I joined the academic staff within the Surveying and Spatial Science group, School of Geography and Environmental Studies in 2004. I’m actively involved in research and teaching within the school.
Research Interests
My research interests are centred in the disciplines of geodesy and geodynamics, with an emphasis on ‘environmental geodesy’ – the use of space geodetic tools such as GNSS, satellite altimetry and space gravity applied to global climate change and sea level studies, changes to surface elevation of ice sheets, crustal strain and seismic deformation, and surface expression of hydrologic loading. My PhD work developed an improved in-situ calibration technique for the TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1 satellite altimeters. This work continues at the Bass Straight calibration site with the Jason-1 and OSTM/Jason-2 missions as part of our role in the NASA/CNES Ocean Surface Topography Science Team.
More recently my research has focused on error modelling within space geodetic analyses, particularly the influence of different strategies surrounding atmospheric mapping functions, apriori zenith hydrostatic delays, atmospheric loading, and mis-modelling periodic geophysical signals such as the Solid Earth and atmospheric pressure tides. Recent work has also investigated the surface expression of hydrologic loads on the crust, comparing GRACE gravity fields convolved for deformation with observed deformation from GPS analyses. I also have an interest in historical sea level studies and have worked on a novel GPS buoy calibration technique for Australian Antarctic tide gauges, and computed sea level change estimates since Mawson’s AAE expedition to Macquarie Island in 1912/13.
Current work includes collaborative research with the ANU, UNSW and Curtin University as part of a 5 year Australian Research Council Discovery Project: “Environmental Geodesy: Variation in sea level and water storage in the Australian region”. I am also involved in the Calibration, Validation and Retrieval Team (CVRT) on the European Space Agency CryoSat-II mission, working on an Australian contribution to calibration and validation in the East Antarctic.
Interested to study or undertake sabbatical with me in Hobart? Contact me
Why study and research in Tasmania? It is located close to the Southern Ocean and Antarctica and it is a peaceful, beautiful spot. Simple.
Community Engagement and Public Outreach
• Member of the American Geophysical Union (AGU)
• Member European Geophysical Union (EGU)
• Member Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI)
Teaching
I teach second and third year undergraduate units within the course for Bachelor of Surveying and Spatial Sciences. I am the coordinator of the Graduate Certificate in GIS, and am actively involved in supervision of honours and postgraduate research projects.
UnitsSelected Publications:- Tregoning, P and Watson, CS, 2009, 'Atmospheric Effects and Spurious Signals in GPS Analysis', Journal of Geophysical Research, In Press
- Tregoning, P and Watson, CS, Ramillien, G, McQueen, H and Zhang, J, 2009, 'Detecting hydrologic deformation using GRACE and GPS', Geophysical Research Letters, In Press
- Watson, CS, Coleman, R and Handsworth, R,, 2008, 'Coastal Tide Gauge Calibration: A Case Study at Macquarie Island Using GPS Buoy Techniques', Journal of Coastal Research, 24(4), pgs. 1071-1079
- King, MA, Watson, CS, Penna, NT and Clarke, PJ, 2008, 'Subdaily signals in GPS observations and their effect at semiannual and annual periods', Geophysical Research Letters, 35 (L03302)
- Watson, CS, Watson, T and Coleman, R, 2007, 'Structural Monitoring of Cable-Stayed Bridge: Analysis of GPS versus Modeled Deflections', Journal of Surveying Engineering, 133 (1), pgs. 23-28
- Watson, C, Tregoning, P, Coleman, R., 2006, 'Impact of Solid Earth Tide Models on GPS Coordinate and Tropospheric Time Series', Geophysical Research Letters, 33 (L08306), pgs. 1-4
- Watson, C., 2005, 'Satellite Altimeter Calibration and Validation Using GPS Buoy Technology. Available at: http://adt.lib.utas.edu.au/public/adt-TU20060110.152656/', Thesis for Doctor of Philosophy, Centre for Spatial Information Science, School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania, pgs. 264
Full Publication List Current and Supervised Project/s:
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