Effects of instability of the Earth and celestial coordinate systems on Earth orientation parameters

• Published in: Astronomy reports Vol. 44; no. 2; pp. 122 - 137
• Main Authors: Zharov, V E, Sazhin, M V, Chuikova, N A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer Nature B.V 01-02-2000
• Subjects: Astronomy; Earth; Earth orientation; Earth surface; Instability; Poles; Pressing; Stability
• ISSN: 1063-7729; 1562-6881
• DOI: 10.1134/1.163833

Unknown secular and long-term changes in the Earth orientation parameters attributed to instability (possible rotation) of both the Earth and celestial coordinate systems (ECS and CCS) are studied. Rotation of the CCS due to changes in the coordinates of extragalactic sources resulting from gravitational lensing can lead to errors of the order of several microarcseconds in the orientation parameters. The rotation of the ECS due to the crust pressing on the mantle diminishes the tidal retardation of the Earth's rotation and produces long-term variations in the duration of the day (with a period of about 1500 years) and in the motion of the pole relative to the Earth's surface.