GEOPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY REPORT · Principal Magneti Stormsc , Sudden Commencements Ionospheric Data, Watheroo Provisional S-ummar oyf Aurorae Watheroo Toolangl Macquarle Island Mawson

' r - ".f iv ! C O M M O N W E A L T H O F A U S T R A L I A ' : • ' ' »

D E P A R T M E N T O F N A T I O N A L D E V E L O ^ ' M E N T B U R E A U O F M I N E R A L RESOURCES',-^

G E O L O G Y A N D G E O P H Y S I C S

GEOPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY REPORT

VOL 4 NO 3

MARCH

1956

Issued under the authority of Senator The Hon. W. H. Spooner,

Minister for National Development

DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Minister - SENATOR The HON. W . H. SPOONER

Secretary - H. G. RAGGATT

BUREAU OF MINERAL RESOURCES, GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS

p. B. NYE - Director

J. M. RAYNER - Deputy Director

This Report was prepared in the Geophysical Section:

R. F. THYER - Chief Geophysicist

J. C. DOOLEY - Supervising Geophysicist

C O N T E N T S

Su"b,-ieGt Page

Gontritutlng Observatories Magnetic K-Indlces

Preliminary Monthly Mean Values of the Magnetic Elements

Addition to S.P.E. reported In February Issue

Principal Magnetic Storms, Sudden Commencements

Ionospheric Data, Watheroo

Provisional S-ummary of Aurorae

Watheroo Toolangl Macquarle Island Mawson Mawson (February) Watheroo Toolangl Macquarle Island Mawson Watheroo

Watheroo Toolangl Median Hourly Values Sporadic E. Summary Maccuarle Island

3 5 6 7 3 h 5 6

9 •10

•1-1

Unless otherwise stated all times are given In Greenwich Mean Time.

The terminology used In this report Is that accepted hy International convention. Should furtlier Information he required, explanation can he obtained by applying to:-

Chlef Geophyslclst, Bureau of Mineral Resources,

Geology and Geophysics, k85 Bounce Street,

Melbourne, C.-1 . Australia.

CONTRIBUTING OBSERVATORIES

WATHEROO MAGNETIC OBSEBVATOKY A.P. TILLOTT,Observer-in-Charge, Geographic Latitude 30°19'S Longitude 115°53'E Geomagnetic Latitude Longitude 185.6°

Instruments Magnetic Equipment - Askania pattern Magnetometer No,5O88I0.

D,T.M. C.I.W. Earth Inductor No. 2. Eschenhagen pattern D,H,Z, record-ing variometers, normal sensitivity, 20mm/hour recorder. La Cour pattern D,H,Z, recording variometers, normal sensitivity quick run (I80mm/hour) recorder.

Ionospheric Ecjuipment - C .S . I .R.O. pattern 1-1 6MC/S Sweeptime 2 minutes.

TOOLANGI MAGNETIC OBSESVATORY I.B, EVERINGHAM, Observer-in-Chai'ge. Geogra-ohic Latitude 37°32'S Longitude 1i|5°28'E Geomagnetic Latitude -k&.l° Longitude 220.8°

Instruments Ruska patte:?n Magnetometer No.i+8l3. La Cour pattern QHMs Nos.288,289,290. La Cour pattern BMZ No. 119. Schulze Earth Inductor No.i+9. La Cour pattern D,H,Z, recording variometers, normal sensitivity 1 5rrj!i/hour recorder.

MACQTjARIE ISl.AND MAGNETIC OBSERVATORY B. G, COOK, Observer-in-Charge.

Geographic Latitude 5^-°30'S Longitude 158°57'E Geomagnetic Latitude -6l ° Longitu.de 2h3°

Instruments La Cour pattern QHMs Nos. i 77, "I 78,1 79. La Cour pattern BMZ No. 6I4. La Cour pattern D,H,Z, recording Vbrioireters loi/ sensitivity 1 5mii]/hour recorder.

