Free decay and excitation of the chandler wobble: self-consistent estimates of the period and quality factor

Abstract The period T CW and quality factor Q of the Chandler wobble (CW) as well polar motion (PM) transfer functions are all determined by Earth’s layered structure, mass distribution, elasticity, rheology energy dissipation, via dynamic figure parameters complex degree-2 Love numbers. However, most previous studies used geophysical excitations derived from real-valued PM to invert for , thus leading results that not self-consistent. By separating observed into freely decaying excited PM, a traverse-based method is proposed search values can fit both sides simultaneously, yielding self-consistent estimates = 430.4 mean solar days 130. This implies tidal number k 0.35011 − 0.00226i load k' 0.36090 + 0.00233i, NL 1.80001 0.00692i (non-loading) L 1.15040 0.00023i (loading) valid at period.