| Abstract: | The Pannonian Basin, which includes Hungary, tectonically belongs to the Eurasian Plate and is considered to be relatively quiet. Detailed geological studies revealed four main tectonic units in this area—the Tisza, Pelso, Austro-Alpine and Vepor units. All of these can be genetically related to tectonic processes in the Mediterranean and Alpine-Adria region.In 1989 the Satellite Geodetic Observatory (SGO) in cooperation with several institutions has initiated the establishment of a geodynamic global positioning system (GPS) Reference Network (HGRN) for three-dimensional deformation studies in Hungary. The HGRN consists of 13 primary sites which were selected according to geological and geophysical considerations and satisfied international standards for tectonic studies with the GPS technique. Particular care was devoted to the point marks concerning mechanical stability and the repeatability of antenna set-ups at the HGRN sites, therefore a point mark and a mechanical adapter to mount the GPS antenna had been developed at the SGO for this purpose. This point mark has been used at all HGRN sites. A GPS Datum Point was also established for Hungary in 1990 at the Satellite Geodetic Observatory; here quasi continuous observations are foreseen. The Penc station has been accepted as a fiducial station of the International GPS Geodynamic Service (IGS).The zero epoch measurements were completed in fall 1991 and monitoring is planned every second year at least for the next 10 years.Preliminary processing of the data has been carried out in the SGO, Penc and at the Lustbühel Observatory at Graz, using the TRIMVEC PLUS and BERNESE V3.2 programs respectively |