MAWSON MAGNEI'TC OBSERVATORY P.M. McGREGOK, Observer-in-Charge. Geogra-ohic Latitude G7°35. 7'S LongitCLde 52°5i|. O'E GeciL.agnetic Latitude -73.1° Lorigltude 103.^4°

In3trume,.:t,s La Cour pat .era QHMs Los. 3t;0, 301 , 302. La Cour pot ern BMZ Ko.I15. La Cour jai .ern D,H,Z, recording varionieters lo',7 sensiti fitj 1 5iVa.i/'uoai' i-ecorder.

MAGNETIC K-IKDICES FOB MAKCH - WATHEBOO

Bange for lower limit of K= =9 is 350 gammas

Day K-Indices K-Sum 1 3 3 3 k 3 3 i4 k 27 2 k k 3 k 3 h 5 5 32 3 5 k 5 7 7 1 5 5 k5 k k 3 5 i4 5 2 1 1 25 5 3 3 2 1 1 2 3 1 16 6 2 3 1 1 3 2 3 2 17 7 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 08 8 1 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 07 9 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 06

10 2 3 3 2 1 2 3 5 21 11 i4 3 k 2 1 2 1 3 20 12 2 3 2 1 2 2 3 1 16 13 k k k 3 0 0 0 2 17 1i4 3 2 2 3 5 3 0 2 20 15 3 3 3 2 1 3 1 1 17 16 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 1 13 17 2 2 2 0 0 0 1 1 08 18 2 2 2 1 1 3 0 1 12 19 k i4 3 1 1 3 2 2 20 20 2 3 2 1 2 1 2 i4 17 21 5 k i4 k 3 i4 i4 5 33 22 6 k 3 3 k 5 k 5 3k 23 i4 k i4 2 1 1 0 1 17 2k 2 2 2 3 2 5 5 3 2k

25 3 2 3 3 1 3 3 5 23 26 2 3 2 i4 h 2 2 3 22 27 2 2 2 1 1 3 3 k 18 28 3 3 2 3 3 5 k 5 28 29 5 3 3 3 1 5 2 k 26 30 1 3 3 1 1 2 k k 19 31 k 3 2 3 2 3 3 1 21

PBELIMINABY MEAM VALUES OF THE MAGMETIC ELEMENTS FOB MABCH WATHEBOO - Declination 2° k3.k' west.

Horizontal Intensity 2k82S gammas. Vertical Intensity -52211 gammas.

ADDITION TO S.P.E. BEPOBTED IN PEBBUASY ISSUE Day Began Ended K K_|_

h m h m 23 03 34- 06 00 I4 1 Confirmed "by

ionospheric observations.

MAGMETIG K-IKinCES FOR MARCH-- TOOLAMGI

Range for lower e

limit of K: =9 Is 500 gammas

Day K-Indlces K-Sujn 1 3 U k U 3 3 k k 29 2 U U k U 3 3 k 3 29 3 U 5 5 6 6 5 6 U U1 u 3 U 5 5 5 3 2 1 28 5 3 3 2 2 3 3 3 1 20 6 2 2 2 2 3 2 3 2 18 7 2 2 1 3 2 1 1 1 13 8 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 12 9 2 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 8 10 2 U 3 3 2 3 U 5 26 11 U U 3 2 2 2 U 25 12 1 2 3 2 2 2 3 2 17 13 3 3 U 3 2 2 1 2 20

3 2 3 3 5 3 2 2 23 15 3 3 2 3 2 3 2 2 20 16 3 3 2 2 2 1 2 3 18 17 3 3 2 1 0 1 1 2 13 18 3 2 2 1 1 3 1 3 16 19 U 3 2 2 3 3 2 3 22 20 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 U 21 21 U U 5 U 3 U 5 5 3U 22 5 U U U u U u 5 3U 23 3 u U 2 2 1 0 1 17 2U 3 3 k 5 3 5 k 3 30 25 3 3 k 3 2 k 3 k 26 26 k 3 3 k u 3 2 3 26 27 3 3 2 2 3 3 3 3 22 28 3 3 3 k 3 k k 5 29 29 k 3 k k 3 k 3 k 29 30 1 3 3 2 2 2 k 3 20 31 3 k 3 U 3 2 3 3 25

PBELIMIN/J'Y MEAN VALUES OF THE MAGKETIG ELEMEMTS FOB MARCH TOOLAWGI - Declination 10°02,3' east.

