Tropospheric and range biases in Satellite Laser Ranging

Abstract The Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) technique provides very accurate distance measurements to artificial Earth satellites. SLR is employed for the realization of origin and scale terrestrial reference frame. Despite high precision, observations can be affected by various systematic errors. So far, range biases were used account measurement errors mismodeling effects in SLR. Range are constant all elevation angles independent measured a satellite. Recently, intensity-dependent single-photon detectors offsets barometer readings meteorological devices reported some stations. In this paper, we study possibility direct estimation tropospheric from LAGEOS We discuss correlations between station heights, biases, their impact on repeatability coordinates, geocenter motion, global found that solution with more stable coordinates than biases. From common most at stations better absorbed elevation-dependent which overestimate total bias effect. changes SLR-derived 0.3 mm 1 Z component, causing thus an offset frame origin. Estimation introduces low-degree spherical harmonics Earth’s gravity field. Therefore, considering intensity essential deriving high-accuracy geodetic parameters.