INTRODUCTORY INFORMATION ABOUT GPS
Module: Measuring the Earth with GPS
Unit 1: Collecting GPS Data
By Karen M. Kortz and Jessica J. Smay
This work is supported by the National Science Foundation’s Version: 10 January, 2019
Directorate for Education and Human Resources (TUES-1245025, IUSE-
1612248, IUSE-1725347). Questions, contact [Link]
GPS Introduction
WHERE IS GPS?
?
• Have you used GPS? When?
WHERE IS GPS?
• GPS receivers are in
phones, cars, etc.—
basically anything that tells
you where you are
HOW DOES GPS WORK?
• A receiver
obtains
signals
from GPS
satellites
Artist’s conception of a GPS Block II-F satellite in Earth orbit
HOW DOES GPS WORK?
• Network of 24-32
satellites
• Precisely known
orbits and time
• A receiver needs
4 satellites to
accurately
determine
position
[Link]
HOW DOES GPS WORK?
• Receiver position is
determined by
calculating the distances
to at least 4 satellites
• Solve for the variables:
• N-S position
• E-W position
• Elevation [Link]
• Time
HIGH PRECISION PERMANENT GPS STATION
GPS antenna inside of dome
Monument solidly attached into
the ground with braces.
If the ground moves, the station
moves.
Solar panel for power
Equipment enclosure
• GPS receiver
• Power/batteries
• Communications/ radio/ modem
• Data storage/ memory 8
HIGH PRECISION PERMANENT GPS STATION
What is the function of
?
what the arrow is
pointing to?
a. Power source
b. Receives satellite
signal
c. Records data
d. Communication
e. Anchors station to
ground
HIGH PRECISION PERMANENT GPS STATION
?
What considerations need to be made when
installing a GPS station?
HOW CAN STUDYING GPS MOTION BE
USEFUL TO SOCIETY? (Brainstorm) ?
What GPS can measure: of groundwater within the
• Movement of ground… ground
• …due to plate motion • …due to changing size of
• …near earthquake faults lakes and reservoirs
• …during earthquakes • ….from a landslide
• …due to movement of • Amount of water in the
magma underground atmosphere
• …due to changing size of • Amount of soil moisture
glaciers • Vegetation growth
• …due to changing snow • Sea level
depth • Amount of ash in the
• …as it compacts (subsides) atmosphere
• …due to changing amount
HOW CAN STUDYING GPS MOTION BE
USEFUL TO SOCIETY? (Alternate) ?
Which of these things that GPS measures has
the largest impact on society?
a. Small motions of the ground that build up to
lead to earthquakes
b. How much glaciers push the ground down,
which changes as the size of glaciers change
c. The height of the ground, which is influenced
by how much water is in or on it
d. How much the ground is sinking because of
removal of oil or water
GPS Jigsaw
MEASURING EARTH WITH GPS UNIT 1:
INTRODUCTION TO GPS JIGSAW
• Part 1: Becoming an “expert”
in your team
• Team 1: Reference frames
• Team 2: Direction of motion
• Team 3: Speed of motion
• Part 2: Applying your “expert”
knowledge in new groups
[Link]
visualization/GPS-Velocity-
Viewer/[Link]
GPS Think-
Pair-Shares
Think – Pair - Share
?
List as many
observations as you
can from the data in
these graphs from a
GPS station near the
Wasatch Front in Salt
Lake City.
Think – Pair - Share
?
List as many observations as you can from the
data in this graph from a GPS station near the
tip of the Olympic Peninsula, west of Seattle.
GPS station P403