Horizontal Intensity 22725 g-ammas. Vertical Intensity -56I4I1.3 gammas.

MAGKETIC K-IM)ICES FOR MARCH - MACQUABIE ISLAMD

Range for lower limit of & =9 is 1500 gammas Day K-Indices K-Sum

1 2 ^ 5 6 U 3 k 3 30 2 3 6 6 7 6 U k 3 39 3 k 6 7 6 7 7 7 7 51 U 3 5 5 6 6 U 1 1 31 5 2 3 2 1 U 5 U 1 22 6 2 3 3 k U k 3 2 25 7 0 0 0 k 2 1 1 0 8 8 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 9 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 U 10 1 3 2 3 1 1 k 3 18 11 5 k 5 U 1 1 1 3 2U 12 1 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 16 13 3 u 5 5 2 1 1 1 22 1U 2 2 k 5 6 5 2 1 27 15 3 3 3 6 U 2 1 1 23 16 1 1 2 2 1 0 1 1 9 17 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 5 18 0 1 1 0 1 k 1 1 9 19 2 2 1 2 U 3 2 3 19 20 2 k 1 1 1 1 2 2 1U 21 3 k 6 5 5 5 7 u 39 22 6 5 (7) 5 6 5 U 5 U3 23 5 5 6 1 3 0 0 1 21 2k 1 2 2 7 5 7 k U 32 25 3 3 k 5 2 5 k 3 29 26 3 2 k 7 6 k 3 33 27 2 2 2 U U k k 3 25 28 k 3 3 6 k 5 k U 33 29 5 U 6 5 3 5 5 3 36 30 1 3 3 1 2 U 5 k 23 31 3 k 3 6 6 k 2 2 30

PRELIMINARY MEAJT VALUES OF THE KAGHETIC ELEMENTS FOR MARCH MACQUARIE ISLAKD - Declination 24°51.0' east.

Horizontal Intensity 133'! 1 ganimas. Vertical Intensity -GUh^S e-arranas.

MAGKBTIC K-IMD]CES FOR MABCH - MAWSON

Range for lov/er limit of K: =9 is 1 500 gammas

Day K-Indices K-Sum

1 ^ 6 5 J+ 3 3 X X XX 2 X X X ^ 3 6 7 5 XX 3 6 6 8 7 5 5 7 8 52 1+ J+ 6 6 k k k 2 5 35 5 J+ ^ 3 2 2 k 6 5 30 6 5 5 5 3 u k 5 5 36 7 2 2 2 2 X X X X XX, 8 X X X X X X X X XX 9 X X X 2 1 1 0 1 XX

10 3 6 3 3 2 3 6 5 31 11 6 5 5 3 2 2 2 5 30 12 3 3 3 3 1+ 2 5 5 28 13 ^ 5 k 3 3 2 3 6 30

U ^ 3 ^ ^ J+ 2 5 30 15 5 5 3 3 2 3 2 3 26 16 3 3 2 2 3 2 3 6 2h 17 2 2 2 1 0 1 1 3 12 18 3 2 1 1 2 k 1 k 18 19 3 ^ 2 1 3 k 1 28 20 J+ 3 1 1 2 1 2 3 17 21 6 5 6 5 k 5 7 6 22 8 8 6 5 k 6 6 7 50 23 6 6 6 2 3 2 0 2 27 2k 3 5 k ^ 5 8 6 7 U2 25 6 k 5 3 3 7 7 6 Ui 26 1+ k 3 5 5 3 6 3^ 27 J+ k 2 2 k 7 6 6 35 28 5 5 ^ ^ 3 5 8 6 J+0 29 7 6 6 3 7 6 6 U5 30 2 5 5 2 2 3 6 6 31 31 6 6 3 J+ 6 5 38

PRELIMIN/J-iY MEAN VALUES OF THE MAGMBTIC ELEMERTS FOR MARCH MAWSON - Declination 58°57.6' west.

