 years multi-decadal change of Earth＇s rotation velocity is correlated with the 60-year temperature anomaly, and Chandler wobble envelope reproduces the form of the 60-year oscillation noticed in GMSL. The quasi 20-year oscillation observed in GMSL is correlated with the Chandler wobble excitation. So, we assume that Earth＇s rotation and climate indexes are connected. Despite of all the clues hinting this connection, no sound conclusion can be done as far as ocean circulation modelling is not able to correctly catch angular momentum of the oscillatory modes.

Micro-arcsecond Celestial Reference Frames:definition and realization——Impact of the recent IAU Resolutions

The adoption of the International Celestial Reference System （ICRS）, based on Very Long Baseline Interferometry （VLBI） observations of extragalactic radiosources by the International Astronomical Union （IAU） since 1998 January 1, opened a new era for astronomy. The ICRS and the corresponding frame, the International Celestial Reference Frame （ICRF）, replaced the Fundamental Catalog （FK5） based on positions and proper motions of bright stars, with the Hipparcos cat- alog being adopted as the primary realization of the ICRS in optical wavelengths. According to its definition, the ICRS is such that the barycentric directions of distant extragalactic objects show no global rotation with respect to these objects; this pro- vides a quasi-inertial reference for measuring the positions and angular motions of the celestial objects. Other resolutions on reference systems were passed by the IAU in 2000 and 2006 and endorsed by the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics （IUGG） in 2003 and 2007, respectively. These especially concern the definition and re- alization of the astronomical reference systems in the framework of general relativity and transformations between them. First, the IAU 2000 resolutions refined the con- cepts and definition of the astronomical reference systems and parameters for Earth＇s rotation, and adopted the IAU 2000 precession-nutation. Then, the IAU 2006 resolutions adopted a new precession model that is consistent with dynamical theories; they also addressed definition, terminology or orientation issues relative to reference systems and time scales that needed to be specified after the adoption of the IAU 2000 resolutions. An additional IUGG 2007 resolution defined the International Terrestrial Reference System （ITRS） so that it strictly complies with the IAU recommendations. Finally, the IAU 2009 resolutions adopted a new system of astronomical constants and an improved realization of the ICRF. These fundamental changes have led to significant improvements in the fields of astrometry, celestial mechanics, geodynam- ics, geodesy, etc. Of special interest are the improvements in the model for variations in Earth＇s rotation, which, in turn, can provide better knowledge of the dynamics of the Earth＇s interior. These have also contributed to a significant improvement in the accuracy of the ephemerides of the solar system bodies as determined from modern measurements, with a large number of scientific applications. This paper recalls the main aspects of the recent IAU resolutions on reference systems as well as their con- sequences on the concepts, definitions, nomenclature and models that are suitable for the definition, realization and transformation of reference frames at a microarcsecond level.

Multichannel singular spectrum analysis of the axial atmospheric angular momentum

Earth＇s variable rotation is mainly produced by the variability of the AAM（atmospheric angular momentum）. In particular, the axial AAM component X_3, which undergoes especially strong variations,induces changes in the Earth＇s rotation rate. In this study we analysed maps of regional input into the effective axial AAM from 1948 through 2011 from NCEP/NCAR reanalysis. Global zonal circulation patterns related to the LOD（length of day） were described. We applied MSSA（Multichannel Singular Spectrum Analysis） jointly to the mass and motion components of AAM, which allowed us to extract annual, semiannual, 4-mo nth, quasi-biennial, 5-year, and low-frequency oscillations. PCs（Principal components） strongly related to ENSO（El Nino southern oscillation） were released. They can be used to study ENSO-induced changes in pressure and wind fields and their coupling to LOD. The PCs describing the trends have captured slow atmospheric circulation changes possibly related to climate variability.

ICRF与Gaia-CRF参考架特性分析

天体测量学的核心任务之一就是建立一个高精度天文参考系,以便利用这样的惯性参照系来描述天体的位置和运动、研究银河系的运动学特征及对同一天体在不同波段的对应体进行位置认证和比较.当前的天文参考系是参照银河系外天体(主要是活动星系核)的位置来定义的,称为国际天球参考系(ICRS).在实测上,与之相对应的基本星表为国际天球参考架(ICRF),它由甚长基线干涉测量(VLBI)技术在S/X、K和X/Ka波段的观测资料解算而得,位置精度达到数十微角秒(µas)水平.另一方面,Gaia卫星的观测也将在光学波段建立类似精度的光学参考架(Gaia-CRF).ICRF与Gaia-CRF的连接成为天体测量领域需要解决的重大问题之一,这要求对ICRF与Gaia-CRF参考架特性进行细致深入的分析.