Horizontal Intensity 1 825I+ gammas. Vertical Intensity -i4901+3 gammas.

MAGNETIC K-INDICE8 FOR FEBRUARY - MAWSON

Range for lower limit of K: =9 is 1500 gammas

Day K-Indices K-Sum 6 5 5 k 3 k 7 6 ko

2 5 5 5 3 7 6 6 k^ 5 5 5 k 3 3 3 6 6 35 k. k 3 k 3 2 6 6 32 5 3 k 2 3 3 k 7 6 32 6 5 k 3 3 3 k 3 3 28 7 k k 2 2 1 1 1 5 20 8 3 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 16 9 k k 2 2 1 1 2 3 19 10 2 X X 2 1 3 5 k XX

6 k 3 3 k 5 5 3k 12 5 6 7 6 3 2 3 36 13 3 k k 3 2 3 27 Ik k 5 2 2 1 2 1 1 18 15 3 3 2 2 2 2 k 5 23 16 k 6 6 5 6 6 k ill 17 k k 3 3 2 3 2 2 23 18 2 k 3 3 1 3 2 2 20 19 k 5 k 5 3 3 3 31 20 3 3 k 2 U 3 3 3 25 21 3 5 2 2 3 3 3 3 2k 22 k 5 k k 3 3 3 30 23 2 3 2 2 3 k k 3 23 2k 3 2 2 3 k k k 6 28 25 3 7 7 8 7 5 7 5 k9 26 5 5 3 5 3 2 3 k 30 27 6 5 5 3 3 2 7 6 37 28 5 6 k k 5 7 7 29 7 6 5 6 k 6 7 6 i|7

PRELIMINARY MEAN VALUES QF THE MAGNETIC ELEMENTS FOR FEBRUAItY MAWSON - Will "be published when available.

PRINCIPM, MAGHETIC STORMS AT WATHEROO DURING MARCH

Began at Ended at Intensity Maximum d h m d h K-Index 2 23 .'43 Oil 16 Moderately 7

severe 20 11 k7 23 08 Moderately 6

severe

SUDDEN COMMENCEMENTS AT WATHEROO DURING MARCH

Day Time Type h m

2 23 h-3 Storm Sudden Commencement 12 32 Polar Sudden Commencement

20 11 k7 Storm Sudden Commencement 28 17 11 Polar Sudden Commencement

PRIWCIPAL MA.GKETIC STORMS AT TOOLANGI DURING MARCH

Ended at Intensity Maximum d h m d h K-Index 2 23 h-2 04 16 Moderately 6

severe 20 11 45 23 08 Moderate 5

SUDDEN COMMENCEMENTS AT TOOLANGI DURING MARCH

Da;r Time Type h m

2 23 i+2 Storm Sudden Commencement 12 3^ Polar Sudden Commencement

2k 10 19 Polar Sudden Commencement

IONOSPHERIC DATA - WATHEROO

MEDIAN HOURLY VALUES

1 20° Mean MUP Time h'PI hpP2 h'P2 foE foPI foP2 fEs 3000 M3000

Km Km Km Mc/s Mc/s Mc/s Mc/s Mc/s 00 380 270 6.1 2.5 16.6 2.7 01 370 280 6. 0 2.5 15.2 2.7 02 370 270 5.8 2.6 16.0 2.8 03 370 260 K 5.0 2.3 2.8 Oil K 380 260 s h.a 2.5 1i+.1 2.8 05 370 260 k.7 2.5 13.0 2.8 06 350 280 1.3 h.9 2.0 li+.7 2.9 07 270 300 250 2.3 K 7.2 2.U 23.0 3.2 08 250 300 265 2.9 k.5 8.0 3.3 26.2 3.1 09 225 310 270 3.3 h.9 9.2 3.9 28.0 3.0 10 210 350 270 3.5 5.0 9.5 3.9 27.5 2.9 11 21 0 350 300 3.7 5.3 1 0. 0 i+.o 28.7 2.9 12 220 350 310 3.8 5.5 10.5 i+.l 30.0 2.9 13 220 350 305 3.8 5.5 10.9 31.0 2.9 1i+ 230 360 315 3.7 5.3 11.0 k.o 31.2 2.8 15 230 360 310 3.6 5.2 10.5 3.9 30.5 2.8 16 2i+5 350 280 3.k k.8 1 0.1 3.9 30,0 2.9 17 250 325 250 2.9 h.5 9.2 3.9 27.6 3.0 18 s 320 250 2.1 8.i+ 2.8 2i+.6 3.0 19 330 2k0 8.1 2.7 2i|. 2 3.0 20 350 2k0 7.3 2.k 20.5 2.8 21 355 250 7.1 2.0 20.0 2.8 22 370 260 6.8 1.6 19.0 2.8 23 380 275 6.2 2.0 17.1 2.8

K Denotes Insufficient numerical values.

10

IONOSPHERIC DATA - WATHEEOO

SUMMAEY SPORADIC E

120° Median No. Me an Percentage of time above in of Time 7 Mc/s 5 Mc/s 3 Mc/s Mc/s Obj . 00 3 1 0 32 2.5 31 01 3 6 35 2.5 31 02 - 6 35 2.6 31 03 3 3 26 2.3 31 Ok - - 29 2.5 31 05 - - 29 2.5 31 06 - - 21 2. 0 29 07 - - 23 2.if 30 08 - 13 (9k) 3.3 31 (20 09 3 1 0 (93) 3.9 30 (2G 10 U (93 3.9 28 20 11 - U (9b) .'4.0 28 1G 12 3 7 90) 4.1 29 3G 13 - 7 U. 1 31 7G 1U - 7 (86 ii. 0 30 UG 15 - 7 76 3.9 29 7G 16 - 3 (83) 3.9 29 (5G 17 - 10 (83) 3.9 30 (3G 18 - 3 U5 2.8 31 19 - - k2 2.7 31 20 - - 2k 2.U 29 21 - - 14 2. 0 29 22 _ _ 27 1.6 30 23 - - 23 2. 0 30

Indicates zero peroeiitaje. ) Indicates doubtful. G) Signifies fEsS.foE^3.C \Ic/

11

PROVISIONAL SUMMABY OP AUHOEAE FOE MARCH

Reported by and published through the courtesy of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition.

MACQUABIE ISLAND

Day BeKan First Minimum Geomagnetic Intensity Last Ended Seen Latitude and Form Seen

h m h m Degrees Time

h m h m h m 2 1U 00 62 1i+ 00 1 HA 15 20 3 15 00 61 15 00 2 HB 15 00 5 1 0 00 6l 16 ho 2 HB 17 30 6 10 i+0 61 13 50 2 HB 16 GO 8 13 20 61 15 50 2 HB 16 00 9 13 30 6k 15 00 2 N 16 00

10 10 00 62 11 00 1 HA 16 20 11 09 10 61 09 20 U G 17 20 12 10 10 61 13 20 2 HB 17 20 13 09 10 61 09 50 2 G 17 00

09 00 61 13 50 1 HB 13 50 K 15 10 00 61 10 00 3 G 10 00 18 11 50 65 12 50 1 HA 50 19 12 00 60 30 1 HB 30 2h 10 20 60 11 30 1 HB Mi 20 25 1 0 30 61 11 30 1 HB 00 26 09 10 60 09 10 1 G 11 00 29 10 10 62 10 30 2 D 10 30

K Due to cloud aurora was seen only once.